A simple and straightforward examination on joy in religion, specifically Catholicism. It's an enjoyable and lighthearted read, and I would recommend it for anyone.

Here's a six month late review: my dad said that this book was funny, and it was, but my dad described it as laugh out loud funny. It was not. On the other hand, it was very warm and moving. When it was funny, it was genuinely so. When it was moving, it was genuinely so. When Fr. Martin came to the University of Scranton's commencement last fall he told a lot of the jokes in this book (as well as in the The Jesuit Guide...which I still haven't read), and they were much funnier in person. Also, when I met him in the fall he was very excited to meet me and my brother because we all graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, and he drew us a map of where he grew up. I didn't get to tell him, however, my favorite part of this book:
I've always known that God loves me, but it's always felt very impersonal. For the first time, the knowledge that God likes me, which is somehow better -your parents love you no matter what, they're your parents, but they don't always like you or want to spend time with you -really hit home. Anyway. I just wanted to remember the feeling I had the first time I realized: Oh, God likes me, thinks I'm funny and wants to be with me, just as much and maybe even more than I want to be with Him.

Short Review: The topic is important. James Martin (a jesuit priest) talks about why it is not only important to allow, but encourage joy, humor and laughter in the Christian life. There are lots of jokes here, but also some real academic looks at what humor and joy are and why we need them. The weakness of the book is that it tries to do to much and get a bit boring at times. 50 pages less would have been better. And I think it would have been better if Martin had stuck to a focus on Christian need for humor instead of making it a more universal religious need. It is overwhelmingly focused on Christianity, but not exclusively.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/heaven-mirth/

Read this book! No matter your prior experience with religion or spirituality, you will find this book funny and delightful as well as reflective and insightful. He answers questions like "what is the value of having levity and a sense of humor, on a personal, community and spiritual level?" As someone who relishes laughter, it is compelling that this book finds linkages that place joy and humor at the heart of a spiritually fulfilling life.

For people who can't get over perceptions that churchgoers, priests, pastors and other clergy are dour and severe, this book provides an understanding of why that notion emerged as well as its debunking (honestly, Pope John XXIII drops some A-grade comedy throughout this book). This book will add dimension to any reader's understanding of organized religion.

Above all, I found reading this book apositively joyful experience. The anecdotes are illuminating, the textual analysis is strong and novel, and by the end of the book you will find a fresh propulsion to your enjoyment of life. What a treat!

Good advent reading.

Lenten Reading. If you know that humor has a central place in the spiritual life, this is a good book to read anytime. If you know that humor does NOT have a central place in the spiritual life, this is a good book to read as Lenten penance.

This reads like a sermon (or homily), in that there is scripture, personal examples, a clear spiritual directive, and a few jokes, some of them aren’t even that bad. :) It also gets a bit preachy at times, hence the sermon format.

I found several helpful suggestions and confirmations, and it was enjoyable to listen to the author read his own work.

It doesn't work as well to read Fr. Martin backwards as it does Brene Brown. His newer stuff really expands on the older stuff so in some ways you can skip ahead. But I'm really enjoying the connection of their work. This idea of leading a joyful really hits home. It doesn't mean you're not sad, but rather through gratitude and other tools you can walk through the sorrowful parts a bit more wholeheartedly. Dig into gratitude and joy. With any book that inspires. You will live differently.