Of Bears and Weight Loss

Dr. Brian King trained as a neuroscientist and psychologist and for more than a decade has traveled the world as a comedian and public speaker. By day he conducts seminars, presented nationwide and attended by thousands of people each year, on positive psychology, the health benefits of humor, stress management, and healthy living. By night he entertains audiences in comedy clubs. Dr. Brian began performing stand-up comedy in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2009, and since then he has performed hundreds of shows around the world. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, a master’s degree from the University of New Orleans, and a PhD from Bowling Green State University. He is the author of The Art of Taking It Easy (Apollo Publishers) and The Laughing Cure. Dr. Brian hails from New York City, but is regularly on the road with his wife and young daughter or at their homes in Montreal, Canada, or Dallas, Texas.

• Preface: Bonjour de Montréal Chapter 1Three BooksThe Ship that Almost Passed Me In the NightFat Tales: Bringing Sexy BackA Promise I Intend to KeepThe Best Things About Losing One Hundred Pounds Chapter 2Two Simple MethodsConsulting the Expert: Bodybuilder Andrew GinsburgFat Tales: That Doctor ComedianConsulting the Expert: Chef Suzi Gerber Chapter 3Studies of Eating and ScrewingConsulting the Expert: Occupational Therapist Sarah BollingerTwo Pounds of FatFat Tales: Time to Bring the DoughnutsSorry, But the Bear is BackOf Berries and WormsStress Eating Over a CaterpillarShark ModeEating or Screwing? Chapter 4The Eye-Opening EventThe “Not-So-Secret” SecretFat Tales: Popcorn for BreakfastOld Habits Die HardFat Tales: Time to Wear the Big Boy PantsThe Worst Things About Losing One Hundred Pounds Chapter 5Not That Kind of BearFat Tales: Eating Like Olympians Chapter 6The Right Place at the Right TimeGetting Those Last Few Steps InSpeaking of Europe: German Comedian Thomas NicolaiFat Tales: The Adventures of Daddy Pig Chapter 7Check Out This Bunch of LosersComedian Mark Schiff Lost Fifty Pounds After Some Inspiration from Jerry SeinfeldComedian Steve Mittleman Lost Fifty Pounds and Has Kept Most of Them Off for Thirty-Seven YearsComedian AC Valiante Has Lost Fifty Pounds Since the Start of the PandemicWriter and Comedian Jonelle Larouche Lost Thirty Pounds by Giving Up AlcoholComedian Trevin Verduzco Has Lost Eighty-Five Pounds with the Help of a Weight Loss ClinicComedian Mark Evans Lost One Hundred Pounds Thanks to Intermittent FastingComedian Kieran Atkins Lost Forty-Five Pounds by Overcoming Impulsive BehaviorComedian Jennifer Anderson Lost Eighty Pounds by Kickboxing!Comedian Erik Escobar Lost Over One Hundred Pounds Because He Had a ToothacheComedian Dave DeLuca Lost 110 Pounds by Walking Throughout New York CityComedian ANT Lost Almost Seventy Pounds After Trying Nearly EverythingA Few Words About MedicationNashville Hot Chicken Restaurateur Austin Smith Lost Over One Hundred Pounds and Still Eats His Own FoodSometimes It’s Really Good To Talk To OthersFat Tales: Just Call Me Papa Button Chapter 8My Boots Were Made For WalkingFat Tales: A Father and Son Thing Chapter 9Sarah’s StruggleFat Tales: The Day After Thanksgiving Chapter 10Au Revoir de Montréal EpilogueAcknowledgments

Praise for The Art of Taking It Easy:“King's particular approach is original and refreshing. He combines a winning balance of accessible science, engaging stories, and comic relief to drive home a compelling message.” —Shelf Awareness“Psychologist and comedian King (The Laughing Cure) explores the science behind stress in this witty, informed guide. The author uses a bevy of running jokes and punch lines to enliven technical explanations for how and why people experience stress. His metaphors of coming across a bear in the wild as well as being stuck in traffic are also used to great effect to explain a variety of stress responses, such as perceiving a threat and feelings of powerlessness. Reframing thoughts plays a large role in King’s advice: ‘Stress is simply a reaction to a perception of threat...being able to consciously redirect choices made by other areas of the brain is the key to living a less stressful existence.’  He also provides breathing exercises, plans for maintaining physical health, and useful advice for setting attainable goals. An interview with a former paratrooper and a harrowing story centered on his brother’s van breaking down while traveling provide particularly helpful examples of how one’s mindset can make all the difference in a highly stressful situation. King’s enjoyable guide to living with less stress will be of help to any anxious reader.” —Publishers Weekly