Overview

WALL STREET JOURNAL, LOS ANGELES TIMES, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER • Anyone—even you!—can learn how to harness the power of humor in business (and life), based on the popular class at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.   Don’t miss the authors’ TED Talk, “Why great leaders take humor seriously,” online now. “The ultimate guide to using the magical power of funny as a tool for leadership and a force for good.”—Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When and Drive We are living through a period of unprecedented uncertainty and upheaval in both our personal and professional lives. So it should come as a surprise to exactly no one that trust, human connection, and mental well-being are all on the decline.   This may seem like no laughing matter. Yet, the research shows that humor and laughter are among the most valuable tools we have at our disposal for strengthening bonds and relationships, diffusing stress and tension, boosting resilience, and performing when the stakes are high.    That’s why Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas teach the popular course Humor: Serious Business at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where they help some of the world’s most hard-driving, blazer-wearing business minds infuse more humor and levity into their work and lives. In Humor, Seriously, they draw on findings by behavioral scientists, world-class comedians, and inspiring business leaders to reveal how humor works and—more important—how you can use more of it, better. Aaker and Bagdonas unpack the theory and application of humor: what makes something funny, how to mine your life for material, and simple ways to identify and leverage your unique humor style. They show how to use humor to rebuild vital connections; appear more confident, competent, and authentic at work; and foster cultures where levity and creativity can thrive. President Dwight David Eisenhower once said, “A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.” If Dwight David Eisenhower, the second least naturally funny president (after Franklin Pierce), thought humor was necessary to win wars, build highways, and warn against the military-industrial complex, then you might consider learning it too.

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We've all heard the old saying, 'Laughter is the best medicine.' Well, as it turns out, our grandmothers were right; there is rigorous science that validates this timeless wisdom. In this eye-opening and utterly enjoyable book, Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas explain why regular doses of humor can nourish our minds, bodies, and souls. If you want to find out how you can trade in your stress, anxiety, and burnout for levity, laughter, and joy, read this now. --Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas have written a remarkable book for a remarkable moment in history. I learned long ago that when weighed down by serious matters, one may best be taken seriously by seeking out a certain lightheartedness as an expression of humility, optimism, and confidence on the road to the serious business of nurturing trust and leading others. ---Joel Peterson, Chairman of JetBlue Airways Eye-opening, hilarious, and absolutely original, Humor, Seriously will change the way you think on the job, about the world, and in your life. ---Leslie Blodgett, founder and former CEO of Bare Escentuals Of all the known ways to ruin humor, the most common start with the words 'research, ' 'analyze, ' and 'professor.' The bad news is that this book features all of those words. Prominently. The good news is that against all odds, you'll actually have fun reading it. It probably won't turn you into Ali Wong, Dave Chappelle, or Hannah Gadsby, but it will give you a much deeper appreciation of how they think--and teach you some new ways to make people laugh. --Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife Fresh, profound, and consistently entertaining. I know the words 'evidence-based' don't immediately connote riotous laughter, but Aaker and Bagdonas bring some irresistibly compelling science to the art and application of humor. --Kelly Leonard, executive vice president of The Second City

We've all heard the old saying, 'Laughter is the best medicine.' Well, as it turns out, our grandmothers were right; there is rigorous science that validates this timeless wisdom. In this eye-opening and utterly enjoyable book, Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas explain why regular doses of humor can nourish our minds, bodies, and souls. If you want to find out how you can trade in your stress, anxiety, and burnout for levity, laughter, and joy, read this now. --Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas have written a remarkable book for a remarkable moment in history. I learned long ago that when weighed down by serious matters, one may best be taken seriously by seeking out a certain lightheartedness as an expression of humility, optimism, and confidence on the road to the serious business of nurturing trust and leading others. -- Joel Peterson, Chairman of JetBlue Airways Eye-opening, hilarious, and absolutely original, Humor, Seriously will change the way you think on the job, about the world, and in your life. -- Leslie Blodgett, founder and former CEO of Bare Escentuals Of all the known ways to ruin humor, the most common start with the words 'research, ' 'analyze, ' and 'professor.' The bad news is that this book features all of those words. Prominently. The good news is that against all odds, you'll actually have fun reading it. It probably won't turn you into Ali Wong, Dave Chappelle, or Hannah Gadsby, but it will give you a much deeper appreciation of how they think--and teach you some new ways to make people laugh. --Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife Fresh, profound, and consistently entertaining. I know the words 'evidence-based' don't immediately connote riotous laughter, but Aaker and Bagdonas bring some irresistibly compelling science to the art and application of humor. --Kelly Leonard, executive vice president of The Second City

Author Information

Dr. Jennifer Aaker is the General Atlantic Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a leading expert on how purpose and meaning shape individual choices and how technology can positively impact human well-being and company growth. Her work has been widely published in leading scientific journals, and featured in The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and Science. A recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award, and MBA Professor of the Year, Aaker counts winning a dance-off in the early 1980s among her greatest feats.    Naomi Bagdonas is a lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an executive coach. She facilitates interactive sessions for leaders, Fortune 100 companies, and nonprofits and coaches executives and celebrities for appearances on shows ranging from Saturday Night Live to Today. Formerly trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Bagdonas performs at comedy venues and teaches improv in San Francisco’s county jail. Her constant stream of foster dogs describe her as gullible and full of treats.

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