general

Cousins connects personal experience with scientific research to make a compelling case for the healing power of positive emotions. Norman Cousins was a journalist who was healed through changing his behavior and thoughts. As a followup to his experience he was brought to the UCLA Medical School to do further inquiry into the topic. He interviewed physicians, patients, and family members in his study.

He discusses how his findings were misinterpreted and made to appear shallow by critics. But he felt that he had a valid contribution to make to our understanding of ourselves.

Philosophically he makes some cogent points throughout this book. Personally I love what he writes about Southern California. Consider also his comments on life well lived:
"The clock provides only a technical measurement of how long we live. Far more real than the ticking of time is the way we open up the minutes and invest them with meaning. Death is not the ultimate tragedy in life."

Buy this book! Read it! You'll be thankful you did.

This book shows how remarkable and awesome the human spirit truely is. Cousins gives examples of how humor affected the body in a profound healing manor. After facing cancer and the gloom around the therapies, Cousins turned to humor to help fight the battle and overcame many obstacles in his way. Even those whose lives are not touched by cancer in some way can appreciate the benefits of a little humor therapy. Great book!