Bergers clear dislike and misreading in my opinion of bakhtin left one of the largest voices on the power of laughter out of the study except in a cursory manner despite this redeeming laughter is a necessary addition to an under studied subject his closing short chapters on the religious dimension of the comic are the highlight of the . Redeeming laughter the comic dimension of human experience by peter l berger new york walter de gruyter 1997 pp xvii 215 2395 mahadev apte. The author of numerous previous books of broad appeal and scholarly acclaim on subjects ranging from sociological theory to religious ethics in government and economic systems and the coauthor of a vastly influential treatise on the social construction of reality berger unfolds in redeeming laughter a new perspective on a classic domainbergers comic terrain is at once noble and amusing . Amid the variety of human experiences the comic occupies a distinctive place it is simultaneously ubiquitous relative and fragile in this book peter l berger reflects on the nature of the comic and its relationship to other human experiences berger contends that the comic is an integral aspect of human life yet one that must be approached and analyzed circumspectly and circuitously . Berger treats the comic dimension with breadth from the standpoint of sociology ethnic and cultural studies and theology he seasons the text with many good jokes that contribute well to the development of his argument that the comic is a dimension that intrudes on the everyday taken for granted world