10 Best-Selling Technology Trends Books Millions Love

Sheryl Sandberg, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and 7 more experts recommend these best-selling Technology Trends books that deliver proven insights.

Sheryl Sandberg
Bill Gates
Elon Musk
Tony Robbins
Eric Schmidt
Marc Andreessen
Updated on June 26, 2025
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There's something special about books that both experts and millions of readers agree on. Technology Trends shape the way our world evolves, transforming industries, societies, and daily life at an accelerating pace. Understanding these shifts isn't just interesting—it's essential if you want to stay ahead in business, policy, or innovation.

Leading figures like Bill Gates, who calls Ray Kurzweil "the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence," and Sheryl Sandberg, who highlights Klaus Schwab's insights on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, show how these books offer more than speculation—they provide grounded frameworks shaped by decades of expertise. Elon Musk praises Chris Anderson’s "compelling blueprint" for the future of manufacturing, revealing how these works resonate with those shaping technology’s frontier.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Technology Trends needs might consider creating a personalized Technology Trends book that combines these validated approaches. This way, you get the best of expert knowledge blended with insights customized for your goals and background.

Best for understanding automation impact
Lawrence Summers, Harvard University professor and former U.S. Treasury Secretary, highlights how the rise of robots presents a major challenge for the coming decades. His recommendation reflects a deep engagement with Martin Ford’s foresight on automation's accelerating impact: "Robots, and their like, are on the rise. Their impact will be an important question in the next decade and beyond." Summers appreciates Ford's early and thoughtful exploration, noting how the book reframes economic debates about technology and jobs. Alongside Summers, Marginal Revolution echoes this view, recognizing Ford as a pioneering voice on automation and joblessness, underscoring why this book resonates widely among experts and readers alike.

Recommended by Lawrence Summers

Harvard professor; former U.S. Treasury Secretary

Robots, and their like, are on the rise. Their impact will be an important question in the next decade and beyond. Martin Ford has been thinking in this area before most others, so this book deserves very careful consideration.

After years as a computer engineer and futurist, Martin Ford developed this book to address a pressing question: what happens when machines replace not just manual labor but knowledge jobs too? You’ll gain insight into how artificial intelligence and robotics threaten a broad swath of employment, from paralegals to programmers, and why traditional solutions like retraining won’t suffice. Ford’s detailed analysis explores the societal consequences of widespread automation, including economic inequality and the strain on industries like education and healthcare. This book suits anyone concerned about the evolving job market and the future of work amid technological change.

New York Times Bestseller
Winner of FT & McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award
Top Business Book of 2015 at Forbes
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Best for AI future insights
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and a leading voice in technology, praises this work for its accurate foresight into artificial intelligence. His endorsement highlights Kurzweil's unique ability to predict technological progress with precision, describing him as "the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence." This book's alignment with Gates’ vision reinforces its status as a key resource for understanding imminent technological shifts. Additionally, Nesnáím Faistické Kolaboranty reflects on the book’s insightful look into biotechnology's impact on aging, providing a fresh perspective on generational opportunities.
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Recommended by Bill Gates

Co-Founder & Former CEO of Microsoft

Ray Kurzweil is the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence.

When Ray Kurzweil first predicted the arrival of human-level artificial intelligence by 2029, few could grasp the scope of transformation he foresaw. In this follow-up to his landmark work, Kurzweil draws on decades of experience as an inventor and AI visionary to examine how exponential technology growth will reshape humanity. You’ll explore concrete developments like nanobots rebuilding matter atom by atom, brain-cloud interfaces enhancing intelligence, and radical life extension techniques. The book also tackles thorny issues such as AI's impact on employment and ethical questions surrounding virtual resurrection, making it a thought-provoking read if you want a grounded perspective on the future’s technological trajectory.

New York Times Bestseller
One of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence
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Best for personalized tech insights
This AI-created book on technology trends is crafted based on your background, skill level, and specific interests. By sharing the particular challenges and topics you want to explore, you receive a book tailored to focus on what matters most in this fast-moving field. Instead of generic overviews, this personalized approach cuts through the noise to deliver insights that align with your goals and help you grasp the evolving tech landscape relevant to you.
2025·50-300 pages·Technology Trends, Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Fabrication, Cloud Computing

This tailored book explores key technology trends and their impact through a lens focused on your unique challenges and interests. It examines emerging innovations, their practical applications, and evolving industry dynamics with a personalized approach that matches your background and ambitions. By combining widely validated knowledge with insights that address your specific goals, this book offers a focused journey into areas like AI advancement, digital fabrication, and cloud computing. It reveals how these shifts shape industries and opens pathways to understanding future tech landscapes tailored to your perspective.

Tailored Content
Trend Analysis
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for leaders shaping tech change
Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org, highlights this book's unique value in framing how leaders can navigate the vast technological, social, and economic shifts reshaping society. She emphasizes Schwab's decades of experience uniting governments and businesses to ensure that the Fourth Industrial Revolution leads to progress for humanity. Her endorsement aligns with widespread recognition of the book's insightful exploration of technology's transformative potential. Likewise, Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, stresses the importance of purpose-driven leadership as outlined by Schwab, noting the book's role in guiding organizations to balance innovation with ethical responsibility.
SS

Recommended by Sheryl Sandberg

Former COO of Facebook and LeanIn.Org Founder

In The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Professor Klaus Schwab puts forth a thoughtful framework for leaders to meet the challenge of maximizing the benefits of the profound technological, social and economic transformation reshaping society. Drawing on over four decades of bringing together governments, private sector and other parts of civil society, Schwab starts a wide-ranging discussion on how we can help to ensure that the Fourth Industrial Revolution drives progress for humankind.

When Klaus Schwab recognized how emerging technologies were merging the physical, digital, and biological worlds, he set out to explain their vast implications for society and economies. In this book, you explore the defining features of the fourth industrial revolution, from AI and nanomaterials to smart factories and biotechnology, gaining insight into how these innovations challenge traditional government, business, and ethical frameworks. Schwab’s position as founder of the World Economic Forum lends depth to his analysis, especially his call for collaboration between sectors to harness technology responsibly. If you’re interested in understanding not just the tech but its societal ripple effects, this book offers a detailed, thoughtful perspective that balances optimism with caution.

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Best for anticipating industry disruption
Tony Robbins, a business coach and motivational speaker known worldwide, highlights how this book offers CEOs and entrepreneurs a clear vision for the sweeping changes each industry faces this decade. His endorsement captures why so many are drawn to these authors’ insights: "Diamandis and Kotler have written a powerful and beautiful masterpiece outlining a compelling future for humanity." Robbins’s perspective reveals how the book helped him grasp the rapid pace of change and prepare strategically. Alongside him, Ray Kurzweil, a pioneer in computer science, calls it a "fantastic guidebook" mapping the massive transformations ahead, lending further weight to its influence among technology leaders.
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Recommended by Tony Robbins

Business coach and motivational speaker

Diamandis and Kotler have written a powerful and beautiful masterpiece outlining a compelling future for humanity. The Future is Faster Than You Think offers CEOs and entrepreneurs a clear vision on the transformation of every major industry this decade. Required reading for anyone who wants to surf above the tsunami of change.

Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler, with backgrounds spanning molecular genetics, aerospace engineering, and peak performance research, examine how rapid technological convergence is reshaping industries and daily life. You’ll explore how artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, and blockchain collide to transform sectors like transportation, education, healthcare, and finance. The book offers detailed insights into the mechanics of exponential growth waves and their societal impact, including chapters on digital biology and global networks. If you’re curious about the near future and how to navigate its disruptions, this book gives you a grounded framework to understand and anticipate change.

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Best for grasping key tech forces
Marc Andreessen, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and co-founder of Ning, calls this book an "automatic must-read." Known for his sharp insight into technology trends, Andreessen's endorsement underscores how Kevin Kelly’s exploration of technological forces aligns closely with what leading innovators see as inevitable. In a landscape where understanding the future can make or break ventures, Kelly’s frameworks helped Andreessen grasp the momentum behind trends like AI and virtual reality. Also notable is Chris Anderson, CEO of 3DRobotics, who highlights the book's unique perspective on intelligence flowing into everyday objects, reinforcing its relevance for anyone aiming to stay ahead in tech.
MA

Recommended by Marc Andreessen

General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz

Automatic must-read.

Kevin Kelly, a co-founder of Wired magazine with over thirty years in technology and futurism, offers a thoughtful exploration of the twelve technological forces shaping our near future. You’ll learn how trends like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the on-demand economy are interconnected and accelerating change in how we live and work. The book breaks down concepts like "cognifying" and "remixing" to help you grasp complex shifts with clarity. If you’re navigating business strategy, innovation, or just curious about technology’s trajectory, this book equips you with a framework to anticipate and adapt to what’s ahead.

Best Business Books 2017 – Innovation
Published by Viking
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Best for personal action plans
This custom AI book on innovation system is crafted specifically for your unique goals and experience. You’ll share your background, current skill level, focus areas, and what you want to achieve, then receive a book that matches your pace and interests. Personalizing innovation learning this way helps you avoid generic advice and jump straight into what truly matters for your rapid results.
2025·50-300 pages·Technology Trends, Innovation Fundamentals, Creative Thinking, Rapid Prototyping, Idea Validation

This tailored book explores rapid innovation techniques designed to generate tangible results within 30 days. By combining popular, reader-validated insights with your unique background and objectives, it crafts a personalized journey that focuses precisely on your interests. It examines practical steps to unlock creativity, overcome obstacles, and apply emerging technology trends effectively, all within a structured timeline that matches your pace and goals. This tailored approach ensures the material aligns with your specific needs, making the innovation process engaging and relevant every step of the way.

Tailored Guide
Rapid Innovation
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for exploring emerging sectors
Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and current Executive Chairman of Alphabet, knows the chaos technology can bring firsthand. He praises Alec Ross as "one of those very rare people who can see patterns in the chaos and guidance for the road forward." Schmidt's endorsement reflects how this book aligns with what many have deemed essential reading for understanding rapid technological shifts. The book's perspective helped him appreciate the interconnectedness of innovations across sectors. Alongside Schmidt, Arianna Huffington calls it an "engaging, clear-eyed look" at global innovation's challenges and opportunities, underscoring the book's broad appeal and relevance.
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Recommended by Eric Schmidt

Executive Chairman of Alphabet, Former CEO of Google

In a world growing more chaotic, Alec Ross is one of those very rare people who can see patterns in the chaos and guidance for the road forward. He has an unusual diversity of expertise that allows him to apply multiple lenses to the world's challenges and dream up the kind of innovative solutions that are changing the world.

What happens when an innovation advisor traverses forty-one countries to decode the next decade's transformative technologies? Alec Ross, drawing from his tenure as Senior Advisor for Innovation to the Secretary of State, maps out emerging sectors like robotics, cybersecurity, and genomics with clarity and breadth. You gain insight into how these industries will reshape economies and the workforce, illustrated by real-world examples from global innovation hubs. This book suits you if you want a grounded understanding of future tech shifts and their societal impact, rather than speculative futurism.

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Best for digital fabrication enthusiasts
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink, champions this book as a blueprint for America’s revival in manufacturing driven by technology. His endorsement, "Inspiring and engaging. Anderson delivers a compelling blueprint of a future where America can lead in making things again," reflects the book’s alignment with the surge in digital fabrication and grassroots innovation. This perspective resonates deeply with those eager to understand how open source design and 3D printing can decentralize production. Alongside Musk, behavioral economics professor Dan Ariely underscores the book’s insight into the profound shifts shaping invention’s future, cementing its relevance for innovators and entrepreneurs alike.
EM

Recommended by Elon Musk

CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink

Inspiring and engaging. Anderson delivers a compelling blueprint of a future where America can lead in making things again.

Chris Anderson, former Wired editor and CEO of 3D Robotics, explores how open source design and 3D printing are reshaping manufacturing at a grassroots level. You’ll learn how digital tools empower a new generation of entrepreneurs and hobbyists to create customized products outside traditional factories, sparking a revival of American industrial innovation. Chapters detail the transition from mass production to personalized fabrication, emphasizing the economic and cultural impacts of this shift. If you’re intrigued by the intersection of technology and manufacturing or curious about the future of invention, this book offers a clear-eyed look at how digital trends are democratizing production.

New York Times Bestseller
Published by Crown Business
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Best for cloud computing transformation
Nicholas Carr's exploration of the shift from traditional computing to cloud-based services offers a compelling perspective on technology's evolving role in business and society. His narrative draws a line from the dawn of electrical utilities to today’s Internet-powered computing, shedding light on how this transformation is redefining industries and challenging established players. This book appeals to those aiming to understand the broader implications of technology trends and the strategic shifts required to thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
2008·276 pages·Technology, Technology Trends, Strategy, Computing, Cloud Computing

When Nicholas Carr noticed the parallels between the early electric grid revolution and today's shift to cloud computing, he crafted a narrative that goes beyond tech jargon to reveal how cheap, utility-style computing is reshaping industries and society alike. You’ll explore chapters that trace this transformation from Edison’s steam engines to Google’s data centers, gaining insights into how companies are transitioning from owning hardware to renting computing power over the Internet. This book suits anyone intrigued by the economic and cultural ripple effects of technology shifts, especially professionals in IT, business strategy, or innovation sectors. It’s a clear-eyed look at the forces that are dismantling old tech giants and empowering new players, offering thoughtful context without hype.

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Best for data-driven strategy
Big Data offers a clear-eyed look into a technology trend that is reshaping how decisions are made across fields. The authors explain how vast data analysis unlocks surprising insights—from tracking disease spread to assessing infrastructure safety—and reveal how this revolution will affect economics, politics, and privacy. This book’s thorough approach makes it invaluable for those wanting to grasp the realities behind the buzz and understand both the opportunities and risks big data presents in the evolving technology landscape.
2013·256 pages·Technology, Big Data, Technology Trends, Future of Technology, Data Analysis

Unlike most technology trend books that focus on surface-level hype, Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Kenneth Cukier delve into the mechanics and implications of big data itself. They explore how the ability to analyze massive datasets reshapes industries, from predicting flu outbreaks through search data to identifying infrastructure risks. You gain insight into the profound effects on business, science, and society, including ethical concerns about privacy and predictive analytics. This book suits anyone curious about how data is transforming decision-making and what challenges that transformation presents.

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Best for AI governance challenges
Mustafa Suleyman brings unparalleled expertise as co-founder of DeepMind and CEO of Inflection AI. His leadership in AI development and policy shapes this book’s deep dive into how rapidly advancing technologies like AI and quantum computing will redefine global power and societal structures. Suleyman’s unique insider perspective equips you to understand the stakes and dilemmas that come with the coming wave of technological change.

Mustafa Suleyman’s decade of experience at DeepMind and leadership at Inflection AI informs this urgent exploration of emerging technologies and their societal impact. You’ll gain insight into the dual-edged nature of AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology, learning why these innovations could both elevate prosperity and destabilize global order. The book delves into “the containment problem,” highlighting the struggle to control powerful tech without slipping into dystopian surveillance. If you’re interested in how fast-moving technology reshapes governance and ethics, this book offers a grounded, insider's perspective on navigating these unprecedented challenges.

New York Times Bestseller
Winner of Inc. Non-Obvious Book Award
Finalist for Financial Times Business Book Award
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Conclusion

These 10 books collectively highlight key themes: the rapid rise of automation and AI, the societal and economic shifts from industrial to digital revolutions, and the transformative power of data and emerging technologies. If you prefer proven methods to understand technology’s impact on jobs and society, start with Rise of the Robots and The Fourth Industrial Revolution. For validated approaches to anticipate future markets, combine The Industries of the Future with The Future Is Faster Than You Think.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Technology Trends book to combine proven methods with your unique needs—whether you want deep dives into AI governance, cloud computing, or digital fabrication. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in navigating the fast-moving tech landscape and shaping their futures.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with Rise of the Robots if you're curious about automation's impact on jobs, or The Fourth Industrial Revolution for a broad view of technological change. Both provide accessible frameworks recommended by experts like Lawrence Summers and Sheryl Sandberg.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Technology Trends?

Not at all. While some books delve into complex topics, authors like Kevin Kelly in The Inevitable explain trends with clarity. These best-sellers suit readers eager to understand technology’s trajectory regardless of experience level.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with books covering broad trends like The Industries of the Future or The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Then explore focused works like Big Data or The Coming Wave to deepen your understanding of specific technologies.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your interests—whether AI, manufacturing, or data. Each book stands alone with expert insights. However, reading multiple offers a richer, multi-dimensional view of technology’s impact.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast Technology Trends changes?

These books remain relevant because they focus on foundational forces and long-term trends rather than fleeting hype. Experts like Bill Gates and Marc Andreessen continue to endorse their insights as valuable for today's challenges.

How can I get Technology Trends insights tailored to my specific needs?

While these books provide expert knowledge, personalized content can complement them by focusing on your unique goals and background. You might consider creating a personalized Technology Trends book to combine popular methods with your priorities for faster, targeted learning.

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