Review of Inside Bill’s Brain Neflix *****
I’m currently reading a book called Dark Money, which is about how a few wealthy individuals have used their money to promote their nefarious self-interests. This documentary shows how Bill Gates, one of the wealthiest people in the world, has used his money and the money of other like-minded individuals to promote benefits to humanity.
It all starts with an article about children dying of diarrhea. That is the launching point for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill first identifies the problem, then he sets out to find solutions. Since this is an area that Bill has no expertise in, he enlists the help of others to find the answers. He creates a competition that will eventually lead to improved toilets and water treatment plants.
The next episode in this three-episode Netflix docuseries deals with Bill and Melinda’s time at Microsoft and their efforts to eradicate polio. I grew up during the dawn of computers. I watched Microsoft grow and dominate. I also witnessed Microsoft make one of the biggest marketing blunders of all time. It happened under Bill and Steve Ballmer’s tenure. And that is the failure of Windows Mobile Phone. There is absolutely no reason that there aren’t three mobile operating systems: Apple, Android, and Windows. But that story is for another day, and it’s not a subject covered in this documentary.
I found the last episode to be the most impactful. I’m a green energy promoter. We need to move away from fossil fuels as soon as possible. One solution that hasn’t received enough attention is nuclear power. Bill Gates uses his money and influence to enlist the help of others to rethink nuclear energy. They tackle the major obstacles – old technology, public perception, risk, waste – and come up with a new reactor that addresses all of the perceived problems. Their plans go awry due to the trade war with China, which was to be the launching point of their first full-scale reactor. It’s such a great solution that I don’t understand why they can’t find partners here in the U.S. or elsewhere like France.
I admire the work Bill and Melinda are doing through their foundation. I have just one word of advice for Bill Gates. You don’t have to carry around a shopping bag full of books everywhere you go. They’ve come up with this new technology called eBooks. Give it some thought.