In his nonfiction book, An Infinity of Interpretations, Dr. Kimmons explores a simple thesis: “Life has no meaning except what we assign to it.” In this new fiction book, After the Laughter, Dr. Kimmons continues exploration of that simple thesis, but in this book he writes about a young man’s existential quest to find meaning for his life, in part, through liaisons with women he encounters over several decades in various places at home and abroad. As it often happens in life, he ultimately finds love and meaning for life in an unexpected place and at an unexpected time. If you are intellectually alive and/or like romance books (with a lot of sex thrown in), you should read this novel about a search for joie de vivre and meaning in life, love, and sex.

Laughter in Interaction is an illuminating and lively account of how and why people laugh during conversation. Bringing together twenty-five years of research on the sequential organisation of laughter in everyday talk, Glenn analyses recordings and transcripts to show the finely detailed co-ordination of human laughter. He demonstrates that its production and placement, relative to talk and other activities, reveal much about its emergent meaning and accomplishments. The book shows how the participants in a conversation move from a single laugh to laughing together, how the matter of 'who laughs first' implicates orientation to social activities and how interactants work out whether laughs are more affiliative or hostile. The final chapter examines the contribution of laughter to sequences of conversational intimacy and play and to the invocation of gender. Engaging and original, the book shows how this seemingly insignificant part of human communication turns out to play a highly significant role in how people display, respond to and revise identities and relationships.

Drawing on draft manuscripts and other archival material, James Joyce and Absolute Music, explores Joyce's deep engagement with musical structure, and his participation in the growing modernist discourse surrounding 19th-century musical forms. Michelle Witen examines Joyce's claim of having structured the “Sirens” episode of his masterpiece, Ulysses, as a fuga per canonem, and his changing musical project from his early works, such as Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Informed by a deep understanding of music theory and history, the book goes on to consider the “pure music” of Joyce's final work, Finnegans Wake. Demonstrating the importance of music to Joyce, this ground-breaking study reveals new depths to this enduring body of work.

One of the greatest secrets you can ever learn is that you have the power to heal yourself. Perhaps you have thought of this statement yourself. If you have, then you were right on target. Maybe you have come to the conclusion that this special gift belongs only to certain persons; the most spiritually advanced or the most brilliant in the practice of medicine, or psychotherapy. Perhaps you believe that there is something mysterious, even mystical about healing. Throughout the ages, the word healing has been associated with superstition and even strange practices. Today we hear a lot about spiritual healing as a result of prayer, the laying on of hands, and healing services at church or revival meetings. With all of this awareness, most people still think their health is dependent opon some source other than themselves. We must come to the understanding that many illnesses come not only from a lack of life-giving food but from our ill thoughts and feelings about ourself, others, our Creator, and the world in which we live. These ill thoughts constrict the life force within us, causing dis-ease or lack of ease. It is very interesting to note that the word ill derives from the words evil, wrong or incorrect. It is literally our evil, disagreeable, out of balance, incorrect thoughts and feelings. These feelings are located in your body and plays havoc with your health..

First published in 1996, this volume is a sequel to Humour in Society: Resistance and Control which was edited by George E.C. Paton and Chris Powell. Now, seven years later, the culturally central nature of humour seems greater than ever. This collection of original essays critically assesses the practices of humour in various role relationships in a number of social contexts, for example, in the workplace and between family members. A feature of this new volume is the critical analysis of socio-linguistic practices, including the use of jokes and cartoons, to manage tensions in social relationships at the micro- and macro-sociological levels of human interaction. Wider social and cultural issues area also examined by other contributors concerned with alternative comedy and sitcoms in British and Australian society, for example, which along with humour practices are situated by the editors in their introduction to substantiate the value of studying and researching the sociology of humour.

90 Masterpieces of World Literature (Vol.I) is an expansive anthology that traverses the landscape of global literary achievement, offering readers a comprehensive survey of seminal works that have shaped the ethos of world literature. This collection is marked by an incredible diversity of genres, styles, and themes, reflecting the wide-ranging experiences and historical contexts of its authors. From the existential questions pursued by Dostoevsky and the introspective journey of Proust, to the pioneering adventures penned by Verne and the critical social commentary of Dickens, this anthology showcases the multifaceted nature of human thought and expression. Standout pieces within the volume capture the essence of their time while also speaking to universal themes of love, struggle, freedom, and morality, making the anthology a vibrant tapestry of human experience. The contributors to this volume represent a whos who of historical literary giants, each bringing their unique voice to the collective table. Authors such as Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë offer keen insights into the gender dynamics of their time, while the visionary science fiction of H.G. Wells and the dark romanticism of Edgar Allan Poe present radical departures from the realist tradition, challenging readers to explore new psychological and societal frontiers. The anthology, thereby, not only aligns with various historical, cultural, and literary movements but also weaves a dialogue between these movements, highlighting the evolution of narrative and thought across ages and geographies. These varied voices together enrich the readers understanding of the broad spectrum of human expression and the complexity of the human condition. 90 Masterpieces of World Literature (Vol.I) is an essential volume for anyone seeking to explore the depth and breadth of literary genius across the ages. It offers a unique opportunity to delve into the works that have not only defined but also continuously reshaped the landscape of world literature. Readers are encouraged to immerse themselves in the richness of this collection, discovering within its pages a world of ideas, stories, and perspectives that are at once enlightening, provocative, and boundlessly imaginative. This anthology serves as both a gateway and a guide for those eager to embark on a comprehensive literary journey, making it an invaluable addition to any personal library.

“An important, authentic, and liberating look at how we can move through loss with compassion, humor, and peace.” ―Mike Robbins, author of Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken Losing a loved one is never easy. Allen Klein knows how it feels—just like you, he’s lost many loved ones in his life. Inspired by Klein's experience with the loss of his wife, Embracing Life after Loss can help you to recover from grief. You never forget the people you lose. But you can grow stronger, wiser, and more appreciative of life as you move forward. And, believe it or not, you can even laugh again. Embracing Life after Loss will show you how to smile through the difficult times—how to take a break from the pain of your loss and rediscover joy in life. A winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, Allen Klein was once described by comedian Jerry Lewis as “a noble and vital force watching over the human condition.” This book is a steadfast compass that offers hope and resilience to anyone trying to navigate through dark times. With the belief that humor is one of God’s gifts for overcoming your trials and tribulations, Allen Klein guides us through the steps of losing, learning, letting go, living, and—once again—laughing.

This edited volume showcases new work on discourse analysis by big names in the field and promising early-career researchers. Arising from the latest in the series of IWoDA workshops in Santiago de Compostela, it provides novel insights into both the explicit and the implicit characteristics of discourse as used in verbal interaction. Discourse markers, as their name indicates, are among the explicit signals of coherence, while discourse relations may be either explicit or implicit. Similarly, the discourse used for purposes of evaluation, stance-taking and interpersonal engagement is either overt or covert, as is also true of the expression of emotions and empathy. This, in general terms, is the challenging terrain into which the contributors to this volume have ventured. The book combines theoretical issues with a practical orientation, comparing languages, analysing different registers, studying the openings of Skype conversations, and much more besides; it will prove highly relevant for postgraduate and advanced practitioners of discourse analysis, interaction studies, semantics and pragmatics.

Plato and Xenophon are the two students of Socrates whose works have come down to us in their entirety. Their works have been studied by countless scholars over the generations; but rarely have they been brought into direct contact, outside of their use in relation to the Socratic problem. This volume changes that, by offering a collection of articles containing comparative analyses of almost the entire range of Plato's and Xenophon's writings, approaching them from literary, philosophical and historical perspectives.