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  • The Science of Storytelling

  • By: Will Storr
  • Narrated by: James Clamp
  • Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (522 ratings)

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The Science of Storytelling

By: Will Storr
Narrated by: James Clamp
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Publisher's summary

How do master storytellers compel us? There have been many attempts to understand what makes a good story, but few have used a scientific approach. In The Science of Storytelling, Will Storr applies dazzling psychological research and cutting-edge neuroscience to our myths and archetypes to show how we can tell better stories, revealing, among other things, how storytellers - and also our brains - create worlds by being attuned to moments of unexpected change.

Storr’s superbly chosen examples range from Harry Potter to Jane Austen to Alice Walker, Greek drama to Russian novels to Native American folk tales, King Lear to Breaking Bad to children’s stories. With chapters such as "The Dramatic Question" and "Plot, Endings, and Meaning" and a practical, step-by-step appendix dedicated to "The Sacred Flaw Approach", The Science of Storytelling is destined to become an invaluable resource for writers of all stripes, whether novelist, screenwriter, playwright, or writer of creative or traditional nonfiction.

©2020 Will Storr (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC
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What listeners say about The Science of Storytelling

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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Eye opening and life changing

One of the best books I ever read. Did not expect to go so deep in to human psychology, but that’s what makes the difference and makes it a game changer and should be tough in schools.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great value. Rich with important insights.

You could spend many days searching the internet and library to find the information and actionable intel Will has brought together into this book. And if you did it would not be told in such a profound way.

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    2 out of 5 stars

Relatable. Applicable. Must Read/Listen

Every bit of information can be used, realized in numerous ways. Introspection, sociology, history, everything

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

For the love of science and story

This. This right here is how your dry liberal arts credits should have been taught in college.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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So much new insight

I thought i had read every book out there about behavioral psychology, but this book really caught me offf guard with new insights into the human mind.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Why intelligent People Believe Crazy Things

A very credible method for creating compelling characters and stories, but even more importantly, it gives you insights into how and why we believe what we do. If you’ve ever wondered why propaganda is so effective, look no further.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The literal science behind stories

It’s for any serious writer looking to understand why stories work. It does not disappoint. I particularly enjoyed the earlier chapters on perception and later on the role of stories in tribes. It gives you clues on how to view your own writing and weight it against the human experience of it.

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I wish I read this

I really think this book, in the way it’s been written, doesn’t lend itself to narration. It refers to past passages by numbers, and includes worksheets.

It’s for of a how to guide than a nonfiction book, which is fine, I just would have preferred reading it.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Simple explanation of story structure and psychology

Simple explanation of story structure and psychology that will allow you to better understand all type of stories.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Annoying voice over

Over the top voice over is too distracting. the way he ennunciates every 3 words makes him sound like a local news reporter. Too distracting.

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