The Devil Emails at Midnight

What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses

De: Mita Mallick

Narrado por: Mita Mallick

In The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn From Bad Bosses, Mita Mallick shares how bad bosses aren't born. Bad bosses are made. They are a product of their circumstances. She shares hilarious and heartbreaking stories of the thirteen bad bosses she once endured and survived, even including when she was a bad boss in her career. She challenges both current and aspiring leaders to avoid the pitfalls of bad boss behavior.

With powerful storytelling and practical advice, she covers bad behaviors like never having time for our teams (except at midnight); micromanaging and re-doing all of our team's work; being completely disengaged, and disinterested in leading; ruling with fear in hopes of driving business result; loving the spotlight and taking credit for all of the work; and much, much more.

The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn From Bad Bosses is a must-listen guide on how not to become that bad boss for anyone on their journey to be a better leader. Mita reminds us that a good leader can be the difference maker: ensuring we are recognized and valued for our contributions in our organizations. So remember that the devil emails at midnight. Let's make sure that devil doesn't become you.

©2026 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (P)2025 Ascent Audio

A Powerful Reminder of the Cost of Bad Leadership

I just finished The Devil Emails at Midnight and could not put it down. It pulled me in from start to finish — I read it in one weekend. The author’s story is courageous, eye-opening, and painfully relatable for anyone who’s ever had to navigate unhealthy leadership. This isn’t just a book for new managers — every manager should read it, and honestly, it should be reviewed annually as a reminder of what leadership should look like in practice. We can all learn from bad bosses — not just what to avoid, but how to lead people well.

The honesty and vulnerability of the author.

Content is very relatable to the those of us who have had bad experiences with bosses. Narration on Audible is easy to listen to.

The vidid examples of different types of bosses and the behaviors these bad bosses exhibit. So brilliantly written

Liked everything! I could have listened to more and more examples of bad bosses. So brilliantly written

Heartfelt, relatable and true

I started off thinking I’d read only about the devil-boss who emailed at midnight, but ended up seeing the different versions of devil-bosses, which to some extent, I have experienced or heard about. Mita helped me put a name to each category and the story was narrated in a way that was very relatable.
The book is also a lesson in leadership & one of the additional things I have taken away is that we could unknowingly be bad bosses and so we must be aware of our feelings & triggers, and catch ourselves if we start to act unusual. From the stats and impact of bad leadership, I have extra reasons to not be it.
I absolutely loved the book and glad I caught her post that day on LinkedIn.

Engaging and personal reflection on leadership through the lens of Bad Bosses.

I listened to Mita’s latest book on a recent roadtrip with my wife and we found ourselves pausing and sharing our own stories of bad boss experiences and our own leadership challenges in both corporate and non-profit settings. Mita’s a gifted communicator and this is a must “read” for anyone trying identify blind spots step up their management game. I particularly appreciated how Mita told the story both through the lens of her bad bosses and her own experience as a bad boss at times. Highly recommended.

Every person needs to read/listen to this book!

I am almost finished with the book and already 100% convinced that the book should be given to every single employee, at every single company during new hire orientation! No exceptions. Thank you for speaking the truth, shining a light on what every single one of us has experienced and thought we were alone. Better yet, you provide actionable things that every single employee and manager can do so turn the situation around. This is a must read for everyone! You knocked it out of the park!!!

A Great Read for Individual Contributors and People Leaders Alike

I really enjoyed this insightful dissection of the different ways bad bosses show up based on the author’s experience. It was packed with practical advice on how look at these examples and avoiding those same behaviors as a leader.

Honest, relatable. Small moments matter.

From the opening line, "The Devil Emails at Midnight" feels like it’s speaking directly to you. The author’s voice carries honesty and self-awareness from the introduction through every story. Each situation echoing the quiet truth of “this has happened to me,” and, even more powerfully, “it’s okay for it to happen to you too.”

Mita brings decades of experience and perspective, showing how the seemingly small choices we make can ripple far beyond the moment. Through her stories, you see how each interaction tilts the scale, and how choosing to add to the positive side can leave a real, lasting impact on others.

Her reflections serve as both caution and guidance, offering practical advice on navigating complex workplaces and relationships without losing your sense of self. Mita reminds us that awareness and empathy aren’t just nice traits, they’re powerful tools for building trust, resilience, and a better culture wherever we work.

In an age where technology amplifies every message and moment, "The Devil Emails at Midnight" offers perspective on how to use those tools for good. Advice on connecting thoughtfully, leading with intention, and adding humanity back into even our most digital interactions. It’s a timely reminder that behind every screen is a person who can be uplifted or undone by what we choose to send and put out into the world.

What a whinge fest!

Self indulgent rubbish. The author claims the boss is too busy to pay attention to her. Well you were an intern and your boss actually had a busier job than you. Pull your big girl pants on and get over yourself.