Lasse Toft’s 70 Things You Can Do While Being Hospitalized is a peculiar yet insightful book that straddles the line between dark humour and genuine mental health coping strategies. Written from the perspective of someone who endured a gruelling six-month hospitalisation, including time in intensive care, the book offers seventy unconventional activities designed to combat boredom, fear, and the psychological toll of prolonged medical confinement. While its tone is undeniably comedic, often absurd, and occasionally controversial, the book inadvertently touches upon scientifically supported methods for improving patient morale and mental resilience. This review will assess the practicality of Toft’s suggestions, comparing them where relevant to psychological research on humour, patient agency, and stress management in hospital settings.

The Role of Humour in Patient Recovery

One of the book’s central themes is the therapeutic power of humour, encapsulated in Toft’s assertion: “Humor really is the best—and sometimes the only—medicine.” This claim, while hyperbolic, aligns with a body of research on the psychological benefits of laughter in medical contexts. A 2016 meta-analysis published in Holistic Nursing Practice found that humour therapy significantly reduces stress and anxiety in hospitalised patients, particularly those undergoing long-term treatment. Another study in The American Journal of Medicine (2017) demonstrated that laughter can lower cortisol levels, improve immune function, and even temporarily alleviate pain—effects that Toft likely experienced firsthand during his hospitalisation.

However, while science supports humour as a coping mechanism, Toft’s execution is far from clinical. His suggestions, such as Faking Your Own Death to test staff reactions or Dressing as the Reaper to prank fellow patients, are more theatrical than therapeutic. These activities may provide a fleeting emotional release, but their long-term practicality is questionable. A more structured approach, such as guided laughter therapy sessions (which some hospitals already implement), might offer more consistent benefits. That said, Toft’s unorthodox methods could still serve a purpose: they encourage patients to reclaim agency in an environment where they often feel powerless.

Agency and Control in Hospitalisation

A recurring psychological challenge for long-term patients is the loss of autonomy, which can lead to feelings of helplessness and depression. Toft’s book, intentionally or not, addresses this by proposing activities that restore a sense of control, however absurd. For example, Establishing Your Own Betting Company (where patients wager on survival odds) or implementing a Smiley-Scheme (rating staff performance on a public whiteboard) are essentially ways for patients to exert influence over their surroundings.

This aligns with research on the importance of perceived control in patient well-being. A 2015 study in Health Psychology Review found that even small opportunities for decision-making, such as choosing meal times or personalising a hospital room, can reduce stress and improve recovery outcomes. Toft’s ideas take this concept to an extreme, but the underlying principle is sound: when patients feel like active participants rather than passive recipients of care, their mental health improves.

That said, some of his proposals, like Sneaking into the Morgue for Solitude, are impractical or ethically dubious. A more measured approach, such as journaling, setting small daily goals, or engaging in hospital-approved creative projects, might achieve similar psychological benefits without the risks. Still, Toft’s irreverence serves a purpose: it highlights how stifling hospital environments can be and how desperate patients are for ways to assert themselves.

Social Connection and Peer Support

Another key aspect of Toft’s book is its emphasis on social interaction, albeit in bizarre ways. Organising a Concorso d’Eleganza (a wheelchair decorating contest) or Celebrating the Fastest Nurse with confetti cannons are, at their core, attempts to foster camaraderie among patients and staff. Research suggests that social engagement enhances hospital experiences. A 2018 study in The Journal of Clinical Nursing found that patients who engaged in group activities or formed bonds with fellow patients reported lower levels of depression and higher satisfaction with care.

However, Toft’s methods are, again, unconventional. His suggestion to Scare Fellow Patients to Make Them Feel More Alive (via fake blood messages or hiding under beds) is more likely to cause distress than bonding. A more evidence-based approach might involve structured support groups or collaborative art projects, which have been shown to enhance patient morale without the potential for chaos.

Ethical Considerations and Real-World Applicability

While Toft’s book is framed as humorous, some suggestions flirt with ethical boundaries. Making Money Selling Hospital Inventory (e.g., expensive unused equipment) is illegal, and Bribing Staff for Patient Information (to manipulate betting odds) is deeply problematic. These ideas, while amusing in theory, undermine the book’s potential as a legitimate coping guide.

That said, the book’s darker humour may still serve a purpose. Research on gallows humour in high-stress environments (e.g., military personnel, emergency workers) suggests that it can be a valid, if controversial, way to process trauma. A 2019 study in Psychology of Humour found that dark humour helps individuals reframe distressing situations, making them feel more manageable. Toft’s jokes about death, epitaphs, and Hot Coffins Magazine may not be for everyone, but for some patients, this kind of humour could provide a psychological release.

Conclusion: A Flawed but Fascinating Survival Guide

70 Things You Can Do While Being Hospitalized is not a scientifically validated self-help book, nor is it intended to be. It is a darkly comic thought experiment, born from one man’s attempt to survive an unbearable situation. Many of its suggestions are impractical, some are ethically questionable, and a few are outright impossible. Yet, beneath the absurdity, there are kernels of psychological wisdom: humour can alleviate fear, small acts of control can combat helplessness, and social engagement can ease isolation.

For readers seeking a structured, research-backed approach to hospital survival, this book may be disappointing. But for those who appreciate gallows humour and need a mental escape from the sterile confines of a hospital, Toft’s wild imagination offers something valuable: a reminder that even in the bleakest circumstances, creativity and laughter can be lifelines.

And for readers who are just looking to read something amazing, funny, and to escape the mundane world’s boring reality, at least for a while, Lasse Toft’s book may be your ticket to a 2-3 hour fun ride! 

Interested in reading this chaotic mental health guide? Get it from Amazon right now! Click here.

Review by Ashish for ReadByCritics