"The Science of Storytelling" by Will Storr

For some reason, this book is challenging to listen to and read summaries of. It took me reading four summaries to finally get the gist. On one hand, this is because of the amount of theory that the author spits out. On the other hand, it is difficult to understand the parallels he draws between the theory and the practical examples—all of it in a book about storytelling. I hope the author used what he was preaching.

Will takes a scientific approach to storytelling, exploring what makes the brain tick. He cites peer-reviewed research to supplement existing postulates about the craft. You know my attitude towards research—I always welcome such experiments.

• We are hardwired to like stories.
• We make sense of the surrounding world with stories.
• Change is the most captivating story.
• Underdogs are cool to root for.
• Characters without flaws are bland.
• Information gaps trigger curiosity.
• Stories move the world and can turn it for the better or the worse.

The author presents simple-to-follow instructions on how to write a captivating plot. This might be useful if you ever want to write fiction (or even non-fiction).