Reviews (5)

Helps us lighten the load of life on a daily basis.
Educational and entertaining, this book relays convincing evidence as to the psychological and physiological benefits of humor. The author gives concrete and helpgful techniques and suggestions as to how we can begin to bring more joy and laughter into our lives. Lots of humorous anecdotes and examples bring the points home.I found this book informative and motivational.

A staple item for the humor lover's bookshelf
Since reading this book in 1994, I have used it as a reference for my life AND work. Using a warm and witty style of writing, Allen teaches us the physiological and emotional benefits of mirth.My favorite chapter title is "Strike While the Irony is Hot!"So clever!! I recommend this book to friends who are facing life challenges and to everyone who attends my workshops.On a more personal note, since embracing The Healing Power of Humor, I felt freer to add a little levity to my Aunt Alice's funeral.My family was amazingly grateful.Me too!

A real pick-me-up
Wonderful book, which truly elevated my spirits so much that people started complimenting me about my positive attitude.Good bedtime reading.Chapters are written so that you study one "lesson" per day. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adjustment (Psychology)    2. Death, Grief, Bereavement    3. Emotions    4. General    5. Laughter    6. Psychological aspects    7. Psychology    8. Self-Help    9. Wit and humor    10. Self-Help & Practical Interests    11. Self-Help / General    12. therapy   

Editorial Review

Is it really the best medicine? Neurobiologist Robert R. Provine discovered that no scientist had ever looked into the weird, uncontrollable, and very human phenomenon of laughter, so he started off on his own. Read more

Reviews (10)

Worth a look, but.... 3.7 stars
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Interesting Insights into Studying and Exploring Laughter
A purely simple behaviour at a glimpse, laughter has largely been under-studied.Provine discusses how he learned how to study laughter, and provides simple facts about laughter that have gone largely unnoticed. Furthermore, he tackles the evolutionary links between bipedalism, speech and language through his studies on laughter.He takes a fascinating look into how laughter can serve as a powerful probe into social behaviours.Reading laughter will give you a whole new view of this instinctive behaviour, and it will begin to shed light on the psychological and biological importance of this ancient remnant.Laughter is an exceptionally entertaining book!It is not a complex read, but a must-read for the inquisitive-minded individual.

Disappointing
IMHO, this doesn�t yield any valuable conceptual insights into humor. Read more

Subjects:  1. Emotions    2. Laughter    3. Life Sciences - Human Anatomy & Physiology    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Research & Methodology    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / Emotions   

Reviews (2)

To make a Freudian slip on a banana peel
Freud did not see jokes as minor nonsense and insignificance. He saw them as deeper messages delivered to us from our unconscious. He saw them as telling the secrets about ourselves to ourselves and the world that we do not necessarily want to tell. He saw them as acts of aggression and as acts of self- defense. In fact Freud is one of the few theorists of jokes and laughter that the world has had. In my opinion while Freud's understanding of jokes is not exhaustive and all- comprehensive it does illuminate much about a certain kind of humor. And it does teach us something about ourselves which we had not really noticed before Freud taught it to us. Freud himself is of course a source of endless jokes today , but it is not wrong to say that at least some of these jokes should be about his great genius and ability to see and say where others before him did not.

Freud loosens up a little
The logic of Freud can sometimes be overbearing when he is dealing with the makings of a joke.However, he does at times seem to drop his guard, speak in easy to understand terms, and give information that can be understood.If anyone is pursuing comedy in any form, this book would be helpful, and will help you compare your analyzation of what you do with someone who knew very well how the human mind worked.I've applied several of his concepts on stage and have found them successful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Movements - Behaviorism    2. Personality    3. Psychoanalysis    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Subconsciousness    7. Wit and humor    8. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory   

Subjects:  1. Emotions    2. General    3. Psychological aspects    4. Psychology    5. Psychology Of Humor    6. Social Psychology    7. Therapeutic use    8. Wit and humor    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / Emotions    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / Social Psychology    11. Social, group or collective psychology   

Subjects:  1. Humor in children    2. Psychological aspects    3. Wit and humor   

Subjects:  1. Aging    2. Older people    3. Psychological aspects    4. Psychology    5. Wit and humor   

Reviews (1)

Humor at Work
A must read for anyone that has to work with people, which is everyone.I am now using this book with my training of new co-workers. It is great. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business Life - General    3. Humor    4. Humor in the workplace    5. Interpersonal relations    6. Psychological aspects    7. Social aspects    8. Topic - Business and Professional    9. Wit and humor   

Reviews (2)

El humor sabe y huele a nosotros
Siempre he tenido muy en cuenta el sentido del humor de las personas. Y creo que detrás del sentido del humor está el sentido del interior. Algunas personas tienen el sentido del humor más agudo, pero esto no quiere decir que todos no tengamos un lado humorístico. En este libro FREUDhabla como perfectamente lo resume el título de su libro, sobre el humor y su relación con el subconsciente. Qué nos motiva a hacer un chsite, qué hay detrás de un comentario mordaz, los chistes que tienen un propósito específico. Los chistes hostiles, los obscenos... "Jokes lies in technique".

Jokes are not a joke
For Freud jokes were not just fooling around, not primarily a means of play, not in short something of trivial importance. Rather they were expressions of our deepest instinctual drives and needs. Like errors in everyday life they are governed by an inner intentionality, and purposiveness.
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Subjects:  1. Emotions    2. Literature: Classics    3. Movements - Psychoanalysis    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Subconsciousness    7. Wit and humor    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychoanalysis   

Reviews (10)

piss-yourselffunny anda classic? yep, yep, yep.
examples from t.v. shows I grew up watching so
THIS IS A RIOT.Buy the book and give yourself a new friend!
I read this book a couple of years ago and liked it but I just read it again because I am going through a bad time (divorce, hate my job, getting fed up with y teenage kids) and it cheered me up like taking a piece of cake from a dessert cart when somebody else is paying.Highly recommended.

Fantastic study of women's humor
I read this book after seeing the author speak at a local college. She was wonderful! This book totally met my expectations. It's not a collection of jokes, but it is uplifting. Regina Barreca also makes excellent points about the dynamics of power between men and women, in addition to how humor can either confirm or alter these dynamics. I would recommend this to anyone interested in feminism and/or humor. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Form - Essays    2. General    3. Humor    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Wit and humor    7. Women    8. Women's Studies - General    9. Humour    10. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. General    3. Humor    4. Humor in the workplace    5. Personal Growth - General    6. Psychological aspects    7. Success    8. Wit and humor    9. Management & management techniques   

Subjects:  1. Comedy    2. Comedy (Performing Arts)    3. General    4. Laughter    5. Philosophy    6. Political aspects    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Psychological aspects    9. Sociology    10. Wit and humor    11. Non-Classifiable    12. Performing Arts   

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Exercise/Health    2. Audio Adult: New Age    3. Healing    4. Laughter    5. Medicine, Psychosomatic    6. Personal Growth - Happiness    7. Psychological aspects    8. Self-Help    9. Therapeutic use    10. Wit and humor    11. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    12. Popular psychology   

Reviews (2)

Open up your mind
It's a shame the only other reviewer as of early 2006 is quick to attack the book on religious grounds. Most societies have religion to thank for their lack of humor. Open up, live a little and prepare yourselves for the shock when u die and find that u didn't have the truth after all.

Advocates Appropriate Use of Humor
Humor is an instrument of healing if used properly, not a destructive weapon to be used to put down other people. Such is the philosophy of Metcalf, who along with his wife Roma Felible offer a set of skills built around that claim. The book has strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, the argument that humor is a healing tonic has validity. They offer evidence of recent scientific studies that support this principle which goes back at least as far as the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. Some of the skills they offer are doable and can be applied by virtually anyone. The disappointment comes at the end of the book. The chapter about death is NOT from a Christian perspective, but from that of a Buddhdist Since Buddha's still in his grave no hope is offered, just a shallow "be positive" which is an awful substitue for the promise offered by Jesus who is NOT in His grave. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business/Economics    2. General    3. Laughter    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Stress Management    7. Wit and humor    8. Coping with stress    9. Popular psychology    10. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Subjects:  1. Communication    2. Emotions    3. Laughter    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Psychology Of Humor    7. Sociology    8. Wit and humor    9. Anthropology    10. Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication   

Reviews (5)

Laughter & Relationships
Belly Laughter in Relationships is the "Chicken Soup" of the New Millenium!Enda Junkins has developed a creative, funny and upbeat approach for couples to live by and to grow their relationships.The cartoons and real life examples are engaging and simple to follow.This book is a great adventure for all relationships and provides a strong roadmap for couples to live successful lives.

Thought provoking guide to life-long friendship & marriage.
Written by a relationship expert Enda Junkins, Belly Laughter In Relationships: Something Else Positive Below The Belt shows how laughter truly is the best medicine and approaches therapy from a lighter point of view. Laughter can be used to deepen joy, increase tolerance, and enrich core aspects of life. Belly Laughter In Relationships shows the reader how to keep laughing and having fun with his or her partner; how and why laughter is vital for long-lasting, loving relationshps; how to utlize laughter and humor to achieve effective commmunication; how to use laughter to tolerate behavior in others; how to use laughter to ease, enrich, and revitalize personal issues involving sex, money, children, and housework; and how to laugh and maintain a relationship with a serious partner. A thought-provoking guide to life-long friendships and marriages, Belly Laughter In Relationships is highly recommended and rewarding reading.

Finding Something Funny on a Serious Subject
This is an entertaining book on a serious subject. The reading is enjoyable and there is a lot of beneficial information for couples. The cartoons are an added plus. A series of exercises help couples practice bringing laughter in their relationships. I highly recommend this book for anyone in a relationship. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Couples    2. Emotions    3. Family & Relationships / Interpersonal Relations    4. Humor    5. Interpersonal Relations    6. Laughter    7. Love    8. Love & Romance    9. Man-woman relationships    10. Psychology    11. Self-Help    12. Topic - Relationships    13. Family & Relationships    14. Interpersonal communication    15. Psychological aspects   

Subjects:  1. Emotions    2. Humor    3. Laughter    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Wit and humor    7. Social, group or collective psychology   

Editorial Review

Remember "Coffee Talk," the Read more

Reviews (85)

self-help woman can't help herself
the author tries to secondguess the main criticism I have of this book not functioning as advertised by opening one chapter with something like "I don't know if it's obvious, but this is allegedly supposed to be a self-help book", and she goes on to say something about how the "self" in "self-help" means that you have to be the one to do the work. in that case, why waste anyone's time spending most of a book repeating several main details of her life and how messed up it is, adding a little more random detail each time she makes an equally random jump back or forth in the chronology?
I liked it, but ...
I feel like the Grinch of all time for saying this, but Linda Richman is really not that funny. Mike Meyers based The Coffee Tawk Lady on her, but it's Mike Meyers that's funny, not his muse. So if you're looking for someone who can make you laugh out loud through your tears, I suggest you look elsewhere. That said, her advice was sound. Her heart is good, her tips are wise and accessible, and she seems like she has a good heart. But sorry, she's not a laugh riot. And her wisdom, while sincere and hard-earned, was not all that insightful.

woman of strength
Linda Richman has provided her women readers with an honest, charming, uplifting true story of personal triumph over emotional darkness. Through her experiences the reader can learn valuable tools on coping with negative emotions.For readers who enjoy this book, I would further recommend Candles in the Darkness, a similarly inspiring true story of women triumphing over crises with humor, faith and friendship. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Happiness    3. Laughter    4. Personal Growth - Happiness    5. Psychological aspects    6. Psychology    7. Self-Help    8. Wit and humor    9. Fiction / General    10. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Subjects:  1. 1856-1939    2. Form - Jokes & Riddles    3. Freud, Sigmund,    4. General    5. History and criticism    6. Humor    7. Jewish wit and humor    8. Jokes    9. Psychological aspects    10. Satire And Humor    11. Sociology    12. Wit and humor    13. Freud, Sigmund    14. Views on humor   

Subjects:  1. Comic, The    2. Laughter    3. Psychological aspects    4. Wit and humor   

Subjects:  1. History and criticism    2. Psychological aspects    3. Wit and humor