Name: How to Tell a Story
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
ISBN: 9780593139028

Catherine Burns

The Moth

Padma Lakshmi

Meg Bowles

Jenifer Hixson

Sarah Austin Jenness

Kate Tellers

Chenjerai Kumanyika

The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth

How to Tell a Story

The definitive guide to telling an unforgettable story in any setting, drawing on twenty-five years of experience from the storytelling experts at The Moth Over the past twenty-five years, the directors of The Moth have worked with people from all walks of life--including astronauts, rock stars, Nobel Prize-winners, high school students, dental hygienists, and a retired pickpocket--to develop true personal stories that have moved and delighted millions of listeners on the Moth's Peabody Award-winning radio hour and podcast. A leader in the modern storytelling movement, The Moth also inspires thousands of people around the globe to share their stories each year. Now, with How to Tell a Story, you will learn how to uncover and craft your own unique stories, like Moth storytellers such as Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Gopnik, Amanda Gorman, Padma Lakshmi, Hasan Minhaj, Tig Notaro, Boots Riley, Molly Ringwald, Krista Tippett, John Turturro, and more. Whether your goal is to make it to The Moth stage, deliver the perfect wedding toast, wow clients at a business dinner, give a moving eulogy, ace a job interview, be a hit at parties, or simply connect more deeply to those around you, stories are essential. Sharing secrets of their time-honed process and using examples from notable and beloved storytellers, the Moth directors will help you: * Mine your memories for your best stories; * Explore structures that will boost the impact of your story; * Tailor your stories for any occasion. Beyond public speaking, The Moth team will help you present your most authentic self to the world--and tell stories that will forge lasting connections with coworkers, clients, friends, and family.

The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from the Moth

Greg Talbot

“The Moth” came about on a dusky porch in Georgia in 1997 with cofounder George Dawes and some friends. But we all know the story goes as far back as humans themselves. What is a life without stories. They are the color, the noise, the influencers of personality and the skirting wind upon meaning. “”How to Tell a Story” is a triumph on every human level. Let’s talk practical. There’s one level of encountering the stories that is purely technical. How do we filter through our episodes, and how do we turn them into beats. A good story, especially as I get a chance to read these finely chopped up stories throughout the book , relies on solid structure. But let’s talk about the level of connection. As someone preparing a monologue at this time, crafting the story is truly so hard…because it has your imprint.“When you share a story, you share a piece of yourself” (p.4). The structure is required, but with vulnerability we can have these amazing stories about almost breaking the Hubble Telescope (“Michael Massimino “a view from earth” ) or wading through heartbreak in a foreign land (““Fog of Disbelief” by Carl Pilliteteri”). Presenting these vulnerable stories is scary. Facing anything real is. Yes, as a speaker you may encounter physically intense (dry mouths, upset stomach, trembling) symptoms. Comedian Mike Brigella states, “If you want to bail out on it at many stages, you’re headed in the right direction” (p.44). But there is a partnering audience out there ready to connect with you. Let’s talk about the rules of “the moth” storytelling. True, told out loud, and from your own perspective. Not read or recited (except maybe our beginnings and endings). Having stakes. Having timelines. Having been in theater a bit, you realize the culture of storytelling everywhere is different. These formats are loose, but help give identity. The stories i’ve heard from the Moth Radio that move me the most (“No Matter What” - by Mark Lukach. ; “The Pieties of Perspiration” by Adam Gopnik) always were centered in that 1st person lived experience. And in our age of distraction and markets for attention - the lone voice in a listening crowd may move our hearts in unparalleled ways. It’s hard to imagine another book with such a generous gift to the reader. In many ways, the book feels like an impetus toward signing up for the next storyslam. Like the perennial favorite “The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron, it asks us to connect with the action in our lives, and to create. The only hard part of this book is that it made me want to listen to stories, and seek out a place to hear (and maybe share my own). Dedicated to the undiscovered stories in all of us. May we find the courage to find our piece and share.

How to Tell a Story is a book by The Moth, a group of storytellers who have been captivating audiences with their true tales for over 25 years. The book is a guide to finding, crafting, and delivering your own stories, whether you want to make people laugh, cry, or think.

The book is full of tips and tricks from The Moth's directors and some of their famous storytellers, such as Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Padma Lakshmi, and more. You'll learn how to mine your memories for your best stories, explore structures that will boost the impact of your story, deliver your stories with confidence, and tailor your stories for any occasion.

The book is also full of examples of stories from The Moth's live shows and podcasts, which range from hilarious to heartbreaking. You'll hear about a retired pickpocket who reveals his secrets, a rock star who confronts his past, an astronaut who faces a life-or-death situation, and many more.

How to Tell a Story is a fun and inspiring read for anyone who loves stories or wants to tell their own. It will help you connect with the world around you and unleash the power of story in your life. Whether you want to make it to The Moth stage, deliver the perfect wedding toast, ace a job interview, or simply entertain your friends, this book will show you how to do it with style and humor.

Erwin Lemuel Oliva

How to Tell a Story is a book by The Moth, a group of storytellers who have been captivating audiences with their true tales for over 25 years. The book is a guide to finding, crafting, and delivering your own stories, whether you want to make people laugh, cry, or think.

The book is full of tips and tricks from The Moth's directors and some of their famous storytellers, such as Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Padma Lakshmi, and more. You'll learn how to mine your memories for your best stories, explore structures that will boost the impact of your story, deliver your stories with confidence, and tailor your stories for any occasion.

The book is also full of examples of stories from The Moth's live shows and podcasts, which range from hilarious to heartbreaking. You'll hear about a retired pickpocket who reveals his secrets, a rock star who confronts his past, an astronaut who faces a life-or-death situation, and many more.

How to Tell a Story is a fun and inspiring read for anyone who loves stories or wants to tell their own. It will help you connect with the world around you and unleash the power of story in your life. Whether you want to make it to The Moth stage, deliver the perfect wedding toast, ace a job interview, or simply entertain your friends, this book will show you how to do it with style and humor.

The definitive guide to telling an unforgettable story in any setting, drawing on twenty-five years of experience from the storytelling experts at The Moth Over the past twenty-five years, the directors of The Moth have worked with people from all walks of life—including astronauts, rock stars, Nobel Prize-winners, high school students, dental hygienists, and a retired pickpocket—to develop true personal stories that have moved and delighted millions of listeners on the Moth’s Peabody Award–winning radio hour and podcast. A leader in the modern storytelling movement, The Moth also inspires thousands of people around the globe to share their stories each year. Now, with How to Tell a Story, you will learn how to uncover and craft your own unique stories, like Moth storytellers such as Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Gopnik, Amanda Gorman, Padma Lakshmi, Hasan Minhaj, Tig Notaro, Boots Riley, Molly Ringwald, Krista Tippett, John Turturro, and more. Whether your goal is to make it to The Moth stage, deliver the perfect wedding toast, wow clients at a business dinner, give a moving eulogy, ace a job interview, be a hit at parties, or simply connect more deeply to those around you, stories are essential. Sharing secrets of their time-honed process and using examples from notable and beloved storytellers, the Moth directors will help you: • Mine your memories for your best stories; • Explore structures that will boost the impact of your story; • Tailor your stories for any occasion. Beyond public speaking, The Moth team will help you present your most authentic self to the world—and tell stories that will forge lasting connections with coworkers, clients, friends, and family.

Joana da Silva

Oh, how I loved this book. If you're interested in it, please choose the audio version. Listening to these tips on storytelling accompanied by the authors reading it was a much better experience than if I'd read it in paper form. Spoiler alert: some of these stories might make you sob. I was caught blindsided by some of them while driving and I would like to apologize to everyone who saw me doing an ugly cry face in the traffic.

How to Tell a Story The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth

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