Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is A Secret Weapon In Business And Life

Humor, Seriously around the world. A book by Dr. Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas

Humor, Seriously around the world! Here’s a compilation of all the translated versions of our book.

Humor is serious business. Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas reveal a surprising truth: working professionals have fallen off the Humor Cliff. Research shows that humor is one of the most powerful tools for realizing serious performance. It boosts competence and confidence, strengthens relationships, unlocks creativity, and helps us stay resilient during tough times. Plus, it wards off the dreaded “resting boss face.”

Jennifer and Naomi teach the popular course “Humor: Serious Business” at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. In Humor, Seriously, they draw on insights from behavioral scientists, world-class comedians, and inspiring business leaders to show how humor works and—more importantly— how transformative it can be.

Discover how humor not only transforms the way you do business but also the way you live your life. Interested? Intrigued? Obsessed? Dive into Humor, Seriously and start your ascent back up the humor cliff.


“Humor is magical. It can make fear and pomposity vanish and creativity and resilience appear in their place. The ultimate guide to using the magical power of funny as a tool for leadership and a force for good, Humor, Seriously is an intoxicating mix of science, strategy, and slapstick — a knee-slapping, mind-expanding tour de force.”

Daniel H. Pink, #1 NYT bestselling author of When, Drive, and A Whole Mind


“A smart, funny, brilliant book on how to be smart about being funny, brilliantly. And I’m not just saying that because they say I am smart, funny, and brilliant in it. Buy it.”

Sarah Cooper, Comedian and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings


“Business is serious and the world is serious, especially right now. That means we need the ideas described in Humor, Seriously even more than ever. Not because levity and humor are ways to relieve the pressure of serious times, although they are, but because they unlock our humanity in the moments where we most need it.”

Tim Brown, Chair of IDEO and author of Change By Design


“Fresh, profound, and consistently entertaining. Aaker and Bagdonas bring some irresistibly compelling science to the art and application of humor.”

Kelly Leonard, Executive Vice President of The Second City


“I've learned (often the hard way) that the best way to be taken seriously is to not take yourself too seriously. My teams are always at their best when approaching problems with levity, which entails both humility and optimism and always engenders trust. Plus, it's more fun — like this book!”

Eric Schmidt, Former CEO and Executive Chair of Google (Alphabet)


“Eye-opening, hilarious, and absolutely original, Humor, Seriously will change the way you think on the job, about the world, and in your life.”

Leslie Blodgett, Founder and former CEO of bareMinerals and Humor CEO Ambassador