Lighten Up: Survival Skills for People Under Pressure

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. (May)