Right now I’m reading Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
Will it 10x my business? No. Will it take my leadership skills to the next level. Probably not. Will it make me more creative? Maybe. Will it push my mind to ponder the vastness of the universe? Yes. Is it interesting and fun to read? Definitely.
For a time I only read business books because I felt like if I wasn’t I would be falling behind. Now, I’m trying to explore more in my reading. You never know where a new insight may come from. Plus, there’s no joy in reading a book you don’t want to read. Reading is an act of presence.
Just yesterday I heard Gretchen Rubin, author and podcast host, talk about how she organizes a book group about Young Adult Literature. She always felt silly reading books for teens as a grown woman, but she enjoyed them! And it turns out many others did too. Now they all meet regularly to discuss books and share a nice time together.
Read what you want to read! One day the tactical, boring business books might appeal to you. Maybe you’ll be deep in a difficult project and you need the content. But if they aren’t jumping off the shelf for you, don’t force it. Find something you enjoy and read on.