Using Humor to Maximize Living: Connecting With Humor - Softcover

Morrison, Mary Kay

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1610484886 ISBN 13: 9781610484886

Publisher: R&L Education, 2012

Synopsis

Humor gets very little respect! While references to the importance of having a sense of humor are liberally sprinkled throughout the popular media, and it is usually mentioned as one of the qualities of effective employees, it is rare to find purposeful humor practice. Humor is without a doubt the one quality that most of us agree is needed in life. However, it is rare to find serious applications on the benefits of applying humor in everyday life and in our world of work. When the federal government tried to incorporate humor into a staff development program of a federal agency, there was an outcry. It seems that humor was thought to be a waste of taxpayer money, and the program was axed.

The purpose of Using Humor to Maximize Living is to affirm, sustain, and encourage people in the practice of humor not only as a personal tool to optimize a healthy life style, but also to maximize the benefits of humor in everyday life. Check out the research that includes a review on the use of humor to nurture creativity, to increase the capacity for memory retention, to support an optimal work environment, and to build safe communities that reflect the relational trust necessary for maximizing living.

About this title

About the Author

Mary Kay Morrison, founder and director of Humor Quest, is enthusiastic about exploring the links between cognitive research and humor. She is an educator who has taught at virtually every level of the educational spectrum, presenting keynote and workshop sessions for international audiences. She serves on the board of directors for AATH (Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor), and is founder and director of the AATH Humor Academy graduate and certificate programs.

Review

I’m delighted that Mary Kay Morrison has been able to put her wisdom and knowledge onto the page....The book is a grab bag for all kinds of research, observations and suggestions for how to put more fun in your life.
(Psychology Today)

Using Humor to Maximize Living captures and reviews the current research on the science of humor. It also describes some groundbreaking studies on the neurobiology of humor, as well as what we currently understand about our own humor development. As a result of these new insights, Mary Kay shows us how to truly maximize our daily living and interactions with others through the modernization of these new humor applications. Mary Kay has been teaching and facilitating workshops about the benefits of humor for over 20 years. She has a vast knowledge-base in humor and it continues to be a privilege to work together in teaching the international graduate Humor Academy classes for the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. (Lee Berk)

Using Humor to Maximize Living is a groundbreaking book that brings in the latest that neuroscience has to offer on humor and the brain. Mary Kay is a gifted teacher, writer, and trainer of people at all levels on how to apply humor to everyday living. She now takes her years of experience of working with people in both the classroom and as a trainer to share numerous practical applications. Whether you are a teacher, health care professional or lay person...you will find this book a key to a joy-filled life. (Earl Henslin)

In Using Humor to Maximize Living, Mary Kay Morrison explains and illustrates the fundamentals of “applied humor.” We’re not talking about “comedy” here, but humor that is applied in specific situations for specific purposes. This gem of a book is about creating a more humorous and joyful atmosphere at work, and doing that by incorporating humor into your leadership, management and work skills. Leaders today must know how to create teams, and motivate individuals and groups. And all workers must become more flexible and interactive with their colleagues. And this is where humor can be so helpful. Mary Kay teaches that humor is one of the important elements in a leader’s or manager’s or worker’s toolbelt of workplace skills. (Karyn Buxman)

Mary Kay Morrison's new book, Using Humor to Maximize Living, is where application meets theory. It will give you the 'how to' in living a more joyful, productive, and happy life (not to mention funnier). (Chip Lutz, president, Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor; author; and retired Navy Officer)

Morrison’s comprehensive research of the science of humor effects and life long involvement in education as a teacher, consultant, and innovator of the AATH Humor Academy have positioned her as the go- to resource in understanding the phenomenal impact of humor applied to our lives. Highly useable, this book gives us a blueprint for positive living ...an invaluable insight in today’s world. (Cheri Ellis Campbell Ph.D, Asst. Professor of Communication, University of Wisconsin, Waukesha)

“What’s to smile about in these tough economic times? If you’re looking for a lift, check out Mary Kay Morrison’s new book, using Humor to Maximize Living. Accompanying the text are cartoons by Rockford’s own Bruce Quest”

“The purpose of this book is to affirm, sustain and encourage people in the practice of humor not only as a personal tool to optimize a healthy lifestyle, but to maximize the benefits of humor in everyday life”

“Morrison is an author, speaker and educator who has taught at virtually every level of the educational spectrum, while facilitating keynote presentations and workshop sessions for the past 30 years. Her work includes integrating what we know about applying cognitive research on both the emotions (particularly humor) to learning” (Rock River Times)

Edition details

• Publisher: R&L Education
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1610484886
• ISBN 13: 9781610484886
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 270