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The Science of Storytelling
- Why Stories Make Us Human, and How to Tell Them Better
- Narrated by: Will Storr
- Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
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The Science of Storytelling
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Summary
Sunday Times best seller.
Who would we be without stories?
Stories mould who we are, from our character to our cultural identity. They drive us to act out our dreams and ambitions and shape our politics and beliefs. We use them to construct our relationships, to keep order in our law courts, to interpret events in our newspapers and social media. Storytelling is an essential part of what makes us human.
There have been many attempts to understand what makes a good story - from Joseph Campbell’s well-worn theories about myth and archetype to recent attempts to crack the ‘Bestseller Code’. But few have used a scientific approach. This is curious, for if we are to truly understand storytelling in its grandest sense, we must first come to understand the ultimate storyteller - the human brain.
In this scalpel-sharp, thought-provoking audiobook, Will Storr demonstrates how master storytellers manipulate and compel us, leading us on a journey from the Hebrew scriptures to Mr Men, from Booker Prize-winning literature to box set TV. Applying dazzling psychological research and cutting-edge neuroscience to the foundations of our myths and archetypes, he shows how we can use these tools to tell better stories - and make sense of our chaotic modern world.
Critic reviews
"One of my absolute favourite writers." (Decca Aitkenhead)
"There’s nothing else quite like Will’s approach, with its illuminating, scientific take on storytelling. All writers, no matter what their level of experience, are likely to go away with a new understanding that will deepen and nourish their work." (Craig Pearce, screenwriter of Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby)
"Storr is irascibly good company, and has something approaching genius for marshalling his material." (Sunday Times)
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What listeners say about The Science of Storytelling
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Thalia
- 01-07-19
reader was pretentious
listened to selfie before, also read by the author. but this time it was a pain to listen. i felt as if someone told him to put more emotion in the Reading Which does not suit him. not authentic. pls keep reading as you normally do. love the story
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-08-20
Really Imformative with great examples!
The book was very informative and had great examples. Even though sometimes it felt like it only touched the surface of the subjects but it gives some expamles if you want to dive deep in the matter! Overall a great listen! 👍
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lyndon M.
- 20-02-22
Genius
Another great read by Wil Storr. Focused and directional without being preachy. Richly researched. Applicable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Zia
- 24-07-22
Fascinating
I really liked this book which offers plenty of insights and is well grownded in current academic and scientific work
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Moosa
- 07-02-20
Opening your mind to the basics of storytelling
Overall a good book to understand the basics of a great storytelling. The introduction is well structured and easy to follow. As the book progresses in the chapters, it became quite disjointed. I will listen to it again.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Rob T
- 11-03-20
Very insightful
Well thought out, brilliantly researched. This book is an excellent follow up to Will Store's previous book 'selfie'. Human nature explored through the stories we tell. Fascinating stuff.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Roger D.
- 29-10-19
own dog food he did not eat!
As the book was about driving narratives it is odd that he didn't write it as a kind of story. There is some good stuff but I struggled to pay attention. The narration is too forced. Shame because I have enjoyed Storr's other work.
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18 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kayley Lyndle
- 11-09-21
Storr is a genius
This is a brilliant book not only for writers but for anyone who wants a fascinating answer to the question 'what is it to be human?' I have read it several times now and learned more each time. It is beautifully written and beautifully narrated by the author. It is one of my favourite books and definitely in my audible library.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shiny Things Reviews
- 27-01-21
This is a must-read if you got a story to tell...
I'm always right (well, most of the time :-) ) and my brother is usually wrong... sounds familiar?! Well, after reading this book I understand why! A must-read for aspiring story tellers, screenwriters, and for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of human psychology associated with the story telling. I write for a YouTube channel and this book gave me a fresh perspective on how to approach my scripts. And Yes, I'll buy this book for my brother as well!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Farren K. Perkins
- 22-03-23
Light on storytelling, even lighter on science
Some interesting pockets of knowledge on storytelling telling history, theory and techniques, with some great examples, but quite unfocused as a book.
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1 person found this helpful