The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr

In a blend of psychology and narrative mastery, ‘The Science of Storytelling is a great read to those looking to unravel its secrets.


The Science of Storytelling

Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better

Author: Store, Will

Link to Amazon
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Publish date: 03/10/2020
Language: English
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 1 419 743 031

Genres: Non-Fiction, Storytelling

“If you want to write a novel or a script, read this book. It is clear, compelling, and tightly shaped.” ―Sunday Times (London)

From the Back Cover

The Science of Storytelling explores the art and science behind storytelling. It searches for answers in the history of humanity, trying to figure out why we are drawn to stories. Storytelling, as it turns out, have evolved with us throughout time and across species.

To understand storytelling we must combine different ways of thought, from psychology and anthropology to neuroscience and to personal anecdotes. Storytelling is what makes us human, but is also something we have in commong with different animal species. It affects cultures, influences beliefs, and connects individuals. Storr argues that storytelling is deeply ingrained in our evolutionary history and plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the world around us.


My Review

On the whole this is a good book for learning to better understand human behaviour and how we have evolved into storytellers from the beginning. It does a great job explaining how it adds to our group’s survivability and successes to be able to tell stories among us.

This is not a manual about the different words and sentence structures you should use in a great story. No, it is no such simple manual. For anyone looking for those more straightforward writing tips and structure, this is not the best book for you. This goes deeper into the minds of the protagonists and characters that make up the story. It explains why a good story is a good story and why that recipe hasn’t changed for millennia.

4/5 thumbs up!


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