Is humour necessary for great leadership? What is the connection between humour and creativity? When does humour go too far? Are men funnier than women? Is humour healthy, and why are happy people more likely to die?

Humour is the lubricant in our social life, an essential form of creative intelligence. But why? In a cheerful and surprising way, Madelijn Strick connects insights from psychology and neuroscience with contemporary social issues in order to answer that question in her book Humour is one of the four pillars of the universe.

Her quest for the sense of humour takes the reader past laughing apes, charismatic world leaders, modern political revolutions, the best advertising campaigns, the best teachers, the dating market and endlessly happy marriages. We find out why Monty Python was so good, how Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus got on with each other, and what the best joke in the world is. And Strick shows how you, as a leader, manager, educator, activist, product designer, teacher, copywriter or marriage partner, can use these insights to be a more effective and, above all, a more fun person.