Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling

Storytelling is as ancient as are human civilizations. Stories are used as tools for teaching, preserving memory and history, constructing collective identity, envisioning a utopian future, and most of all, they provide personality and granularity to the abstract. This book focuses on a specific type of story. The type where stories are personal, true, authentic, and help listeners connect with the storyteller.

The book is divided into three parts. The first focuses on where (and how) to find your story. The second (and longest) part is crafting your story. The last (and shortest) part is about delivering your story. There are a total of twenty-three chapters, and the longer ones are around ten pages. Between chapters are also “story breaks” that illustrate the story that is used to embody the point of the chapter. While with some chapters the connection between the story and storytelling point is clear, it is less clear with some others. The advice for storytelling is excellent, but the narrative does get long-winded. For those readers looking for a defined recipe on storytelling, this book offers something closer to guidelines. However, readers who are comfortable (or prefer) guidelines will appreciate the format.

Despite its shortcomings, this book is an excellent reference for readers looking for guidelines on becoming better storytellers. The scope is wide enough to include not only storytelling on stage but also the informal type of storytelling that we indulge in, such as pitching an idea or charming friends or co-workers. Readers who summarize their chapters will especially find the summaries here most useful.