Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 18 -- Microsoft founder Bill Gates promoted a book on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal on United States broadcaster CNN yesterday, reportedly sending interest in the title and topic skyrocketing.

Gates appeared in the Global Public Square show with CNN host Fareed Zakaria, where he was asked to give his recommendation for a book.

"It's a sad story of corruption and international finance," Gates said of his recommendation, Billion Dollar Whale written by Wall Street Journal's Tom Wright and Bradley Hope.

Labelling it a "very quick" and "thrilling" read, Gates compared the book to another one of his previous recommendations, Bad Blood by journalist John Carreyrou about multibillion-dollar biotech startup Th...