The storyteller's reading list: Six books and one talk

3 hours ago

3 min read

The books behind our storytelling workshop, and why each one earns its place on your shelf.

Every idea in our storytelling workshop stands on someone else's shoulders. These are the books (and one talk) we return to most, and what each will give you. Start with whichever matches what you need right now.

1. Watch first: This is your brain on communication (Uri Hasson, TED, 2016)

A 15-minute talk from the Princeton neuroscientist whose lab showed that when a listener understands a story, their brain activity begins to align with the teller's. It's the science behind the opening of our workshop, "brain to brain", and the fastest way to understand why storytelling isn't a soft skill. Watch on TED.

2. How to Hack Humans: Storytelling for Startups (Seth Erickson, 2021)

Erickson, founder of Storify Agency, treats the brain as a computer and stories as the programs it runs best. If you want to influence people, write in the language the brain is built to process. Written for startups but useful for anyone who has to persuade, it covers neural coupling, mirror neurons, memory, bias and the hero's journey, with a light touch and plenty of humour. Also available as an audiobook. A note: some popular neuroscience claims are simplified in books like this. Treat them as a doorway to the research, not the last word.

3. Storyworthy (Matthew Dicks, New World Library, 2018)

Dicks is a multiple-time champion of The Moth storytelling competitions, and this is the most practical book on finding your own stories we know. Two ideas from it run through our workshop: every story turns on a "five-second moment" of change, and "Homework for Life", a daily habit of noting the most story-worthy moment of your day. If you only read one book on this list, make it this one.

4. Putting Stories to Work: Mastering Business Storytelling (Shawn Callahan, 2016)

Callahan, founder of business storytelling firm Anecdote, makes the case for small, real stories told in conversation rather than epic performances. He groups business stories by the job they do: connection, influence and clarity. It's the main source behind our focus on short, true stories you can use the next day. Also available as an audiobook.

5. Winning the Story Wars (Jonah Sachs, Harvard Business Review Press, 2012)

Sachs argues that the brands that tell (and live) the best stories will win. His key insight for us: the business isn't the hero of the story. The customer is, and the business plays the mentor who helps them succeed. Read it before your next pitch.

6. Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences (Nancy Duarte, Wiley, 2010)

Duarte shows how great presentations move between "what is" and "what could be", building the audience's desire for change. Essential if you present to boards, clients or large teams, and a natural next step once you can tell a short story well.

7. Answer Intelligence (Brian Glibkowski)

Glibkowski identifies six ways to answer a question: story, metaphor, theory, concept, procedure and action. We take one lesson from it into the workshop: when someone asks "why", reach for a story. A thought-provoking read for anyone whose job involves answering hard questions from clients or senior leaders.

Where to go from here

Reading builds understanding. Practice builds the skill. Pair any of these with five minutes a day of Homework for Life, and you'll notice the difference within a month.

Want to put these ideas into practice with your team? Find out more about storytelling with Co-Lab People.