This funny, moving and inspirational one of a kind mental health book is simultaneously a memoir, an advocacy document, and a deeply human collection of stories about people who chose laughter when their mental illness gave them every reason not to, and how that choice transformed their lives.

The book's heart is its six portraits. Lorayne, who survived six stays at the notorious Oregon State Hospital and tells her story with unflinching wit. Martin, who lives with autism and discovered that timing is everything — in music and in comedy. Molly, a former physician whose bipolar disorder derailed her career, only to find that opening her mind to humor and writing jokes gave her a new identity and a new voice. Dave, Tara, and Eric tell their stories one joke at a time. Each story is told with warmth, specificity, and genuine affection. These aren't case studies, they're real people that you will find yourself rooting for and cheering for. And, in doing so, you will see yourself and the power to look for the humor in your own challenges. Just looking for the humor in our challenges changes everything.

Healing with Humor is a book for anyone touched by mental illness. You will see yourself. in Molly and Dave and Lorayne and Tara and Martin and Eric. This book will make you laugh, help you heal, and make you believe that finding the funny in our hardest challenges truly is the best medicine.

The premise is both simple and radical. What if people living with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD, and autism looked for humor in their challenges and dark days? Mowry and Rolstad don't just theorize about this — they've lived it, taught it, and watched it transform lives.

And when you finish listening to 'Healing with Humor', you will go back to the beginning and listen to it again and smile and laugh all the way through.

Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist.

Bphope.com Best Books of 2023