Self-help ✦ Penny’s Take
Humor, Seriously
Jennifer Aaker · 2021
77/100
👍 Worth It
Co-authored by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas — both Stanford professors — this WSJ, LA Times, and USA Today bestseller makes a genuinely research-backed case that humor is a serious leadership tool, and it demonstrates its own point through warm, witty writing. Endorsements from Arianna Huffington and Daniel Pink add credibility, though the workplace focus means it speaks most directly to professionals and managers.
✦ Penny’s Take — this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read — not a page-by-page personal one. The gold ✓ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
📚 Buy the book ↗📱 Read on Kindle ↗🎧 Listen on Audible ↗ affiliate links · support the site, never the verdict
As an Amazon Associate and Audible affiliate, Penny earns from qualifying purchases. This never affects the verdict — see our affiliate disclosure.
Show the math
Verdict receipt0–100
Faith & family safety84
Substance / usefulness75
Craft & writing80
Originality69
Evidence & accuracy79
Hype vs delivers74
Age-fit77
👁 Human-eye gut-check76
Penny’s verdict77
Cross-pollinate