Have you ever wondered why we, as humans, are so drawn to hearing (or reading) great stories? And why do some stories easily captivate people while others fade into obscurity?
How do you master the art and power of storytelling?
You are reading: Best books on story telling
If you came across this article, you’re probably looking to answer the same questions. That’s why we’ve put together a collection of books by renowned writers to help you learn storytelling skills.
discover in this article, 18 of the best books on storytelling that will help you craft your stories and better engage with your audience.
Would you like to improve your presentations? make them more captivating and draw your audience’s eyes to you? Or simply influence the behavior of your loved ones more? then this book is for you.
learn how to create beautiful stories that give more power to your message, opinion and wishes.
Listening to others is not our greatest skill. however, we cannot resist a story. it’s like getting on a train on a route of magnificent landscapes.
This book is intended to help screenwriters. however, it is a great tool for learning how to:
- build a story
- design your characters well
- make people curious
- intrigue your audience with a believable plot
If you’re not a screenwriter, you might be wondering why you should read this book.
Firstly, it’s entertaining, and secondly, it gives you a lot of insights on how to create stories to help you reach your outcome.
A few years ago one of my friends was sad because (in a few days) she was going to be 40 years old. So, to lift her spirits, I made a video in which she introduced her to the advantages of being 40 and older.
Her sadness turned to joy, thinking of all those things she can do after 40 that weren’t possible before.
read this book and create your stories for any situation.
Discover in this book how you can structure fun games to share with your family (children) and improve your narrative skills and creativity.
The book is a great educational tool for learning the basics of writing and having fun doing it.
another positive aspect of this book is the fact that you can offer it as a gift; they will be delighted!
if you’re looking for inspiration and help to improve your writing skills, this book is for you.
In the age of technology, chances are you’ll need to write at least a few emails, letters, and social media posts. Do you always know what to say?
Place this book on your desk and you’ll never run out of ideas again.
Are you an aspiring fiction writer? Or maybe you’re tired of the same bedtime story and want a bit of diversity? Read this book and find out how you can become a skilled writer and storyteller.
This book is to a writer what a piano is to a musician. gives you the perfect platform on which you can start hitting the notes and creating beautiful symphonies.
When something exciting or fun happens in our lives, we want to share those events with others. however, most of the time, what happens is that we start talking and end with a small embarrassed smile. we say “you have to have been there to understand”.
Certain things are difficult to explain in words because it is not an easy job to capture an event that created intense emotion in you.
learn with this book how to capture those emotions and put them into a story.
Isn’t it true that you have at least one co-worker who captivates the attention of everyone around you? if you feel a bit envious, use that feeling and be curious about that person’s secret.
The secret is most likely his ability to tell stories and make people feel relaxed.
Discover in this book how you can share (with your co-workers, family and friends) stories that inspire and provoke strong emotions.
Did you know that our memory is greatly influenced by our emotions? therefore, the stronger the feeling you invoke in others, the more memorable you become.
one of the most prestigious places to be invited to speak, these days, is a ted conference. isn’t it?
People invited to speak at one of these events always have something innovative to share. however, having a brilliant idea doesn’t make you the right person to pitch it.
Discover in this book how to put your brilliant ideas into words so that your audience hears your message loud and clear.
Are you the proud owner of a small or large business? Or, are you the leader of a team? (remember your first team is your family)
If your answer to these questions is yes, then this book is for you.
learn with this book how to use narration so you can:
- influence those around you
- teach them what you expect of them and what they can expect of you
- show them examples of people who overcome difficulties
- communicate your message and wish easily
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“Today we’re going to talk about the four stages of anger and how easy it can be to make people angry,” says a university professor before starting the lecture.
“first stage: surprise”. the teacher draws a diagram on the blackboard; “Do you understand?”
“no“, the students reply.
“so let me show you stage one in practice”. the teacher picks up the phone and dials a random number; “Hi, I want to talk to Johnny.” “There is no Johnny here,” the person at the end of the line responds in surprise.
“phase two: irritation”. the teacher draws a diagram on the blackboard; “Do you understand?”
“no“, the students reply.
“so let me show you stage two in practice”. the teacher picks up the phone and dials the same number; “Hi, I want to talk to Johnny.” “As I told you last time, there is no Johnny here. stop calling!” the person responds irritably.
“stage three: anger”. the teacher draws a diagram on the blackboard; “Do you understand?”
“no“, the students reply.
“so let me show you stage three in practice”. the teacher picks up the phone and dials the same number; Hi, I want to talk to Johnny. “Are you crazy? I told you there is no johnny here! You are [intelligibly insulting]. There is no johnny here. Stop calling this number,” the person replies in an angry voice.
“phase four: anger”. the teacher draws a diagram on the blackboard; “Do you understand?”
“no“, the students reply.
“so let me show you stage four in practice”. the teacher picks up the phone and dials the same number; “Hi, I want to talk to Johnny.” the person at the end of the line doesn’t say anything for a split second, but then starts yelling and cursing, threatening to call the police “if you call this number one more time i’ll find you and paint johnny on your face” .
“It’s so easy to make people feel angry”, says the professor to conclude the conference.
“I know another stage”, says a student. “after rage, comes stupefaction.”
“And how is that?” asked the teacher.
student draws a diagram on the board; “Do you understand?”
“no“, the students reply.
“so let me show you the last stage in practice”. the student picks up the phone and dials the same number; Hi, I’m Johnny. Has someone called me? the person at the end of the line is speechless…
yeah, that’s a joke. however, there is something valuable to be gained from it. most people are easily bored, angry or shocked. so if you want your audience (one or many) to engage and hear your message, you need to learn how to use stories and make a brilliant presentation.
Is your brain wired to write or tell stories?
many of us have preconceived ideas about what we can do and what we can learn. writing a good story is like learning to play chess. It sounds a bit mystical and intimidating. however, once you start, you can’t stop.
Discover in this book how you can create and deliver stories that make your listener’s brain unable to shift focus from you to something else.
You don’t have to be a writer, by profession, to need the ability to engage people with your message. you must learn to be a good storyteller no matter what you do, because that gives you a small advantage to get to the top.
we are born with only two fears, we learn the rest. one of those fears that we learn and petrifies most people is the fear of feeling ashamed.
Many years ago, I went to a chess tournament. there were over 100 players in the room. there was only the muffled sound of clocks ticking. what can I say? an almost sepulchral silence… until an old man (in the middle of the room) let out a loud and long fart.
at least half of the players turn their heads and look at the “culprit” and laugh.
About a year later, I met that gentleman at another tournament and we had a chat. In the middle of the conversation he looked me straight in the eye and said: “Do you remember me farting and how people laughed at me?” I didn’t know what to answer; Should I pretend that never happened? or that I have not noticed? should i lie?
Before I had a chance to reply, he began a dissertation on everything that happened to him that day (to get a full picture of the things that led to that monumental fart).
When the story ended, he laughed: “I have never been more embarrassed in my life; Now I’m more careful about what I eat before a game.“
he told the story of that day to all the players who witnessed the ‘big event’; he laughed with all of us (over 100) and we laughed with him, not at him.
I was very young at the time, but I learned a valuable (life) lesson from that experience:
Any embarrassing moment in your life, put into the context of a story, becomes a fun story to tell.
Discover in this book the anatomy of history, how to become a master storyteller and overcome anything that holds you back.
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Since the dawn of mankind, we’ve learned to value two things above almost anything else. those two things are:
- first, being seen (by those around us) as a good person,
- and second, we value being seen (not being invisible and being left behind).
Those around you are experiencing information overload. therefore, you have never before been challenged (up to this point) to show who you are and what you stand for.
discover in this book how you can present yourself and your ideas in the most visible way. learn how you can stand out from the crowd by building a compelling story behind what you offer to this world.
Behind each person, there is a story. what’s yours?
Your story isn’t finished yet (thankfully)… you’re writing it as you go through life and build your legacy on it.
Whenever you want to inspire and help others, two ways to do so stand out the most:
- first, your personal example: the story of how you overcome obstacles,
- and second, stories about other people who emerge victorious from similar situations.
I am not a fiction writer, and yet I often use stories in my books and courses. There is no better way to make your point than a story. There’s no better way to influence your audience (of one or many) than a story.
Tell your kids to eat broccoli and they’ll run to the freezer for ice cream. tells a story about how their favorite characters became powerful by eating broccoli, and you won’t have enough money to buy as much as they want.
ask your husband not to leave his clothes on the floor, and the next day you will see that there is floor in the room. tell him a story about a husband who shows his love by folding his clothes; and, as if in return, his wife stopped collecting and filling the kitchen cabinets with bags and purses.
Ask (kindly) your co-workers to return the stapler, and you’ll have to wait a long time for that to happen. tell them a story (if possible a funny story), about a person who always forgot to pay back what he borrowed; and how that person lost their job as a result.
discover in this book how you can create a story for any situation you find yourself in… what’s your story? you can say it? can you talk about the multitude of positive character traits you have without sounding pretentious? Can you convince those around you that your way of doing things is the best?
Have you ever wondered how we can be so insensitive to the misfortune of others? how can we be so cold and impassive when reading facts and figures about calamities or disasters?
Facts and figures have no faces. it is information that we (most likely) forget in a matter of minutes.
Discover in this book how to use the features of your offer, product, and business to build a compelling story. listen, a lot of people have brilliant ideas, but only a few know how to put those ideas into words, into contagious messages.
give your business that slight edge it needs to stand out from your competitors.
made to stick is concrete, useful, easy to remember, understandable and direct. chip and dan heath explain the anatomy of ideas that stick and reveal ways to make them even stickier.
how? for an idea to be sticky, it has to be simple but concrete, believable, emotional, unexpected, and tell a story.
This book will transform the way you communicate. Add this to your reading list to learn more about effective and persuasive communication.
related: effective communication: how to improve your communication skills
nancy duarte masterfully draws the connection between story and presentation. with meticulous care, he produced undeniable proof of how a well-crafted speech works.
The author explains, step by step, how to change the mindset of an audience.
This book also emphasizes the importance of telling a story; to offer a memorable experience and produce an emotional response from the public.
For centuries, humans have enjoyed making up stories, reading novels, watching plays, and living in the land of fantasy.
we are connected for history. but why is that?
in the narrative animal, gottschall aims to unravel part of the mystery of the narrative. seeks to better understand how stories determine much of the human experience.
It is vital to understand the role that storytelling has played throughout history; will challenge you to tell stories that matter.
No matter what your profession, job and interests are, you can’t escape storytelling. From the savvy business owner to teachers and parents, from co-workers to siblings, we all need to know how:
- structure
- elaborate
- write/tell
- deliver
- and make our stories interesting
I hope these 18 best storytelling books have been helpful to you, so you can captivate your audience (one or more) and excel at whatever you do.
Let’s take physics as an example. The most fascinating branch of physics is mechanics. that’s because the mechanic tells a story that we can easily understand and see in practice.
10 more great books on storytelling:
- the storyteller’s secret: from ted speakers to business legends, why some ideas catch on and others don’t by carmine gallo
- the science of storytelling: why stories they make us human and how to do it tell them better by will storr
- unleash the power of storytelling: win hearts, change minds, get results by rob biesenbach
- the story factor by annette simmons
- worthy of a story: engage, teach, persuade, and change your life through the power of storytelling by matthew dicks
- into the woods: a five-act journey into history by john yorke
- ted talks storytelling: 23 storytelling techniques from akash karia’s best ted talks
- making noise: a creators guide to podcasting and excellent audio narration from eric nuzum
- stories that stick: how storytelling can captivate customers, influence audiences, and transform your business by kindra hall
- the seven basic plots of christopher booker
6 best cinematographic narration books:
- save the cat! the last book on screenwriting you’ll ever need by blake snyder
- pixar storytelling: rules for effective storytelling based on dean movshovitz’s greatest pixar movies
- the hero of a thousand faces of joseph campbell
- storytelling in film and television by kristin thompson
- the writer’s journey: mythical structure for writers by christopher vogler
- storytelling for film and television : from the first word to the last frame by ken dancyger
The 4 best brand storytelling books:
- contagious: why things catch on by jonah berger
- the power of visual storytelling: how to use images, video, and social media to market your brand by ekaterina walter and jessica gioglio
- building a brand story: clarifying your message so customers hear it by donald a. miller
- brand storytelling: putting customers at the center of your brand story by miri rodriguez
6 best books on how to write fiction novels:
- bird by bird by anne lamott
- on writing: a memoir of craft by stephen king
- the elements of style by william strunk jr.
- zen in the art of writing by ray bradbury
- the thesaurus of emotion: a writer’s guide to character expression by angela ackerman and becca puglisi
- genius from history: how to use brain science to go beyond sketching and write a riveting novel (before wasting three years writing 327 pages that go nowhere) by lisa cron
6 best books on novel structure:
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- story trumps structure: how to write unforgettable fiction by breaking the rules by steven james
- structuring your novel: essential keys to writing an outstanding story by k. meter. weiland
- outlining your novel: map your path to success by k. meter. weiland
- creating character arcs: the author’s masterful guide to tying story structure together by k. meter. weiland
- plot & structuring: techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grabs readers from start to finish by james scott bell
- structuring your novel workbook: practical help for building strong, successful stories (helping readers writers to become book authors 4) by k. meter. weilandia