Plenty of interested readers outside of Microsoft will pick up CEO Satya Nadella’s new book, “Hit Refresh,” to gain some insight into how the tech giant functions and what Nadella has learned in his time at the top. Two guys who know full well what that might entail have already weighed in and praised the book.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates shared a photo of himself with Nadella, and said that when he heard his former co-worker was working on a book he couldn’t wait to read it. Now that he has, Gates said he hopes others will enjoy it as much as he did.
Gates also tweeted a link to his Gates Notes blog, which republished the foreword Gates wrote for the book. And he and Nadella sat down for a rare joint interview with the WSJ. Magazine.
Progress is coming faster than ever. “Hit Refresh” is a thoughtful exploration of the future of technology. https://t.co/wsSnHf675X
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) September 25, 2017
Thank you Bill, not only for writing the Foreword of the book, but also for your insight and guidance over the years. #hitrefresh
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) September 26, 2017
Steve Ballmer, who served as Microsoft CEO for 14 years, tweeted at his successor on Tuesday morning, praising not only “Hit Refresh” but Nadella’s efforts at Microsoft as well.
It came just a week after Nadella spoke of Ballmer’s “contagious ability to create energy in everything he does, the passion with which he approaches all of his work” during the Global Innovation Exchange announcement that it was naming a building after Ballmer.
Congrats @satyanadella on your book #HitRefresh. It is not only a great read but i love your efforts @Microsoft Thanks and go #msft
— Steve Ballmer (@Steven_Ballmer) September 26, 2017
Thanks very much Steve, I appreciate all I’ve learned from you and all you’ve done for Microsoft.
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) September 26, 2017
GeekWire’s Todd Bishop reviewed the book on Monday and said that candid moments within are the highlights of Nadella’s first effort as an author. Bishop said the book works on multiple levels: as a compelling life story; a window into modern Microsoft; a blueprint to understand Nadella’s management style; and a glimpse of the future of technology.
Nadella, who will headline this year’s GeekWire Summit in October, said in his own tweet on Tuesday that he hopes “Hit Refresh” starts a “meaningful dialogue.”
#HitRefresh is out today, I hope it starts a meaningful dialogue & chance to learn from others’ hit refresh moments https://t.co/ufTassSzpb
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) September 26, 2017
Here are some others who are tweeting about the book:
Congrats @satyanadella! Honored to work with you. Your vision for #AI & all we do @Microsoft empowers everyone to achieve more #HitRefresh pic.twitter.com/CHS88ij6H8
— harryshum (@harryshum) September 26, 2017
Look what I just got! Thanks @satyanadella! #HitRefresh #employeeedition pic.twitter.com/Z7Zqbf1kZF
— Linda Thackeray (@LindaThackeray) September 26, 2017
Can't wait for @amazonIN to deliver #HitRefresh by @satyanadella !
— Inder Kumar (@Inder_Kumar) September 26, 2017
#HitRefresh shares Satya's empathy & passion 'to use technology to improve accessibility for people wi disabilities' https://t.co/0mh8owCSWG
— Jenny Lay-Flurrie (@jennylayfluffy) September 26, 2017
Satya Nadella will discuss his book in an interview on stage at the upcoming GeekWire Summit in Seattle. The Microsoft CEO is donating all proceeds from “Hit Refresh” to Microsoft Philanthropies.