Return to Civility: A Speed of Laughter Project

"What a breath of fresh air! You and your team have articulated in one book what we are all so hungry for as a society. . . . We have forgotten how to respect and honor our fellow human beings as equal travelers on this journey." -Matthew D. Breitfelder, vice president of leadership development for MasterCard Worldwide

This simple little book has a simple little theme, "Act the way you want the world to be."

Motivated by his experience at a concert during which a Grammy Award-winning musician was forced to stop mid-song in order to ask the audience to ratchet down its conversation, author and speaker John Sweeney rallied the troops at his theater to come up with 365 ways to lead a more considerate, and considered, life.

#107

If someone cuts you off in traffic, give the peace sign instead of the finger.

Road rage creates unresolvable anger that you won't be able to shake. And at 60 mph, the other driver might think it's the finger anyway. It's a win-win situation.

John Sweeney wears a lot of different hats. He owns the nation's oldest satirical comedy theater; he's an author, an improviser, a corporate trainer, a keynote speaker, and he has appeared on national television without a shirt-on more than one occasion, though he probably shouldn't.

The Brave New Workshop contributors include: Lauren Anderson, Mike Fotis, Dave Jennings, Katy McEwen, Brian Aylmer, John Haynes, Lynn Lanners, Julia Schmidt, Joe Bozic, Dawn Hopkins, Jenni Lilledahl, Stephanie Scott, Erin Farmer, Elena Imaretska, and Caleb McEwen.