Directed at the foibles of the medical profession, Dr. Thomas P. Millar's collection of 'nervy' humor, On Laughter Silvered Wings (Palmer Press, $24.95, 604-732-9584), gathers 25 of the child rearing expert's satirical pieces over a 30-year period. As the highly opinionated self-publisher of two novels, two collections of stories, three plays and four books on parenting, Millar quotes Harry Truman when asked why he was always giving people hell. "I don't give anybody hell. I tell them the truth and they think I am giving them hell."; With preambles about the principles of humour, a one-act play and short poems, On Laughter also comes with a manufacturer's claim. "Though it probably can't make a humorist of an anal retentive bureaucrat, it will broaden the horizons of the most reasonably spontaneous carriers of the creative virus."; 0-9681423-0-3

[BCBW SUMMER 1999]