Cynical is easy, and the article is not entirely misguided in why those books are rationalized, retrospective narratives (as JACK puts it), however, stories do help inspire.

While they should not be read for prescriptive purposes, they can be a font of connections to draw from if one is in the knowledge business. People like fables, stories, patterns leading to success, etc.

Good book recommendations at he end though - dry, but supplementary (also shouldn't be prescriptive!). Experience trumps all.