SEBRING, Fla., Oct. 6, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Laughter is the best medicine to cure an ailment that plagues society: the inability to recognize the absurdities of life. Joan E. Morrone's new book, If It Isn't Wisdom It Must Be Folly (now available through AuthorHouse), offers intriguing commentary about what makes one's existence either an enlightening comedy of errors or an unfortunate tragedy.
Nearly every classic work throughout the ages has touched on wisdom and folly. Greek plays reminded audiences that when folly is not recognized, lives are wrought with tragedy. When folly is realized, life becomes a comedy of errors filled with laughter. Morrone's insightful book explains how humor makes the rocky road to personal awareness much smoother. By chuckling at a joke's punch line, people illustrate that they understand the absurdity being pointed out by the jokester. Bad moods, hypersensitivenessity and fear paralyze people's ability to recognize the ridiculous, which causes many to experience lives that mimic even the most sorrowful of the Greek tragedies, she writescause people to lose their sense of humor; in such states, everything appears to be a matter of life or death.
The Greek philosopher Socrates posed as a humble fool and warned of the dangers of egotism. Shakespeare had this to say about arrogance: "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." Morrone's book strives to teach readers that recognizing the folly in life and understanding one's own foolish notions is the key to enlightenment. Nearly every literary classic that has stood the test of time has touched on wisdom and folly. The most effective were written as satires, which, Morrone explains in her book, is a subtle form of humor. The Greek satirists, in their comedies, brought out the foolishness of the Greek gods. Socrates, posing as a humble fool, brought out the foolishness in egotism. Another important figure in literary history, Shakespeare, had this to say about an inflated ego: "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." In her insightful book, Morrone uses these examples and more to illuminate her overall message that recognizing folly, wherever it comes from, is the key to enlightenment.
In many groups, Morrone writes, fearful misconceptions spread like wildfire preventing large numbers from seeing the "corrective truths" that would set them free. "When, as a species, we are able to recognize folly in all its many disguises, we will laugh it off the stage. At that point in time, we will look back on our history as being not a Greek tragedy but a comedy of errors."
Morrone spent much of her life raising her children and moving with her family to numerous states. As a "bored housewife seeking answers inwardly," she suddenly realized that she no longer needed the psychological security blankets of fear she had been relying on for comfort. She saw the world through new eyes, and she shares her realization with others.
AuthorHouse is the world leader in publishing and print-on-demand services. Founded in 1997, AuthorHouse has helped more than 20,000 people worldwide become published authors. For more information, visit www.authorhouse.com.