When General David Petraeus visited Harvard Kennedy School in 2009, one of his top requests was to meet Doris Kearns Goodwin, the author of ‘Team of Rivals.’ Petraeus, who has a PhD in International Relations from Princeton, is a big fan of her work. This shows how much he values reading and learning from history.
Even though global literacy rates are high—around 84%—people are reading less, especially in the U.S. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, fewer than half of American adults now read literature. This trend is concerning, especially for leaders.
Strong leaders often have one thing in common: they read a lot. Reading helps leaders think deeply, understand others, and come up with new ideas. Unfortunately, many business professionals today are reading less, especially outside of their field.
Some of the most successful business leaders are also big readers. Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, had a deep interest in the poetry of William Blake. Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, treats his personal library with great respect—you even have to take off your shoes to enter it. Sidney Harman, founder of Harman Industries, once said that poets are ‘the original systems thinkers.’
Reading is more than just a hobby. For leaders, it’s a powerful tool for growth, creativity, and empathy. If you want to lead well, start by picking up a good book.
