The Storytelling Animal

How Stories Make Us Human

By: Jonathan Gottschall

Narrated by: Kris Koscheski

Humans live in landscapes of make-believe. We spin fantasies. We devour novels, films, and plays. Even sporting events and criminal trials unfold as narratives. Yet the world of story has long remained an undiscovered and unmapped country. It's easy to say that humans are "wired" for story, but why?

In this delightful and original book, Jonathan Gottschall offers the first unified theory of storytelling. He argues that stories help us navigate life's complex social problems - just as flight simulators prepare pilots for difficult situations. Storytelling has evolved, like other behaviors, to ensure our survival.

Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology, Gottschall tells us what it means to be a storytelling animal. Did you know that the more absorbed you are in a story, the more it changes your behavior? That all children act out the same kinds of stories, whether they grow up in a slum or a suburb? That people who read more fiction are more empathetic?

Of course, our story instinct has a darker side. It makes us vulnerable to conspiracy theories, advertisements, and narratives about ourselves that are more "truthy" than true. National myths can also be terribly dangerous: Hitler's ambitions were partly fueled by a story. But as Gottschall shows in this remarkable book, stories can also change the world for the better. Most successful stories are moral - they teach us how to live, whether explicitly or implicitly, and bind us together around common values. We know we are master shapers of story. The Storytelling Animal finally reveals how stories shape us.

©2012 Jonathan Gottschall (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Gottschall brings a light touch to knotty psychological matters, and he's a fine storyteller himself." ( Kirkus Reviews)

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...

We humans crave narratives. From ancient fire circles to books to radio and movies to TV sets, headphones, and computers, "story is the glue of human social life."

This short listen may not bring to light any really new concepts, but it offers interesting examples of how we use stories for education, entertainment, and reassurance that there is meaning in life. Gottschall also alerts us to reasons why we should be aware that this tendency also opens us up to the possibility of misinterpreting and being manipulated. We long for patterns and reasons - can conspiracy theories be far behind?

I especially enjoyed the discussion about ways in which new technologies are changing how we tell and experience stories -- from so-called "reality" shows to interactive and role-playing computer games.

The narrator is OK, but I wonder why he felt he had to deliver some quotes in quite bizarre accents. The book starts slowly but picks up in energy and interest as it goes along. I think most people interested in books and psychology will enjoy it.

great material

Loved it. Reader didn't need to act so much. took us out a bit when he did so but its such a small portion of the book AND the book is so good it didn't really matter. like reading, when its listened to by rote, our imaginations can do more. my 2 cents!

Fascinating!

Well written and read. I'm blown away by how much story actually shapes our lives. I'll keep "living the story of my life", rewriting it once in a while and continue enjoying stories of all kind.

It's an interesting story.

A great imaginal about the individual, story. A renewed version of the anarchists cookbook.

Facts are confused with fictional material, just what the guru ordered.

Pretty good

Pretty good. Coalesces a number of fairly familiar ideas into insightful arguments and anecdotes .
As a writer I feel like this book gave breadth to the dimension of which I understand narrative.

interesting for sure

some really top notch chapters. some chapters a little more ordinary. And not overly lengthy.

Great for 101 in Storytelling

To get it out of the way- I liked the book and I think it was well worth the credit. I would say that you should not expect this book to provide you with lessons on storytelling. Instead, the author focuses on the origins of the storytelling, and how storytelling is s huge part of our life. I took away a lot of interesting thoughts and a bit different perspective on actions of some of the people. I recommend this read 100%!

Excellent and eye opening

As a student of cognitive science and storytelling, this book tied a lot of my interests together and brought me to a higher level of understanding about story. It was well written and researched - not pseudo science or pop psychology like so many books are these days - and though it's not at all a self-improvement book, the ideas it shares will will help you improve yourself.

Meh. Science-lite. 3.5 stars.

Would probably give it 3.5-3.9 stars. Not 4 stars, but not 3 either.

It’s a lot less scientific than I thought it would be. Some helpful elements, but not as scientific and beneficial as “The Science of Screenwriting”, “Flicker”, and “The Science of Storytelling”

Won’t hurt to have it on your shelf, but if you’re looking for significant science, this isn’t it.

Warning

Only read it if you are stable and have a plan of your future. And consult with a terapist. Good information if you able to take it.