In The Hypomanic Toolbox, current Bevcorp (and former Whirlpool) executive Todd Hagopian couches an innovative framework for thinking about leadership characteristics in a fable format.

Hagopian found success early as a financial advisor and bank manager. On the surface, he was getting promotions, partying hard. But under the surface, he was suffering: drinking heavily and barely sleeping. When his family and professional life reached a crisis point, he got sober and sought the help of a therapist, who diagnosed him with bipolar disorder.

The disorder, he realized, had its positive sides; when in an upswing, he was creative, driven, and productive, formulating “grandiose goals.” He decided to “harness the good portions of the disorder for my own benefit,” and this book aims to share that outlook with others by “finding a sustainable way to tap into [their] potential” through his HOT (“Hypomanic Operational Turnaround”) System. The book is addressed to entry-level staffers through leaders.

This is a thoughtful, interesting way to pull a silver lining out of a challenging diagnosis. Rather than delivering it prescriptively, though, Hagopian describes his ideas via a parable in which mild-mannered struggling businessman Jack Whelan, who is not bipolar, learns from an inspirational speaker, who is. This decision detracts substantially from the book’s impact.

Most of the story is about the details of a business that doesn’t exist, and it’s hard to imagine readers wading through descriptions of quarterly reports (and, in a few places, details of spreadsheets) of a fictional company. It would have been far more helpful for him to focus on his interesting and fresh take on leadership, in which he highlights the lessons learned from his own journey as a bipolar man. The real story could have had vigor that the fictional one lacks. The book’s awkward writing—“Spencer’s annoying Brooklyn accent responded angrily”—adds to its problems.

Rewritten as a straightforward leadership guide, however, this could be a refreshingly new perspective in a crowded marketplace.

Also available in paperback, ebook and audio book.