Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected and Happy

Comedy is as essential to a healthy and happy life as diet and exercise, according to this illuminating debut from comedian Duffy. Mixing personal anecdotes with research and expert interviews, he outlines the key pillars of good humor—being present, laughing at oneself, taking social risks—before pivoting to a more serious analysis of how humor underpins different areas of life. Interpersonally, joking releases tension, inverts conflict dynamics, and helps groups and individuals bond (laughter, Duffy writes, is “a by-product of connecting honestly and deeply with each other”). Physiologically, laughter decreases blood pressure and stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin. One of the book’s most intriguing chapters explores how humor fuels innovation, partly because the willingness to not take oneself seriously is fundamental to curiosity. Duffy is a wry and funny narrator, but his best insights arrive when he sets aside his need to land a punch line and compassionately and insightfully unpacks how humor functions in deeper and more unexpected ways, such as helping to endure challenges like bullying, grief, and suffering. This will entertain and enlighten aspiring comedians and regular folks alike. (Jan.)