Resources

Following are a select few of the dozens of books that helped inform our views on gratitude, humor, and play. The blue highlights connect directly to print copies available on Amazon. Click on any of those links to learn more about the books and purchase them new or used if you are interested, but note there is no obligation to buy what you click on. Simply hit the back button to return to this site. Also note that many of the authors have written multiple titles in multiple formats (hardback, paperback and Kindle). Explore them all.

We welcome your suggestions for additions and your critique of what we have included.

Bateson, Patrick. Play, Playfulness, Creativity, and Innovation

Berk, Ronald A. and Buxman, Karyn. Top Secret Tips for Successful Humor in the Workplace

Brown, Stuart. Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly.  Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention

The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, with authorship assistance from Douglas Abrams. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

Emmons, Robert A. Gratitude Works!: A 21-Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity  

Gianoulis, Nick and Measley, Nat. Playing it Forward: Because Fun Matters for Employees, Customers and Bottom Line

Hoare, Joe. Awakening the Laughter Buddha Within and Everyday Stress Busters

Klein, Allen. He’s literally written dozens. These are his classics and a few of his most recent titles: The Healing Power of Humor, The Courage to Laugh, You Can’t Ruin My Day, and Always Look on the Bright Side

Madson, Patricia Ryan. Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up

Morrison, Mary Kay. Using Humor to Maximize Living

Sacks, Oliver. Gratitude

Sherbert, Susan. Grown-ups Don't Skip: Have FUN Be Happy Enjoy Life

Tamblyn, Doni. Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training

Tan, Chade-Meng. Joy on Demand

Weinstein, Matt & Goodman, Joel. Playfair

Wooten, Patty. Heart, Humor and Healing

Not included in this list are craft books that provide ideas for decorating cards, messages, and boxes related to visual delight projects because the choices were simply too broad. However, if you are intrigued by the illustration of Zentangle designs on our footprint sample, you might start with this book:

Lothrop, Anya. Zentangle Art Therapy

And if you’d like to take us up on the suggestion made in our Creating Delight book of using old Johnny Carson Tonight Show clips to send yourself or others off to sleep with a smile, here’s a DVD we recommend:

The Ultimate Johnny Carson Collection - His Favorite Moments From The Tonight Show (Vols. 1-3) (1962-1992)