Art of Taking It Easy

Dr. Brian King trained as a neuroscientist and psychologist and for the past decade has traveled the world as a comedian and public speaker. By day he conducts seminars, presented nationwide and attended by thousands of people each year, on positive psychology, the health benefits of humor, and stress management. By night he practices what he teaches in comedy clubs. Dr. Brian began performing stand-up comedy in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2009, and has performed hundreds of shows around the world. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas, a master's degree from the University of New Orleans, and a PhD from Bowling Green State University, and is the author of The Laughing Cure. Dr. Brian hails from New York City and today spends his life on the road, traveling regularly with his partner, Sarah, and their young daughter.

“King's particular approach is original and refreshing. He combines a winning balance of accessible science, engaging stories, and comic relief to drive home a compelling message.”—Shelf Awareness“Psychologist and comedian King (The Laughing Cure) explores the science behind stress in this witty, informed guide. The author uses a bevy of running jokes and punch lines to enliven technical explanations for how and why people experience stress. His metaphors of coming across a bear in the wild as well as being stuck in traffic are also used to great effect to explain a variety of stress responses, such as perceiving a threat and feelings of powerlessness. Reframing thoughts plays a large role in King’s advice: ‘Stress is simply a reaction to a perception of threat...being able to consciously redirect choices made by other areas of the brain is the key to living a less stressful existence.’  He also provides breathing exercises, plans for maintaining physical health, and useful advice for setting attainable goals. An interview with a former paratrooper and a harrowing story centered on his brother’s van breaking down while traveling provide particularly helpful examples of how one’s mindset can make all the difference in a highly stressful situation. King’s enjoyable guide to living with less stress will be of help to any anxious reader.”—Publishers Weekly

• PrefaceAre You Happy?Chapter 1Of Bears and TrafficWhat Happens in Our Head During Stress?Worry Is the WorstWhat Happens to Our Bodies During Stress?Negative Emotions and the Stress That Inspires ThemChapter 2Making Decisions Under FireIt’s Never Too Late to ChangeCrawling Up That StepChapter 3Having Goals and Making PlansFeeling in Control, Even When We’re NotLearning the Hard Way(Through an Unfortunate Series of Break-Ins)Chapter 4Interview with a Real American BadassChapter 5The Choices We MakeGetting to the Gym Across the StreetChapter 6Three Days in Xpujil (Jon’s Story)Chapter 7Puzzles, Games, and Bear AttacksFostering Resilience in ChildrenChapter 8Practicing Positive ThinkingLaughing It OffDon’t Eat the Poison BerriesChapter 9Feeling Overwhelmed and ExhaustedMoney Doesn’t Buy Happiness, But Misery Takes CreditThe Biggest Irony of My Modern LifeChapter 10Facing ChallengesCarving a CarouselAfterwordPursuing HappinessAcknowledgments