Laugh Your Troubles Away Through Bulă’s Story, which helped the Romanian people survive communism under dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. They found temporary escape from the hardships of the brutal regime through laughter. Their jokester-in-chief was (and still is) the infamous, imaginary character Bulă. Conveniently, he could critique the government and yet never be arrested by the Secret Service, because he is an imaginary character. Moreover, this charming, free-spirited wanderer with his unique combination of wisdom, one-liners, has wry observations, such as “How am I doing financially? I have enough money to last me till the end of my life-provided I die by 11:00 PM today.”
While author Ion Grumeza has lived in the USA since 1973, he has never forgotten his native-born Romanian sense of humor. Despite advice not to lower his credibility as a scholar by publishing political satire, outrageous advice, and unexpected comments, Grumeza translates Bulă’s jokes, which, along with the simple, silly fun they provide, also supply insights into truth and philosophy. So, for a touch of Romanian history, culture and humor, read this book with a light heart and let it add joy to your day. As Bulă put it, “Jokes and a bottle of wine are cheaper and better than a psychiatrist.”