Laughter Therapy: How to Laugh About Everything in Your Life That Isn't Really Funny Paperback – November 29, 2006

There are countless number of books, movies, and internet sites for jokes and that is not what this book is about. The hard earned wisdom distilled into this book is far more important and useful than that! The author, Annette Goodheart, is a pioneer in discovering how important laughter is to our mental and physical health and how it can help us through life's many down turns. Most importantly, it provides guidance on HOW TO LAUGH WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM ANYONE OR ANYTHING ELSE - even when we are at our lowest physical or mental state. It also teaches us the different types of humor - that which connects and that which separates people.We all need to understand that laughter has the power to heal virtually anything, but also the power to hurt immensely. The author describes how laughter can be misunderstood and heavily discouraged at times due to social norms and prejudices. Through her personal experiences and those of her clients we learn to put the power of laughter into our own hands and use it daily to maintain and improve our health and happiness. The most important thing to learn from this book is: Do not wait to be happy in order to laugh - rather laugh now, even in your worst mood, and the laughter will lift you towards happiness - perhaps not all at once, but it will have a noticeable positive effect! It is a life skill we can learn and this book shows us how.

As a mental health professional, I used Dr. Goodheart's videos in group therapy settings. Her ability to help people through catharsis/laughing and crying is a wonderful skill to learn. Learning how to reframe our thinking about "serious" topics such as major illness, life changes, mental health, etc, is really vital to our learning how to be healthier. I am using her material for "laughter seminars". This book isn't a book of jokes designed to make you laugh, it's designed to teach you how to reframe your thinking and how to get more joy and laughter out of life. I highly recommend this book.

So glad to discover that there is a field called "Laughter Therapy." I'm now interested in watching Dr. Goodheart's videos and learning more about how laughter can heal and what the research says. I'm old enough to remember Norman Cousins and his laughing himself to health watching funny movies. I would only give this book a 4 because of her mentions of Bill Cosby and some other now ill-reputed comedians. Perhaps she can revise to leave these names out. I'm glad she talked about the dark side of humor, as well.

Highly recommend Annette's view take on laughter and humor. This is research that really deserves more modern-day recognition (as I believe she's the first woman to research and publisher her own work on laughter therapy!). Though she has now passed, her uplifting words breath so much life through the pages that render this book timeless. Will be retuning to my copy again and again for guidance and necessary reminders to keep laughing!

When I laughed at my brothers funeral, I couldn't understand why I was laughing at such a sad occasion.The best answer I got from Annette Goodhearts book: We laugh to release tension, stress and pain!The first part of the book goes through the various themes of laughter functionality and the second part gives practical suggestions of bringing more laughter into our lives.Annette Goodheart is a master of explaining and teaching about laughter in a fun, no nonsense, loving way.Unfortunately, she is no longer with us, but she left us with this outstanding book of her life work and passion.

The book came in great condition, and so my five-star review is for the quality of the product itself rather than the contents of the book.Book review: The entire book is very repetitive. I needed it for a holistic health course and did not gain any knowledge from this book. All the book says is to change your perspective about everything and laugh at life instead. Common sense, imo.

AHHA HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHHHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH.read the book! see the youtube video!a decisive victory for nonsense as good medicine and such heavy subjects as 'lightening up'. that laughter is great therapy is proof of the existence of some Pow'r that seems to care for mankind.hhahahaahahahahahahahahohohohohooo o ho ho ho hoh oho nngghhhhhh....

although I do find laughter therapy does help, didn't think much of this book