There’s been media speculation on whether Bill Gates might be (sub-clinical) on the autism spectrum.

One observation out of several on watching the documentary on his life (which is mostly uncritical and simply lays out most of the brightside of his life) is that certainly in his early he had a high degree of social awkwardness. 

The story suggests if it wasn’t for his mother pushing him into many social situations (against his desires) he wouldn’t have learnt the social skills he needed in later life. There were these arranged dinners and social occasions. Certainly, these would be traits of many on the spectrum.

Even so, it was revealing the pushing and “learning” needed here and the major role his mother played.

Another observation was that Bill was (and is) extremely clever and able - not only in coding and maths ability, but from a young age an interest in business acumen. (Seemingly already have picked up enough social skills by mid/late teens, and going on to learn other presenting skills).

There are not so many people I observe, who I think - wow that’s straight up in another league to me - I have the impression Bill Gates is. Certainly, he had what we now seem to call privilege when growing up but he didn’t waste his advantages and already from young a mix of relentlessness and of following his own path was apparent.

The role of luck was a sub-plot. The luck of the advantages he had, but the luck that he didn’t die in an accident like his childhood best friend. I had the sense he appreciated this.

I had childhood friends die. I know enough about chance to know, I’ve had some very decent slugs of my luck my way - or avoiding bad luck.

His knowledge on climate change was strong (to me) - and Vaclav Smil appears as a cameo with Gates having read a fair number (if not all?) his books.

The challenges around the anti-trust cases against Microsoft were handled quite lightly. The emotional and human cost on Bill came through, but I don’t think I came away with many insights. Perhaps a touch of the single-minded perhaps ruthless qualities that are also needed by business creators. But only a very slight look at that.

His friendship with Warren Buffet, although not a large section of the documentary, came across as very genuine and seems quite a unique partnership of smart billionaires.

Certain billionaires come with rather mean seeming characters. Whilst, presumably - like Warren Buffet’s - his public persona is cultivated, at heart Bill genuinely does seem to be putting his heart and mind in the right place - and putting his billions to work in solving humanity’s problems.

Am I worried that the film was uncritical, neither looking at the critics of billionaire philanthropy or taking any views from those who argued for Microsoft’s (and Bill’s) ruthlessness?  I don’t think so. This was obviously not that story and while Bill was hardly pushed in any of the interview questions - I still think it offers a glimpse into the man.

It’s not as insightful as Elon Musk and Joe Rogan. And I doubt we will ever have that level of insight in to one of the richest and most influential people of our time.

A blog on Vaclav Smil.

A blog on Joe Rogan.