Sign-In
Cart
The Value of Laughter: Finding Joy in a World That Takes Itself Too Seriously
Paperback
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Aug 13 2026
Pages: 204
Weight: 0.45
Height: 0.43 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
What if laughter is more important than we think?
In The Value of Laughter, Steven David Lampley explores the science, psychology, and surprising power of something we often take for granted: the simple act of laughing.
Drawing from years of experience as a police officer and from everyday moments that reveal something profound about human nature, Lampley examines how laughter can interrupt stress, soften anger, strengthen relationships, lift our spirits, and give us a brief escape from the weight of everyday life.
The inspiration for this book came from a five-second exchange in a Mexican restaurant. On an ordinary July afternoon, Lampley wished a young restaurant employee a Merry Christmas. Her confused response, Happy New Year, turned into genuine laughter between two strangers. Neither person expected it. Neither planned it. But for a few seconds, the pressures of the day disappeared.
That moment became a reminder of something many of us have forgotten: we need to laugh.
Life can be difficult. The news is exhausting. Responsibilities never seem to end. We worry about money, work, relationships, family, health, and the future. Somewhere along the way, many adults become so focused on getting through life that they forget to enjoy it.
Laughter does not erase tragedy. It does not solve our problems. It does something perhaps just as important. It gives us a moment to breathe.
This book explores why laughter matters, what science has discovered about its effects on the mind and body, how humor brings people together, and why some of the people who have endured the greatest hardships can sometimes appreciate a good laugh more than anyone.
The Value of Laughter is not a book about pretending everything is fine.
It is a reminder that even when everything isn't fine, there can still be moments worth smiling about.
Sometimes a laugh lasts only a few seconds.
Sometimes those few seconds are exactly what we need.
The world has enough reasons to be serious. Perhaps it is time we gave ourselves a few more reasons to laugh.
Also from
Lampley, Steven David
Twelve Things You Should Do Before You Die: The Radical Act of Finding Out Who You Are
Lampley, Steven David
Paperback
Can a Police Officer Still Be a Christian?: Faith, Justice, and the Weight of the Badge
Lampley, Steven David
Paperback
What If Jesus Ran a Company?: What the Most Influential Leader in History Would Teach Modern Business
Lampley, Steven David
Paperback
Becoming Someone You Never Intended to Become: How We Slowly Drift Away from Ourselves
Lampley, Steven David
Paperback
What I Learned Inside 10,000 Homes: Twenty-One Years, Ten Thousand Homes, Countless Lessons About what it Means to be Human
Lampley, Steven David
Paperback
The Secret Psychology of People: Understanding Why People Think, Feel, and Behave the Way They Do
Lampley, Steven David
Paperback
The Academy Survival Guide: How to Adapt, Survive, and Graduate from the Police Academy
Lampley, Steven David
Paperback
When Someone You Love Wears the Badge: What Every Police Family Needs to Know
Lampley, Steven David
Paperback
Also in
Self-Help
Go-To Notebook with Mohawk Paper, Midnight Blue Blank: (Blank Notebooks, Simple Notebook, Blue Notebook)
Chronicle Books
Other
Go-To Notebook with Mohawk Paper, Brick Red Dotted: (Dotted Notebook, Notebook with Dots, Red Notebook)
Chronicle Books
Other
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
Brown, Brené
Paperback
The Craftivist Collective Handbook: Projects, Stories and Methods for Your Gentle Protests
Corbett, Sarah P.
Hardcover
How Do You Feel?: A Spectacular Compendium of Ideas, Interactive Games, Provocations, Tests, and Tricks That Explore the World of What You Feel and Wh
Hughes, Edgar Gerrard
Paperback
The Healthy Deviant: A Rule Breaker's Guide to Being Healthy in an Unhealthy World
Gerasimo, Pilar
Paperback
Conscious Crafts: Knitting: 20 Mindful Makes to Reconnect Head, Heart & Hands
Kludje, Sicgmone
Koranteng, Vanessa
Hardcover
Inspired: Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul
Richtel, Matt
Hardcover
1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round
Attenberg, Jami
Hardcover
Your Intuition Led You Here: Daily Rituals for Empowerment, Inner Knowing, and Magic
Naranjo, Alex
Vargas, Marlene
Hardcover
It's Just Fucking Meditation: How to Find Yourself, Calm Your Anxiety and Manifest the Life of Your Dreams
Holub, Bryan
Paperback
The Complete Guide to the Enneagram: A Modern Approach to Self-Discovery and Connecting Well with Others
MacKenzie, Sierra
Paperback
The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness [With CD]
Teasdale, John
Segal, Zindel
Williams, Mark
Paperback
Awakening the Chakras: The Seven Energy Centers in Your Daily Life
Weltevrede, Pieter
Daniels, Victor
Daniels, Kooch N.
Paperback
Worthy as You Are: Weed Out Unhealthy Beliefs and Nourish Your Authentic Self
Duriel, Durgadas Allon
Paperback
The Danish Way of Raising Teens: What the Happiest People in the World Know about Raising Confident, Healthy Teenagers with Character
Sandahl, Iben Dissing
Paperback
The Power of Your Angels: 28 Days to Finding Your Path and Realizing Your Life's Dreams
Fallois, Isabelle
Paperback
Witch Wisdom for Magical Aging: Finding Your Power Through the Changing Seasons
Johnson, Cait
Paperback
Escribe El Guion de la Vida Que Quieres: Manifiesta Tus Sueños Con Tan Solo Lápiz Y Papel
Christyn, Royce
Paperback
Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick
Jen Sincero
Paperback
Creative Visualization: Using Imagery and Imagination for Self-Transformation
Shone, Ronald
Paperback
I Am That Girl: How to Speak Your Truth, Discover Your Purpose, and #bethatgirl
Jones, Alexis
Paperback
The Art of Communication: How to Be Authentic, Lead Others, and Create Strong Connections
Apps, Judy
Hardcover
Martial Arts Teaching Tales of Power and Paradox: Freeing the Mind, Focusing Chi, and Mastering the Self
Fauliot, Pascal
Paperback
Catastrofobia: La Verdad Detrás de Los Cambios de la Tierra En El Arribo de la Era de Luz
Clow, Barbara Hand
Paperback
Princes, Frogs & Ugly Sisters: The Healing Power of the Grimm Brothers' Tales
Hunter, Allan G.
Paperback
The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest
Buettner, Dan
Hardcover
London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth
Keefe, Patrick Radden
Hardcover
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking about
Robbins, Sawyer
Robbins, Mel
Hardcover
Discover Your Soul Template: 14 Steps for Awakening Integrated Intelligence
Anthony, Marcus T.
Paperback
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Gibson, Lindsay C.
Paperback
Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers
Harper, Faith G.
Paperback
As a Man Thinketh - the Original 1902 Classic (includes the Mastery of Destiny) (Reader's Library Classics)
Allen, James
Paperback
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself
Lawson, Jenny
Hardcover
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Haidt, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Little Frog's Guide to Life: Love, Advice and Inspiration for Every Day from the Internet's Beloved Mushroom Frog
Eequay, Maybell
Hardcover
Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
Hill, Napoleon
Paperback
The Little Frog's Guide to Self-Care: Affirmations, Self-Love and Life Lessons According to the Internet's Beloved Mushroom Frog
Eequay, Maybell
Hardcover
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
Koga, Fumitake
Kishimi, Ichiro
Paperback
The Retire Sooner Method: The 5 Secrets Behind America's Happiest (and Unhappiest) Retirees
Moss, Wes
Hardcover
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Pressfield, Steven
Paperback
Hbr's 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness, Updated and Expanded (Featuring How to Stop Worrying about What Other People Think of You by Michael Gervais)
Gervais, Michael
Duckworth, Angela L.
Review, Harvard Business
Paperback
Don't Believe Everything You Think (Expanded Edition): Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning & End of Suffering
Nguyen, Joseph
Hardcover
No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Your Guide to Easy Investing, Building Wealth, and Creating the Wild, Beautiful Life You Want
Holden, Amanda
Hardcover
Take Breaks, Work Better: Measure Impact, Not Hours, and Transform Your Profitability
Briggs, John
Paperback
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Patterson, Kerry
Grenny, Joseph
McMillan, Ron
Paperback
Through Mom's Eyes: Simple Wisdom from Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans
Jones, Sheinelle
Hardcover
Stop Letting Everything Affect You: How to break free from overthinking, emotional chaos, and self-sabotage.
Chidiac, Daniel
Paperback
Be Your Own Bestie: A No-Nonsense Guide to Changing the Way You Treat Yourself
Brown, Misha
Hardcover
The Forever Paycheck: The New Retirement Strategy to Spend More, Worry Less, and Never Run Out of Money
Chatzky, Jean
Hardcover
Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being
Zomorodi, Manoush
Diaz, Keith
Hardcover
The Courage to Commit: Embrace the Radical Power of Sticking with Something
East, Andrew
Johnson, Shawn
Hardcover
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships
Rosenberg, Marshall B.
Paperback
Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit
Brown, Brené
Hardcover
Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity--One Step at a Time
McDowell, Milica
Conley, Courtney
Hardcover
The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery: Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your Life
Warren MD W. Lee
Hardcover
Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
Johnson, Spencer
Hardcover
The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything
Jezer-Morton, Kathryn
Hardcover
Rewrite the Program: How to Stop Conforming, Start Exploring, and Find Fulfillment
Bowman, Eli
Paperback
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World
McRaven, William H.
Hardcover
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Hanselman, Stephen
Holiday, Ryan
Hardcover
The Saved Effect: True Stories of Lives Reclaimed by People Who Were Willing to ACT
Newbury, Brad
Newbury, Kiera
Hardcover
The Butterfly Season: What 64 Butterflies Taught Me about Nature's Great Mysteries and the Meaning of Life
Korsgaard, Lea
Hardcover
Tarot for the Wild Soul: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Growth, Healing, and Grounding in the Present Moment
Mack, Lindsay
Hardcover
Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts
Burkeman, Oliver
Paperback
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Manson, Mark
Hardcover
Are You Mad at Me?: How to Stop Focusing on What Others Think and Start Living for You
Josephson, Meg
Hardcover
The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition: Features a New Foreword and Brand-New Tools
Brown, Brené
Paperback
Reparenting the Inner Child: The New Science of Our Oldest Wounds and How to Heal Them
Lepera, Nicole
Hardcover
Burn the Haystack: Decode Dating, Torch the Duds, and Make Room for Men Who Matter
Young Phd, Jennie
Hardcover
Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy
Jones, Robert P.
Hardcover