I just finished The Hypomanic Toolbox by Todd Hagopian, and honestly, I didn’t expect a business book to hit this hard, both practically and emotionally. The story follows Jack Whelan, a manufacturing exec whose company is about to tank. He’s desperate, stressed, and honestly pretty burnt out. Then this eccentric billionaire, Eugene Spark, shows up and drops a wild proposition: turn the company around in six months using a system inspired by the focus and energy of hypomania, or lose the business entirely.

At first, I was like Jack, skeptical. But as Eugene started introducing his HOT System, I started to get pulled in. What makes this book different is how it blends a legit business transformation with a very real, human story. You’re not just reading strategies butyou’re watching them come alive through trial, error, and raw experience. Some of the concepts really stuck with me,

I think what I loved most, though, was the idea of “magnificent obsessions.” That’s where the creativity kicks in. And as a reader, it kind of makes you reflect on your own work and whether you're playing it too safe.

What’s so smart about this book is how it takes something misunderstood and often stigmatized (hypomania) and reframes it as a powerful force when channeled the right way. If you’re into business books with actual heart and don’t mind learning through story rather than straight-up theory, I seriously recommend this one. It’s practical, it’s different, and it’ll make you think twice about how you lead and create.