The Learning Curve

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of DFER interview the NYT’s South Asia correspondent, Anupreeta Das. Ms. Das discusses how she became interested in writing her acclaimed biography, Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World, emphasizing Gates’ corporate and philanthropic influence on our era. She draws comparisons between Gates and other tech giants like Apple’s Steve Jobs and the 19th-century American tycoons Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Rockefeller, exploring their similarities and differences. Ms. Das also delves into Gates' early life, his pivotal role in the microcomputer and software revolutions, and the founding of Microsoft, highlighting his collaboration with Paul Allen and the innovative corporate culture they established. She further examines the landmark antitrust case, United States v. Microsoft, and its lasting effects on Gates and the tech industry. Finally, Das reflects on Gates' complex personal legacy and the broader implications of tech billionaires exerting significant influence over our democratic society. In closing, Das reads a passage from her book Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World.