Loretta LaRoche declares that her mission in life is to "stop global whining" and to "prevent hardening of the attitude" -- and her packed lectures (to individuals as well as corporate giants like IBM, Reebok, and Fidelity Investments) and three enormously popular PBS specials have left tens of thousands of people laughing their way to less stress and better health.

It's an acknowledged medical fact that humor reduces stress. In this book, Ms. LaRoche gives practical and hilarious advice for dealing with the sort of negative feelings and behavior that disrupt our personal and professional lives. Through charming anecdotes and exercises (with chapter titles like "If You Don't Have to Suffer -- Don't Practice" and "I'm Not Afraid of Heights -- Just Widths"), LaRoche will help readers lighten up and, as she says, "find the bless in the mess".