The Next Day

Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward

De: Melinda French Gates

Narrado por: 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

The next day

It is a beautiful book. Full of advices for life that I will go back to listen again from time to time. I wish I have friends like her.
Thank you for sharing your story with the world and to be so honest and open.

Uplifting, wise, and relatable

Great storytelling, weaving quotes and people who inspire along with her own inspiring wisdom. May it be a shining light for fathers of daughters and friends and partners as greenhouses for each other.

Your Honesty and vulnerability

For some reason, I felt like this book had a message for me and I was really inpatient until it came out. Sure enough, it made me go back and reflect on my own life, prior marriage, the decisions I made, and the guilt I have been feeling.... then it gave me the relief that I have been waiting for I guess...that I made the right decision that I listened to the whisper. Thank you, also for magnifying the whisper that I am currently trying to ignore❤️

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.

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 transition!

Enjoyed it completely ,💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐 her courage, and integrity at times when her very public life, was sorrowful, her regard for the father of her children💐🪷💐 bravo Melinda

Everyone has the same life problems we experience, even super rich people. Thank you for sharing your story.

Great story telling . I wanted to know
More, but respect her family’s privacy. I wish you well. Thank you.

Encouraging

Melinda has a way of speaking about great depth in a conversational manner - almost as if you are with your best friend enjoying a lunch with them! She is clearly intelligent but does not come across as arrogant or entitled! I admire what she is doing for woman and as a woman at the end of my 50’s I found her message encouraging and hopeful! We are so much more than wives, mothers or daughters . It is comforting to know that she is collectively part of the exceptional women leadership group! That even people like her are human, just like us, who have worries or insecurities yet keep moving forward!

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.

Fantastic!

I enjoyed every part of this audiobook. Melinda’s experiences throughout life’s ups and downs. Beginnings and Endings. Death and Birth. I particularly love descriptions about how everything we have experienced in life by the time we reach 60 (or fill in the blank) gives us the confidence and knowledge that we can handle most everything life throws at us, that we learn that perfection does not exist. Best of all Melinda narrates her book in a way that you feel like you are sitting around the table talking with her.