The Next Day

'You don't get to be my age without navigating all kinds of transitions. Some you anticipated and some you never expected. Some you embraced and some you resisted. Some you hoped for and some you fought as hard as you could.' - Melinda French Gates

During times of transition, we step out of our familiar surroundings and into a new landscape, a space that can be filled with possibility but also shadowed by uncertainty. The Next Day accompanies readers through that space, offering guidance to anyone - young or old - who is navigating change, finding their bearings, or trying to move forward when the ground beneath you is shifting.

In this deeply personal book, Melinda writes about the joyful upheaval of becoming a parent, the death of a close friend, her life after divorce, and her departure from the Gates Foundation. Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, the stories she tells illuminate universal lessons about loosening the bonds of perfectionism, helping friends through times of crisis, trusting your inner voice, and more. Melinda also introduces readers to some of the authors, poets, and thinkers whose work she has leaned on for wisdom and comfort in moments of need.

Each one of us, no matter who we are or where we are in life, is headed toward a transition of our own. With her signature warmth and grace, Melinda empowers readers to make the most of the space between an ending and a new beginning and find the courage and confidence to embrace a new day.