Ex-MS word man turns to books

Author John Wood (below) is back in town this week to plug his new book. It's not all about self-promotion though. Actually, the self-explanatory title of his book tells you everything you need to know about his inspiring story. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World is Wood's tale of life as Microsoft's No2 man, behind Bill Gates, who leaves mid-career after a hike in Nepal to start the literacy charity, Room To Read, in 1999. The non-profit education group builds schools and libraries across Asia for underprivileged kids, which strikes us as a far more admirable task than developing the latest Xbox. Wood (pictured) is hosting a cocktail fund-raiser and book launch tonight at the Foreign Correspondents' Club (2 Lower Albert Road, Central) starting at 6.30pm. The entry fee is HK$500 - but admit it, you can't even buy a piece of Microsoft software with that. For more info, contact [email protected] .