The Story Factor

Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion Through the Art of Storytelling

By: Annette Simmons

Narrated by: Annette Simmons

Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

Fully revised, updated, and expanded, this modern classic will teach you to use the art of storytelling to persuade, motivate, and inspire in life and business.

Anyone seeking to influence others must first know their own story and how to tell it properly. Whether you're proposing a risky new venture, trying to close a deal, or leading a charge against injustice, you have a story to tell. Tell it well, and you will create a shared experience with your listeners that can have profound results.

In this modern classic, Annette Simmons reminds us that the oldest tool of influence is also the most powerful. Fully revised and updated to account for new technology and social media, along with two new chapters on the role of stories in the development of civilization and how to adjust your story to your specific goal, Simmons showcases over 100 examples of effective storytelling drawn from the front lines of business and government, as well as myths, fables, and parables from around the world. Whether writing a screenplay, or announcing a corporate reorganization, Simmons illustrates how story can be used in ways that cold facts, bullet points, and directives can't. These stories, combined with practical storytelling techniques, show anyone how to become a more effective communicator and achieve their goals.

©2019 Annette Simmons (P)2020 Basic Books

Great advice for the storyteller

Annette Simmons’ book is a timeless textbook for anyone who wants to understand how story works, as well as the ancient truths that can only be captured and shared with stories. She creates clear blueprints for understanding what story is, why it is important, how it works, and how you can bring others to understand and share your goals and values. Her deep understanding of group dynamics, facilitation, and psychology inform the entire book. Importantly, she directly addresses current abuses of storytelling and delivers clear guidance on how to make sure you are using storytelling for good. She understands trust, and shows us how to write trustworthy stories. I read the book first, then later listened to her read the book on the audible version. I learned different things from both versions. 

Story Matters

Annette delivers actionable wisdom for aspiring and advancing storytellers. Choose your story, choose your future.

Good material; painful narration

As is so often the case with authors who read their work, this author is unable to make the hard choices that a professional narrator would. Consequently, the reading, ironically by a storytelling expert, has no flow. It feels like the harmonic modulation of an unloaded truck at highway speeds. Every action word and prepositional phrase is not worthy of a comma, but that’s what I’m hearing.
I’ve slogged through about a third of the work and it is sad because the material is worthy.

Worthy!

Read it, then listened to it. Wonderful! I highly recommend Annette Simmons The Story Factor.

Good content. Dull narration

The content is very good, although I think there were many parts that could’ve been briefer.

The narration wasn’t pleasant in my opinion. I listened to it at 1.6x speed.

Listen at faster speed

Authors really should understand if they have the chops to narrate their own books. Annette Simmons does not - which is a shame, since this is one the best books on storytelling I have come across. Since we are stuck with Annette’s narration, my recommendation is to up the playback speed - I listened at 1.7 and it definitely smoothed out her stilted reading and made it much easier to engage with the material. If you are interested in storytelling theory and practice, this book is essential, just don’t be shy about increasing the playback speed:

too much jesus

and could've been a 45 minute lecture. it feels stretched to accomadate a full book.

Thought provoking

I found this book mostly interesting but on a few occasions I did zone out.

The narrator had a calm soothing tone which helped.

overall the book is very good and I found myself reflecting on how a story would have been better utilised in experiences were my message had not gone to plan.

Amazing Book!

This is the only book you need on storytelling. it's a Masters discourse and is as informative as it is pleasurable to listen to.