07/27/2026
Are you reading what you want to read, or what you think you’re supposed to read? 📚
For , I wanted to share a refreshing perspective from Molly Graham, former executive at Facebook and Google, and the new host of the TED podcast WorkLife.
Graham has a goal of reading 52 books a year. But instead of grinding through dense biographies or the latest leadership manuals, she reads mostly novels and fiction.
Why?
Because she realized that forcing herself to read heavy non-fiction (just because it's what she thought "smart" leaders did) was holding her back. The moment she gave herself permission to read what she genuinely enjoyed- mysteries, romance, and historical fiction- he read 129 books in a single year.
But here is the real leadership lesson: It’s an exercise in authenticity.
Too often in our careers, we spend years trying to do a "bad imitation" of what we think a leader should look like, sound like, or read. True leadership starts when you stop imitating others and give yourself permission to be your authentic self. Plus, studies show reading fiction increases empathy, a critical skill for any great leader!
Stop trying to paint someone else's picture. Figure out what works for you.
What’s on your reading list right now?
Are you Team Fiction or Team Non-Fiction? Let me know in the comments!
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🔗 You can read the full article from Inc. Magazine here: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/this-former-facebook-exec-and-leadership-expert-aims-to-read-52-books-a-year-most-are-novels/91376403
Here's how it makes her a better leader.