The Science of Storytelling

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 2,030 ratings

Price: 17.5

Last update: 01-08-2025


About this item

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.


Top reviews from the United States

Kimberly Burnham, Author / Poet, Mistaken For A Man, a Story For Anyone Struggling to Feel Comfortable in Their Own Skin; The Red Sunflower Diaries; Heschel and King Marching to Montgomery; Awakenings Peace Dictionary
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and Fascinating Read
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024
This book was recommended to me by my brother, Paul Burnham who is a wonderful storyteller. It is so rich with descriptions and ideas that I have read it several times to remind myself of all the different ways to tell stories and why we tell stories.
Jen Grisanti
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
I love this book because I love what is explored with story. I love the idea of adding the control theory to the story system that I teach. Storytellers at every level will gain insight from what Will Storr shares. You will have many aha moments. I gave it five stars because the writing is entertaining, concise, thought-provoking and well organized.
Sebastian Bejarano
4.0 out of 5 stars Stories make us human
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2024
Has some great perspective on the human condition and why stories is ingrained in the idea and experience of being human.
Elizabeth Oxley
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2024
This book is amazing. If I could give it more stars, I would. It is just so good, I can't even believe how amazing it is. It was money well spent and I learned so much. Thank you, Will Storr!
Mister B
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute Genius!
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2022
I have a few books on writing. The usual are very plot oriented, and formulaic. This guy goes to the heart of the matter, and stays there, so I'm very impressed. If you think about what he is saying here, you cannot help but become a better writer, which is a teller of stories. Not a plot line plotter. I think Steven King's book on writing is very good, and was the top of my list, til now. The King got bumped...long live the new king. (Actually, just have one of each, and you are pretty well set, now just get down and write!)
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I understand HOW story works now
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023
I like the studies of how storytelling is everything we are
I recommend this for anyone interested in how the mind works and/or are involved in building a form of story

I'll be reading this again so 5 stars.
Chris A
3.0 out of 5 stars Kindle version is missing pages, otherwise a great book
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2021
First, this is a great book about the connection between consciousness and narrative. Not quite as neurocognitively scientific as I hoped, but the research conclusions and principles are clearly stated. The content gets 5 stars! The audiobook and narration gets 4+ stars (a little slow in the cadence for my ears, but otherwise candy for the ears).
The Kindle gets 2 stars. I got the Kindle with the discounted audible book and boy am I glad I did! There are entire pages apparently absent from the Kindle version that are clearly narrated in the audiobook. At first I thought my hallucinated version of the real world was to blame, but the words I hear are simply not in print - and the context verifies that something is missing. C'mon Amazon! Just because it's less expensive and electronic doesn't mean the book has to be incomplete! Please do better!
Bruno Wasconcellos Roncolato
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
This is a great book not only because of how it covers storytelling ideas but how those reflect how we operate and what it can teach about is.

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