There are books you read, and then there are books that settle into your bones. Chief Joy Officer How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear by Richard Sheridan is the latter — the kind of story that makes you forget your coffee is getting cold.

First Impressions

From the very first page, Richard Sheridan pulls you into a world that feels both vivid and intimate. A 2018 Nautilus Book Award Winner for Business and Leadership!The founder of Menlo Innovations and author of the business culture cult classic Joy, Inc offers an inspirational guide to leaders seeking joy in the challenge of leading others.Rich Sheridan’s Joy, Inc. told the story of how his tiny software company in Ann Arbor, Michigan achieved success and renown by embracing offbeat culture and human-centered values. In Chief Joy Officer, he turns his attention from culture to leadership, and dr

What makes this book special isn’t just the story itself — it’s the way it makes you feel while you’re reading it. There’s an atmosphere to Chief Joy Officer How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear that’s hard to put into words, the kind that makes you instinctively reach for a warm cup and settle deeper into your chair.

What Makes It Worth Your Time

Richard Sheridan has a gift for creating characters that feel real. Not perfect, not always likable, but deeply human in ways that catch you off guard. You’ll find yourself thinking about them long after you’ve closed the book — during your morning coffee, in the shower, right before sleep.

The pacing is deliberate without being slow. Every chapter earns its place, and there’s a momentum that builds quietly until you realize you’re 200 pages deep and have completely lost track of time.

The Perfect Brew: Honey Lavender Flat White

This book calls for Honey Lavender Flat White. Silky steamed milk with raw honey and dried lavender. Gentle, layered, and unexpectedly deep — like the best character studies.

There’s something about the way this story unfolds that matches the experience of a carefully prepared cup. Both reward patience. Both reveal new layers the deeper you go. Brew a cup, settle in, and let the story and the coffee work their magic simultaneously.

KitKat’s Reading Report

Sleeping in a sunbeam with one eye cracked open, judging your reading pace. She thinks you’re slow. She has strong opinions about this one — or at least, she has strong opinions about the fact that you’re paying attention to a book instead of her, which is basically the same thing.

There’s a particular chapter about a third of the way through where things get really intense, and that’s exactly when KitKat decided to sit directly on the open page. Perfect timing, as always. We took it as a sign to pause, pet the cat, and let the weight of the scene sink in.

Who Should Read This

If you’re the kind of reader who loves getting completely lost in a story — the kind who looks up from a book and is genuinely surprised to find yourself in your own living room — this is your next read. Pair it with Honey Lavender Flat White, find your favorite spot, and give yourself permission to disappear for a while.

Final Thoughts

Chief Joy Officer How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear is the kind of book this blog exists for. It’s a story that pairs perfectly with a slow afternoon, a great cup of coffee, and a cat who may or may not be judging your emotional reactions. We loved it, KitKat tolerated it (high praise), and we think you’ll find something in these pages that stays with you.

Grab a copy, brew your cup, and let us know what you think.