Humor can help you thrive in change, remain creative under pressure, work more effectively, play more enthusiastically, and stay healthier in the process. But humor is also a set of specific, learned skills, and like any other discipline, these skills need to be developed. Lighten Up shows you how to build these skills so that you can see the absurdity in difficult situations and take yourself lightly while you take your job, problem, or challenge seriously.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Prescribing humor to combat stress and liberate creativity, corporate consultant Metcalf--aided by his business-partner wife Felible--seeks to restore humor to those damaged by childhood traumas and dogged by problems as adults. Although the authors attempt to cover too much psychological ground, they illustrate persuasively, with examples from real life and fiction, how humor can dispel fear and tension in a crisis and improve negative attitudes by recognizing the absurdities of life--even war. While medical and psychological research confirms the value of humor as therapy, Metcalf and Felible warn that conditions such as depression and drug and alcohol addictions must be controlled by other, more drastic means before the benefits of humor can be appreciated. The writers recommend "working happier instead of harder" and observing an "etiquette" of humor sensitive to the feelings of others. Finally, they suggest that developing humor may enhance our last years and aid in facing death.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
C.W. Metcalf and Roma Felible are a husband-and-wife writing team as well as business partners. C.W. Metcalf and Company consults worldwide on the role of humor in managing oneself and others. C.W. Metcalf and Roma Felible are a husband-and-wife writing team as well as business partners. C.W. Metcalf and Company consults worldwide on the role of humor in managing oneself and others.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The book is self-indulgent and preachy, BUT it helped me in (1992) stopping beating myself up about getting laid off.
Metcalf says, "it's better to look at what works before you focus on what's broken." There are a couple other things. The author suggests you try to have "plus events," like every day try to cite things that went well in your life. This advice is so easy to ignore when things are going badly or when you're feeling depressed. Metcalf also warns us against information angst and what's called junk reality, that is, junk news crap that comes off the television. He calls it "CNN-ility." He wants us to use our facial muscles that help smiling occur. Metcalf lists the anatotomical names for each of these muscles in the face, something that I found funny while illuminating.
Among the author's recommendations is "Juggling for the Complete Klutz" by Steve Allen, Jr., "A Bag of Tricks" by Jane Sanborne, and a book called "Play Fair: Everybody's Guide to Non-Competitive Play" by Matt Weinstein and Jack Goodman.
Metcalf does assess the nature of play quite fairly, distinguishing it from competitive sports and games. Play, he says, is non-competitive. It is supposed to be spontaneous and fun and non-competitive, and I think that that's exactly a great description of play. Metcalf recommends that you save or collect things that make for humor, that make for pleasantry, that make for joy. Create lists where you know you can rely upon these things to turn you on and make you laugh. Good jokes -- for any down periods that might come along.
Last night I watched "Stiff Upper Lips," a British comedy of manners and foibles about the upper class. It put a grin on my face several times and at least once I hooted out loud while watching it. I think you have to be a mature adult, however, to appreciate it. But I can recommend it as something worthwhile that can lighten you up.
271 pages
Metcalf says, "it's better to look at what works before you focus on what's broken." There are a couple other things. The author suggests you try to have "plus events," like every day try to cite things that went well in your life. This advice is so easy to ignore when things are going badly or when you're feeling depressed. Metcalf also warns us against information angst and what's called junk reality, that is, junk news crap that comes off the television. He calls it "CNN-ility." He wants us to use our facial muscles that help smiling occur. Metcalf lists the anatotomical names for each of these muscles in the face, something that I found funny while illuminating.
Among the author's recommendations is "Juggling for the Complete Klutz" by Steve Allen, Jr., "A Bag of Tricks" by Jane Sanborne, and a book called "Play Fair: Everybody's Guide to Non-Competitive Play" by Matt Weinstein and Jack Goodman.
Metcalf does assess the nature of play quite fairly, distinguishing it from competitive sports and games. Play, he says, is non-competitive. It is supposed to be spontaneous and fun and non-competitive, and I think that that's exactly a great description of play. Metcalf recommends that you save or collect things that make for humor, that make for pleasantry, that make for joy. Create lists where you know you can rely upon these things to turn you on and make you laugh. Good jokes -- for any down periods that might come along.
Last night I watched "Stiff Upper Lips," a British comedy of manners and foibles about the upper class. It put a grin on my face several times and at least once I hooted out loud while watching it. I think you have to be a mature adult, however, to appreciate it. But I can recommend it as something worthwhile that can lighten you up.
271 pages
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am buying this book because I went to a CW lecture/performance. He was a truly amazing man who used humor to help pople recover from horrific experiences. His relating of the courage of the survivors he worked with showing the aburdity, beauty, sensitivity, fragility and toughness of life is magnificent. The humorous perspective gained by his clients is humbling when you consider the traumas they have coped with. I hope some of these experiences are included in this book. I'll always remember and be grateful for his humor and gift of communication.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I almost put this book in my "to be donated" pile when I began reading it. But, I am SO glad that I stayed with it. It is truly one of the BEST books I have ever read and I will CHERISH IT. (I've already read the entire book, cover to cover, twice!!!) Invest in this book, you will NOT be sorry!!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Monumental Bore
Thank goodness I am a fast reader. The three hours spent reading this supposedly enlightening self-help book are three hours of my life I'd like to have back. Read more
Published on June 5, 2009 by Steven D. Wike
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. Read more
Published on February 28, 2006 by Vyto Stoskus
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. Read more
Published on September 9, 2003 by Dr. W. G. Covington, Jr.
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
THE need to lighten up and remain creative under pressure is often. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
humor skills, negative humor, humor perspective, attitudinal healing, clown nose Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Terminal Professionalism, Bat Face, Center of the Universe, Alcoholics Anonymous, Sylvie Washington, Photo Funnies, Terminally Professional, Captain Haynes, Harvey Brenner, Jerry Jampolsky, Joan Borysenko, Wall Street Journal, Zygo Boogie, Consenting-Adult Humor Contract, Draw the Line, Mickey Mouse, Snake Eating Its Tail, Christian Hageseth, Los Angeles, New Zealand, Steve Allen New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
THE need to lighten up and remain creative under pressure is often. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
humor skills, negative humor, humor perspective, attitudinal healing, clown nose Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Terminal Professionalism, Bat Face, Center of the Universe, Alcoholics Anonymous, Sylvie Washington, Photo Funnies, Terminally Professional, Captain Haynes, Harvey Brenner, Jerry Jampolsky, Joan Borysenko, Wall Street Journal, Zygo Boogie, Consenting-Adult Humor Contract, Draw the Line, Mickey Mouse, Snake Eating Its Tail, Christian Hageseth, Los Angeles, New Zealand, Steve Allen New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 50
books:
See all 50 books this book cites
- Healthy Pleasures by Robert E. Ornstein on 5 pages
- Darkness Visible (Random House Large Print) by William Styron on 5 pages
- Iron John by Robert Bly on 4 pages
- Adaptation to Life by George E. Vaillant on page 66, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Minding the Body, Mending the Mind (Bantam New Age Books) by Joan Borysenko on page 110, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 50 books this book cites
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