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The Laughing Cure: Emotional and Physical Healing—A Comedian Reveals Why Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine
Dr. Brian King is a psychologist and stand-up comedian whose humor therapy seminars are attended by more than ten thousand people each year. In The Laughing Cure , King combines wit with medical research to reveal the benefits of laughter and humor on physical and emotional health.
King’s language is humorous and uplifting, and his advice is backed by science. Studies featured in The Laughing Cure show how laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, boosts immune systems, and triggers endorphins. They show how laughter relieves depression, and even makes us more productive, loving, and kind.
The tips and techniques featured inside can be used for current conditions and as preventative medicine. Through humor and science King explains why much–talked-about but little-understood methods of therapy such as laughter yoga actually work and how we can better incorporate humor into our lives.
Very few doctors have the ability to heal the way that King does; his method is cheap, easy, and chemical-free. Even fun! This wonderful, transformative, and provocative read shows how—and why—laughter saves lives.
King’s language is humorous and uplifting, and his advice is backed by science. Studies featured in The Laughing Cure show how laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, boosts immune systems, and triggers endorphins. They show how laughter relieves depression, and even makes us more productive, loving, and kind.
The tips and techniques featured inside can be used for current conditions and as preventative medicine. Through humor and science King explains why much–talked-about but little-understood methods of therapy such as laughter yoga actually work and how we can better incorporate humor into our lives.
Very few doctors have the ability to heal the way that King does; his method is cheap, easy, and chemical-free. Even fun! This wonderful, transformative, and provocative read shows how—and why—laughter saves lives.
- GenresNonfiction
268 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2016
45 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Brian King
5 books68 followersDr. Brian King trained as a neuroscientist and psychologist and for the past decade has traveled the world as a comedian and public speaker. By day he conducts seminars, presented nationwide and attended by thousands of people each year, on positive psychology, the health benefits of humor, and stress management. By night he practices what he teaches in comedy clubs. Dr. Brian began performing stand-up comedy in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2009, and has performed hundreds of shows around the world. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas, a master's degree from the University of New Orleans, and a PhD from Bowling Green State University, and is the author of The Laughing Cure. Dr. Brian hails from New York City and today spends his life on the road, traveling regularly with his partner, Sarah, and their young daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 21, 2017
5 stars! But I may be slightly biased...
November 25, 2019
Summary: This is a good book to walk through a few of the physiological aspects of laughter. Depends on your sense of humor whether you find King to be funny. Hopefully you do, b/c it's written in the 1st and 2nd person.
I was reading this b/c I was trying to understand if there was work on the way in which laughter might keep you young. In that regard, this book more or less succeeded. You just had to pull it out of fairly extensive prose that is, for me, largely irrelevant. It's not that he's a bad writer or not funny. I just was trying to get some specific information and would have preferred to just get right to the point sans the sidebar. Hence, I did not find the sidebar as funny so much as questionably relevant. Sorry. I know that prob hurts, but I did give it 4 stars. My preference would have been to give me a 1 liner and then a punch line. But trying to make a case for why you're funny or why you might be an awesome comedian seemed like advertising overload to me.
I did love that he talked about the way in which the body experiences laughter. It promotes oxytocin and a few endorphines. actually many of the same things that you get from deeper sleep. In this way, the endorphin release allows for higher pain tolerance.
I noted the whole concept that laughter does not allow for breathing. Intriguing as a concept b/c breath is so vital in other ways for longevity.
I need another more sciencey book, I think but I think I'm alone in that, so I only took off 1 star.
I was reading this b/c I was trying to understand if there was work on the way in which laughter might keep you young. In that regard, this book more or less succeeded. You just had to pull it out of fairly extensive prose that is, for me, largely irrelevant. It's not that he's a bad writer or not funny. I just was trying to get some specific information and would have preferred to just get right to the point sans the sidebar. Hence, I did not find the sidebar as funny so much as questionably relevant. Sorry. I know that prob hurts, but I did give it 4 stars. My preference would have been to give me a 1 liner and then a punch line. But trying to make a case for why you're funny or why you might be an awesome comedian seemed like advertising overload to me.
I did love that he talked about the way in which the body experiences laughter. It promotes oxytocin and a few endorphines. actually many of the same things that you get from deeper sleep. In this way, the endorphin release allows for higher pain tolerance.
I noted the whole concept that laughter does not allow for breathing. Intriguing as a concept b/c breath is so vital in other ways for longevity.
I need another more sciencey book, I think but I think I'm alone in that, so I only took off 1 star.
January 9, 2021
A psychologist and a comedian walk into your living room...
...and somehow, they’re the same guy. Ba-dum-tsh!
Sorry - I’m no professional jokester.
However, I am a confident reader and was thrilled with this book. King writes in a very conversational tone without a whole lot of five dollar words. Occasionally, he brings science into the equation, but he handles it deftly and focuses more on the accessible insights than the rigours of academia.
Overall, the book takes you through three key stages: what, why, and how. It’ll help you understand the basics of what humour is thought to be; why it matters; and how to leverage it.
The bonus of the book is King’s humanizing of the ideas with case studies/testimonials from comedians and people living with various health challenges using humour in a strategic manner.
In a nutshell, a great foundation on humour. It doesn’t go so deep as to spoil the fun but it provides enough insight to help you appreciate the importance of humour for the Hunan experience.
...and somehow, they’re the same guy. Ba-dum-tsh!
Sorry - I’m no professional jokester.
However, I am a confident reader and was thrilled with this book. King writes in a very conversational tone without a whole lot of five dollar words. Occasionally, he brings science into the equation, but he handles it deftly and focuses more on the accessible insights than the rigours of academia.
Overall, the book takes you through three key stages: what, why, and how. It’ll help you understand the basics of what humour is thought to be; why it matters; and how to leverage it.
The bonus of the book is King’s humanizing of the ideas with case studies/testimonials from comedians and people living with various health challenges using humour in a strategic manner.
In a nutshell, a great foundation on humour. It doesn’t go so deep as to spoil the fun but it provides enough insight to help you appreciate the importance of humour for the Hunan experience.
May 10, 2017
Love this book. Mostly, there's this awesome passage that begins on page 126. You should check it out.
November 8, 2019
This book is a shining reminder to stop taking life so seriously. Laugh more, be happy. Dr King brings a different perspective to stress management.
May 3, 2016
This is a unique book, don't see too many real doctors (psychiatrist) who are also stand-up comedians, although it's actually quite a logical intersection. I have a very similar background, mental health counseling and stand-up comedy hobbyist, so this book was close to home for me. Probably won't find a better book out there that addresses the physical, emotional, and mental aspects and benefits of humor. One thing I would have enjoyed more is more discussion about the spiritual/sacred aspects of humor because they are certainly there. I found this book more interesting than funny, think the author might have focused on neuroscience, love reading serious exploration and examination of comedy and humor! I also would have enjoyed him speaking more about the psychological profiles of those who do comedy because we ain't like most folks for certain! One minor quibble, he comes off as sounding like somewhat of a professional apologist when he's preaching about patients having faith in their medication and counseling interventions, true, but some doctors are simply peddling medication for kickbacks from the pharm reps too.
August 1, 2016
Disclaimer: Brian is a friend in real life, and this book is true to his knowledge and personality.
I really enjoyed this book, and I am not a fan of "self-help" type books. Thankfully, Brian isn't either! The chapters are short, but concise and breaks down the science behind laughter, humor and happiness enough that someone who hasn't been in the field can easily understand the brain and other psychological concepts, but not so far down that someone who is familiar with the concepts feels like they're sitting in undergrad classes again.
There are also more than enough fart jokes to appease the 5 year old in all of us.
I highly recommend this book to pretty much everyone (and your mother too)!
I really enjoyed this book, and I am not a fan of "self-help" type books. Thankfully, Brian isn't either! The chapters are short, but concise and breaks down the science behind laughter, humor and happiness enough that someone who hasn't been in the field can easily understand the brain and other psychological concepts, but not so far down that someone who is familiar with the concepts feels like they're sitting in undergrad classes again.
There are also more than enough fart jokes to appease the 5 year old in all of us.
I highly recommend this book to pretty much everyone (and your mother too)!
July 28, 2016
I really, really enjoyed this book! As a mental health therapist, there was some great information in the book about how the brain works, how happiness and laughter affect people's behaviors, and ways to incorporate laughter into therapy and treatment for both anxiety and depression. I have met Dr. King at a conference, and he was an absolute pleasure! I thoroughly enjoyed his book, and highly recommend to anyone!
January 6, 2019
Laughter makes one happy. It increases activity in the brain which produces endorphins. Laughter also decreases pain, reduces stress, and is very valuable in establishing good social bonds. This book goes into why this is all true. While I already knew some of what I had read, I learned some new things and it was a good reminder to lighten up!
November 7, 2019
Good stress buster.
February 26, 2023
This author is purposely offensive and that finally got to me. The laughing educational parts are ok. But I'm not interested in education AND a dirty mind. I get that as a comic, he has a style. It was not my style.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews