If I were a librarian, I would be stymied on where to shelve this book. Discover the Power of Laughter is a complete combination of genres. Much of it is storytelling narrative, as the authors enlighten us with their journeys to and through laughter. Lots of it is historical, research-based analysis of laughter as an art form, a supportive tool, an emotional release, and a community engager. And large segments are self-improvement how-tos that engage the reader in active play. Thankfully, I can hold a place for it on my home bookshelf.
Twin sisters, Sarah Routman and Rachael Siegelman, separately and together, take the reader on a journey of laughter. The book is approachable from a variety of angles. As an intellectual, I enjoyed the research and resource-based material. It employed a balanced approach, examining both factual and emotionally based understandings of laughter and its powers. It was well contextualized by looking also at the authors’ own lives and their different internal instincts regarding laughter.
The bulk of the book is more of a manual. The authors emphasize laughter as play. They have created games and activities to inspire readers to develop their own laughter practice.
The games themselves are malleable to various circumstances. You can use them to build your own relationship with laughter and move towards a mindful and playful process. There are also tools and exercises designed to engage self-protection, develop strength and confidence, and cope with both light and major emotional upheavals.
One of the unique things about these lessons is that the authors designed the program to be accessible and useful. The games are codified so you can look them up easily. There is even a QR code that can lead you to your desired information on their website, including portable cards. The book is structured to engage you in active practice and skill development. Be prepared to laugh out loud.
Overall, I’m glad I read and played with this book. My only criticism would be that it is so dense that it took a while to sort through all the information. Optimally, I leave it with a run of enjoyable experiences and a stockpile of new opportunities for healthy laughter.
Start the journey and, as the sisters teach, EGBOK! (Everything’s going to be OK)
Discover the Power of Laughter is available online as a paperback or PDF for an e-reader.
I love this! What an awesome review. This book is life changing. I know at first glance others may think it’s just a book about laughter. But this is so much more. This is a masterclass at fixing your life. I loved your in-depth explanation. It is hard to articulate the simplicity of this book. Finally a book for everyone!