The Next Day

Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward

By: Melinda French Gates

Narrated by: Melinda French Gates

In a rare window into some of her life’s pivotal moments, Melinda French Gates draws from previously untold stories to offer a new perspective on encountering transitions.

This program is read by the author.

“You don’t get to be my age without navigating all kinds of transitions. Some you embraced and some you never expected. Some you hoped for and some you fought as hard as you could.”–Melinda French Gates

Transitions are moments in which we step out of our familiar surroundings and into a new landscape—a space that, for many people, is shadowed by confusion, fear, and indecision. The Next Day accompanies listeners as they cross that space, offering guidance on how to make the most of the time between an ending and a new beginning and how to move forward into the next day when the ground beneath you is shifting.

In this book, Melinda will reflect, for the first time in audio, on some of the most significant transitions in her own life, including becoming a parent, the death of a dear friend, and her departure from the Gates Foundation. The stories she tells illuminate universal lessons about loosening the bonds of perfectionism, helping friends navigate times of crisis, embracing uncertainty, and more.

Each one of us, no matter who we are or where we are in life, is headed toward transitions of our own. With her signature warmth and grace, Melinda candidly shares stories of times when she was in need of wisdom and shines a path through the open space stretching out before us all.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2025 Melinda French Gates (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Beautiful Storytelling

Love how Melinda French Gates told the stories from her life not in chronological time. Beautiful lessons shared.

Thoughtful Nuggets

A very detailed perspective of what brought together Melinda's value system. I like that those values layered with nuggets of wisdom from her experiences and study helped her get through every transition of her life.

Very open and thoughtful

There is thoughtful, organized wisdom for men who support strong women in their lives. This was a quick listen on a road trip.

Powerfully written biography

Melinda is a down to earth powerful woman who opens up so we all can see that transitions are a part of life and part of our personal growth.

Grateful for this book

Such a poignant reflection on transitions, trusting ourselves, and friendships through life. She is an engaging reader and it feels so personal to hear her experience in her own voice.

Her honesty about herself and desire to help others

Rarely does someone share so honestly, what so many of us go through, the highs and lows of their life in the attempt to help people and have us know them. Love the poetry woven through the book giving the story more depth and meaning. So glad there were many happy moments with belly laughs and amazing experiences. The lessons learned from all she went through will help others when faced with the same life challenges. Bravo Melinda.

So much wisdom

It was so honest, graceful and humble. Melinda bravely shared her journey, her learnings and her hope. I wish her great success in this next chapter of her life and hope she continues to share. I’m so excited to see the impact of her continued good works and philanthropy.

inspiring and emotional

I broke down crying listening to Melinda describing her friend John's cancer journey because of my own past experience. Melinda is such an inspiration and a gift to us all.

She’s BRILLIANT!

With completely dignity and grace, she pulls back the curtain, allowing us to see HER, the woman who has the intelligence to match With Bill Gates and have the strength to say enough.

Authentic reflection of the author

I liked how authentic the author was about her life experiences, but the story left me desiring more richness and more life lessons learned given the authors worldly travels and the challenges she had worked on at the foundation.