Review: Enter Laughing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 28, 2012
The title of my review comes from Carl Reiner's 1967 movie based upon his autobiography. Reiner, of "Dick Van Dyke" fame (his son, Rob, played Mike Stivic in "All in the Family" and is a movie director in his own right), has been in the entertainment industry for over fifty years and shows no signs of slowing down.Would that Reiner pere's passion and creativity rub off on those of us who merely amble, stumble, and sleep through life.While I have never actually met either the father or the son, it would be accurate to infer from the previous paragraph that both men enjoy what they do. Reiner created, wrote and directed "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and was directly responsible for influencing numerous actors and aspiring writers to hone their craft through the appropriate use and application of laughter.Laughter is one of humanity's greatest acts of self-preservation. Loud, deep roars of bellyaching to the point of tears is the body's way of releasing endorphins and reducing stress. The cliche of being the best medicine rings with authority. It aids in reducing depression and, along with exercise and diet, is key for maintaining sound fitness levels.I have found that watching a good comedy (of course, comedy is a subjective term, since what may be uproarious to one person may fall flat with another) is a sure way for myself to set the tone for having a positive, productive day---regardless of whatever I do. Additionally, being able to laugh at my own failures, foibles and frustrations is key to maintaining a sound perspective upon my own life.I like to think that I have a goood sense of humor. Granted, there will always be those who will raise their eyebrows or tsk-tsk whenever I make a pun or resort to toilet humor. In that regards I certainly need to gauge my audience better, and that is a good thing. Who couldn't stand to improve themselves?Knowing that I have social weaknesses is key to self-realization. I am no Wayne Dyer or Deepak Chopra; I am not comfortable with speaking to large audiences or even having the spotlight upon myself. However, none of this should be construed to mean that I don't give a fig about what I think, say, and do. It is important to seek constant, consistent improvement so that a positive pattern is established whereby opportunities are created that benefit and add greatly to my cumulative life experiences.Laughter, and making others laugh too, is one of those approaches.Stephen Williams' "Naughty Sex Jokes: Have a Sexy Laughter" may be a grammatically-challenged title, but its message is unmistakable---being able to enjoy bawdy, titillating humor, and getting others to laugh along too, shows an ability to partake in the universal quest for camaraderie, bonhomie, and the search for a sexual partner with whom one can enjoy mutual pleasure, relaxation...and lots of laughter."Naughty" affirms the need for humor in all facets of our lives, but in particular stresses its primal connections to the innate human condition: we crave warmth, shelter, food, drink---and sex. These basic necessities perpetuate the human life cycle and are key to survival in what can be a frightening, dangerous world fraught with numerous pitfalls.And so we seek solutions that ensure our natural propagation. We arm ourselves for self-defense and for hunting. We plant, harvest, and gather foodstuffs and consume fresh water for nourishment. We use fire for warmth and as a gathering point for community. We build houses for dwelling within.And we have sex for both procreation and pleasure.The adjective "naughty" can be interpreted in a couple of different ways---either as something negative, e.g. stealing a pack of gum from a convenience store and violating predominant social norms in the process---or in a teasing vein, such as observed with two people who enjoy mutual sexual banter that serves as a prerequisite for intimacy. Williams asserts the latter definition of the word in his preview when he writes: "Make these jokes a part of your foreplay too. As you engage in laughter, you become more comfortable with each other. Before you know it, you are doing naughty things that you thought you are not capable of." (intro.) Foreplay is not meant to be a negative experience. Enjoying sexual intimacy with your partner is a mutual expression of love and desire that is greatly enhanced by flirtatious talk and pleasant environs that are conducive to such an atmosphere.Sex jokes have been a staple of the Buddy Hacketts and Redd Foxxes of the world. They are based upon observations of humanity fumbling its collective way along an endless relationship-strewn life path. Each person that becomes an intimate of ours adds to the journey and serves as a basis for laying additional cobblestones upon which all of us take further steps.Robert Frost observed that two roads diverged in the woods, and taking the road less-travelled made all the difference for him. This is a worthwhile observation, but the fact of the matter is that some people might choose the well-worn one. Nothing wrong with that, of course. It might indicate the familiar and staid---characteristics that can serve us well in a world that might be overwhelming for us at times.Williams's book provides a wealth of material that, while overly familiar at times to those of us who remember learning such anecdotes in middle school, still reverberates with sexual electricity that caters to the base desires in all of us: a love of sex and a craving for emotional intimacy to provide balance in our lives.