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How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth
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, hairdressers, rock stars, a retired pickpocket, high school students, and Nobel Prize winners—to develop true personal stories that have moved and delighted live audiences and listeners of The Moth’s Peabody Award–winning radio hour and podcast. A leader in the modern storytelling movement, The Moth inspires thousands of people around the globe to share their stories each year.
Now, with How to Tell a Story, The Moth will help you learn how to uncover and craft your own unique stories, like Moth storytellers Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Padma Lakshmi, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Hasan Minhaj, Tig Notaro, Boots Riley, Betty Reid Soskin, 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, change the world, or simply connect more deeply to those around you, stories are essential. Sharing secrets of The Moth’s time-honed process and using examples from beloved storytellers, a team of Moth directors will show you how to
• mine your memories for your best stories
• explore structures that will boost the impact of your story
• deliver your stories with confidence
• tailor your stories for any occasion
Filled with empowering, easy-to-follow tips for crafting stories that forge lasting bonds with friends, family, and colleagues alike, this book will help you connect authentically with the world around you and unleash the power of story in your life.
Over the past twenty-five years, the directors of The Moth have worked with people from all walks of life—including astronauts, hairdressers, rock stars, a retired pickpocket, high school students, and Nobel Prize winners—to develop true personal stories that have moved and delighted live audiences and listeners of The Moth’s Peabody Award–winning radio hour and podcast. A leader in the modern storytelling movement, The Moth inspires thousands of people around the globe to share their stories each year.
Now, with How to Tell a Story, The Moth will help you learn how to uncover and craft your own unique stories, like Moth storytellers Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Padma Lakshmi, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Hasan Minhaj, Tig Notaro, Boots Riley, Betty Reid Soskin, 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, change the world, or simply connect more deeply to those around you, stories are essential. Sharing secrets of The Moth’s time-honed process and using examples from beloved storytellers, a team of Moth directors will show you how to
• mine your memories for your best stories
• explore structures that will boost the impact of your story
• deliver your stories with confidence
• tailor your stories for any occasion
Filled with empowering, easy-to-follow tips for crafting stories that forge lasting bonds with friends, family, and colleagues alike, this book will help you connect authentically with the world around you and unleash the power of story in your life.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
May 8, 2022
I have a lot of mixed feelings about How to Tell a Story. I've read it three times because it was hard, at least for me, to see the advice between the "advice." Despite writing and telling stories for nearly my whole life, I had never heard of The Moth. I don't live in NYC or in a literary hub where poets and writers hang out. Perhaps that was part of my problem with this book. There was such an undertone of superiority for much of the book because The Moth (a group of writers) was so interwoven with the advice that it drowned everything out. Rather than presenting the advice in a straight-forward, easily digestible format, readers are presented with concept, then pages upon pages of "what we did in the 90s," here's what "insert famous Moth member did or thinks," a little bit more on the concept, then back to the group and its famous members. Once you trudge through the "advice" to find the real advice, you are left with very good, useful advice on how to create a story.
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
May 7, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A book by an organization that holds events much like poetry slams, only instead of poetry, they tell true stories, required to be no longer than five minutes. The author tells you the most effective way to craft such a story, along with tips for toasts and eulogies.
Very helpful for all story tellers.
A book by an organization that holds events much like poetry slams, only instead of poetry, they tell true stories, required to be no longer than five minutes. The author tells you the most effective way to craft such a story, along with tips for toasts and eulogies.
Very helpful for all story tellers.
April 27, 2022
I have a nasty little secret (for a book review blogger). I don’t like to read book blurbs. It spoils the surprise for me. Because of this possible flaw, How to Tell a Story was not what I expected. It is specifically discussing how to prepare to tell a true story from your life experiences to a Moth event audience.
Though there is absolutely no chance that I will be doing a Moth event, there are still valuable lessons in this book. Everyone can use a more productive way to look back at their life to see what lessons they’ve learned or tragedies they’ve survived. Even fiction writers will enjoy the concise overview and concrete options of how to structure great stories with beginnings and endings that grab the reader and leave them thinking about the plot far longer than it takes to close the book.
If you are planning on telling a story on stage, How to Tell a Story will help immensely. For fiction writers, there are probably better writing guides. 3 stars.
Thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Though there is absolutely no chance that I will be doing a Moth event, there are still valuable lessons in this book. Everyone can use a more productive way to look back at their life to see what lessons they’ve learned or tragedies they’ve survived. Even fiction writers will enjoy the concise overview and concrete options of how to structure great stories with beginnings and endings that grab the reader and leave them thinking about the plot far longer than it takes to close the book.
If you are planning on telling a story on stage, How to Tell a Story will help immensely. For fiction writers, there are probably better writing guides. 3 stars.
Thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 3, 2022
I have fond memories of listening to The Moth podcast when I lived in China. It was like a window back into the states.
This book was just okay, not sure what I was expecting, but it felt kind of all over the place. At times a bit repetitive, but probably good if you're trying to put together a story you want to tell in front of a live audience?
They used so many snippets of past Moth stories, but never the whole thing which just felt a bit frustrating and incomplete.
This book was just okay, not sure what I was expecting, but it felt kind of all over the place. At times a bit repetitive, but probably good if you're trying to put together a story you want to tell in front of a live audience?
They used so many snippets of past Moth stories, but never the whole thing which just felt a bit frustrating and incomplete.
July 3, 2022
Outstanding book by The Moth regarding compelling storytelling that captures the hearts and minds of audiences. Excellent tips on story arcs, the critical introduction and ending lines, as well as the use of tenses. The book provides incredible examples.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
April 2, 2023
We often know when a story is not told well – for example, when wishing to escape a co-worker's lengthy recount after losing interest. I have attended a couple of the Moth's StorySLAMs and listened to some of their recorded stories, so when I learned of this guide by the creative directors at the Moth, my curiosity was piqued about what they considered the ideal way to tell a story.
I was not expecting to be convinced along the way about the power of storytelling – about the growth a storyteller can achieve from refining their memory into a tale, and the ability for stories to resonate and connect with strangers. Throughout the book, the writers emphasize the deeply human aspects of storytelling rather than simply providing a formulaic approach to telling an impactful story. One memorable line that captures this was "stories should come from scars, not wounds" – that stories should come from a place of growth or perhaps healing, for both the storyteller and the listener.
I learnt a great deal from reading this book, and enjoyed the excerpts from The Moth stories littered throughout the book. I had not really considered the utility of storytelling before reading this book, but I am now inspired to incorporate storytelling into my professional and everyday life. An incredibly enriching read!
I was not expecting to be convinced along the way about the power of storytelling – about the growth a storyteller can achieve from refining their memory into a tale, and the ability for stories to resonate and connect with strangers. Throughout the book, the writers emphasize the deeply human aspects of storytelling rather than simply providing a formulaic approach to telling an impactful story. One memorable line that captures this was "stories should come from scars, not wounds" – that stories should come from a place of growth or perhaps healing, for both the storyteller and the listener.
I learnt a great deal from reading this book, and enjoyed the excerpts from The Moth stories littered throughout the book. I had not really considered the utility of storytelling before reading this book, but I am now inspired to incorporate storytelling into my professional and everyday life. An incredibly enriching read!
September 1, 2022
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.
May 9, 2023
Review to follow
August 8, 2022
This book is much more of a story (and full of mini stories) than it is a book of advice. A handful of helpful storytelling tips, but annoyingly dispersed. If you have time to kill it is a good listen because of all the mini stories.
April 19, 2022
How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth is both an excellent guide as well as an entertaining read. The ideas and suggestions go far beyond simply developing a Moth story, namely because a Moth story taps into the core of storytelling itself.
There are so many ways in which this book can enrich the reader's life. There is the obvious, developing a story for either a Moth event or some other specific purpose. But that is just the beginning. As you start to internalize the principles here you will find yourself, on the fly, adjusting how you tell a story to friends and acquaintances. Are you sharing a piece of yourself? Are you also hoping to modify someone's views on a topic? Do you want your story to help someone overcome their own obstacle? This book can help you craft your life experiences in ways that can serve these functions as well as simply bring people together as, well, human beings.
My review copy is an electronic version that is temporary. This is one of the ARCs that I will make a point of adding to my physical library, I want to mark it up and make notes in it.
I tend toward being one of those semi-introverts, you know, the one that speaks very little in most settings but cant shut up when with friends. This will, I think, help me to feel a bit more confident sharing in places where I would otherwise have kept quiet and regretted it.
Recommended for writers, speakers, and the vast majority of us that simply like to share with friends but are worried we will bore them to tears or go off on a dozen (at least) tangents.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
There are so many ways in which this book can enrich the reader's life. There is the obvious, developing a story for either a Moth event or some other specific purpose. But that is just the beginning. As you start to internalize the principles here you will find yourself, on the fly, adjusting how you tell a story to friends and acquaintances. Are you sharing a piece of yourself? Are you also hoping to modify someone's views on a topic? Do you want your story to help someone overcome their own obstacle? This book can help you craft your life experiences in ways that can serve these functions as well as simply bring people together as, well, human beings.
My review copy is an electronic version that is temporary. This is one of the ARCs that I will make a point of adding to my physical library, I want to mark it up and make notes in it.
I tend toward being one of those semi-introverts, you know, the one that speaks very little in most settings but cant shut up when with friends. This will, I think, help me to feel a bit more confident sharing in places where I would otherwise have kept quiet and regretted it.
Recommended for writers, speakers, and the vast majority of us that simply like to share with friends but are worried we will bore them to tears or go off on a dozen (at least) tangents.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
July 1, 2022
I have been a fan of Moth stories for a long time. If you have not experienced them, I highly recommend you to try listening to one. Per the authors, they are:
When I was reading the book, I kept thinking how I would tell a story. Previously I had the impression that I have nothing to tell. The more I read, the book helped me understand how to extract stories (and EVERYBODY has stories). I noticed how we touch vulnerabilities when telling stories and what a heavy and sometimes painful process it can be. Stories are everywhere and they are part of our lives. It's important to learn how to share them. I highly recommend this book, regardless of which walk of life you are in.
I was always amazed by how these Moth stories are so good. By reading this book I realized how much work they put behind all the stories, and it made me think what an art the storytelling is.
The book was neatly written, very well organized and right to the point. They did not waste time (or paper) and kept it concise, engaging, and with the right amount of humor. The only thing I liked to see more was failures: the book was full of success storytelling stories, while I also liked to see what has not worked and what went behind failures.
The book put some topics so well into words that I had been struggling to express them for a long time. For example, this one which relates to bragging (or humble bragging):
I never understood why I dread some narration types, when they hang me in the anticipation of something happening down the road of the story. The storyteller made that structure probably for more engagement, but I became disconnected and lost track quickly:
By the way, when telling a story, if you want to rely on memorization, think again:
I am bringing a few quotes that I found interesting from this book:
Moth stories are true and told out loud, in the first person. Moth stories are not read or recited. Moth stories always involve stakes and some sort of transformation. Moth stories are told within a specific time frame.
When I was reading the book, I kept thinking how I would tell a story. Previously I had the impression that I have nothing to tell. The more I read, the book helped me understand how to extract stories (and EVERYBODY has stories). I noticed how we touch vulnerabilities when telling stories and what a heavy and sometimes painful process it can be. Stories are everywhere and they are part of our lives. It's important to learn how to share them. I highly recommend this book, regardless of which walk of life you are in.
I was always amazed by how these Moth stories are so good. By reading this book I realized how much work they put behind all the stories, and it made me think what an art the storytelling is.
The book was neatly written, very well organized and right to the point. They did not waste time (or paper) and kept it concise, engaging, and with the right amount of humor. The only thing I liked to see more was failures: the book was full of success storytelling stories, while I also liked to see what has not worked and what went behind failures.
The book put some topics so well into words that I had been struggling to express them for a long time. For example, this one which relates to bragging (or humble bragging):
Extraordinary accomplishments are a potential setting for your story, but not the story. Telling people about all the big wins in your life is a very easy way to lose your listener. You’re talking at them, you’re not inviting them in.
I never understood why I dread some narration types, when they hang me in the anticipation of something happening down the road of the story. The storyteller made that structure probably for more engagement, but I became disconnected and lost track quickly:
Note that the order of a story can take care of your listener. If a story explores a tragic event, and the listener can see it coming, it causes them to sit in painful anticipation. Sometimes that discomfort can serve a story, but often it can be distracting. If your audience is busy dreading, they aren’t hearing what you are saying. They are emotionally guarding themselves, and they aren’t fully connecting.
By the way, when telling a story, if you want to rely on memorization, think again:
in the twenty-five years we’ve been directing stories, only a handful of storytellers have totally blanked on stage, and always—always!—they were the ones who relied heavily on word-for-word memorization.
The only things we suggest you memorize—and we stress, the only things—are the first and last lines of your story.
I am bringing a few quotes that I found interesting from this book:
In your head, a story idea is just a theory. Test it by saying it out loud. Often when you say something out loud, it changes shape. When spoken, a story can feel less silly or scary.
Stories happen when expectations meet reality. Sometimes stories take place during an exception, an outlier event.
A beautiful toast gives the subject the gift of being seen.
Moth stories are all about agency—where something happens as a direct result of something you did or did not do.
MIKE BIRBIGLIA, MOTH HOST AND STORYTELLER: What I’ve found over the years is, you know you’re on the right track with finding a story if it makes you very uncomfortable to tell it. If you want to bail out at many stages of it, you know you’re going in the right direction.
What it really comes down to is vulnerability. There is something comforting when people are willing to share the not-so-pretty sides of themselves. It’s as if they give the listener permission to relax. This is not a competition or an exercise to impress—I’m not perfect, so it’s okay if you’re not perfect too. When someone makes themselves vulnerable, the listener leans in, and a quiet bond is formed. It’s trust. This person trusts me enough to admit they screwed up or got it wrong. And that trust is the gateway to great empathy and memorable storytelling. It’s almost a cliché to say it now (thanks, Brené Brown) (seriously, thanks, you are very smart) but vulnerability is power, especially when it comes to story. When we share our stories, we open ourselves to the opportunity to connect with each other.
Remember not to let a trauma or a struggle be the story, but rather the context of the story. Stories always need to go beyond “a bad thing happened.”
People tend to use the words anecdote and story interchangeably, but actually they are quite different. An anecdote is a short, amusing account of a real incident or person. A story is beyond a string of occurrences; it deals with evolution. If you don’t want or need anything, it’s not a story. A good story builds. By the end, things have intrinsically changed. Something about it has a lasting effect. You can’t go back. You can’t unsee it. You can’t un-be it. You are a different person because of the events that unfolded.
A person who can turn job changes into narrative stepping stones that relate to one another will distinguish themselves.
As you craft your scenes, make sure to stay in the action and describe them from the inside. Be an active participant rather than a passive observer, and avoid telling from hindsight. Allow the moment to unfold the way it happened for you.
Resist the urge to tell a listener what to think or feel, and let them come to their own conclusion.
Beyond eloquent and invisible construction of the story, emotion is the glue that connects storytellers and listeners.
When storytellers allow themselves to be vulnerable, to admit their flaws and anxieties and showcase their not-so-pretty sides, they allow the listeners to see themselves in the story.
A moment to laugh together is like a gift to the listener; it bonds you with the audience. It can be a way of taking care of them and giving them a brief moment of relief in the middle of an emotional scene.
Humor in storytelling should never feel forced, manipulative, or canned. Are you in the moment, or have you constructed the moment? The audience can feel the difference.
You can take an audience only as high as you take them low.
Some stories deal with shocking events and trauma. It’s important that the teller has done some healing before they try to share the details.
You have to control your story; the story can’t control you.
Take comfort in the idea of the three deaths, as celebrated in the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos: The first death is the failure of the body. The second is the burial of the body. The most definitive death is the third death. This occurs when no one is left to remember us.
If the structure feels awkward or complicated when you tell it, then it will probably end up sounding that way to your listener as well.
Flashbacks in live storytelling can be a bit tricky. You rely on the audience following you and being able to hold on to the different aspects of the story.
The one thing that will make an audience turn on storytellers is if they seem to be performing or disconnecting emotionally in some way.
DON’T PRACTICE TOO CLOSE TO SHOWTIME. We find that if you’ve rehearsed too recently, it’s easy to leave something out in the actual telling because you’ll think you’ve already said it (because you did...a few hours before!).
In her story “The Spy Who Loved Me,” Noreen Riols reminds us that “courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the willingness—the guts, if you like—to face the fear.”
The potential impact of a story is not limited to the moment it is told; it is long-term.
Encouraging loved ones to share their stories helps us to know them better, but also allows us to keep a piece of them with us after they are gone.
Telling our stories and listening to the stories of other people reminds us that we’re in this together. We are all making our way through a world that is sometimes joyful, oftentimes embarrassing, and never, ever perfect.
Most storytellers say that while it can be challenging to share a personal story, they felt it was truly important to do so. And it is important. To own your story is to take back the power—and challenge dominant and sometimes false (or even deadly) narratives.
October 24, 2022
I'd actually never heard (or heard of) the Moth stories, but I was taken by the title. For many years I have told stories to children in Sunday School and teens in Juvenile Detention. I thought this might help. I have not really told stories about myself, but rather told Bible stories or stories about others. Whereas the Moth approach is to tell stories about yourself and your experiences. So this got me thinking, and though I don't feel like I have interesting stories about myself--I'm trying...
June 5, 2022
I’m not sure what I expected from this book—maybe it’s because I’ve been hearing so much about “The Moth Method” from different sources—friends, Facebook groups, notations in books—-that I would be introduced to an awesome breakdown and analysis of how the Moth helps people develop stories worth listening to.
Part of this is in the book, but I became aware of how much of what I’ve grown up with and been exposed to organically so far as relating stories to one another, has been analyzed and twisted and stripped and revised and coached TO DEATH by a non-profit group of narrative experts who seem to be hell-bent on a certain type of story—-one that will change—if only just the smallest corner—of the world.
I’m not sure how all the people who take Moth seminars and workshops and courses were raised; clearly, they were not parts of their communities and families where “The Story” was prized above all else. Stories came from the table during the “little lunch” period that started with coffee and cookies at 10 am everyday; in the winter evenings around the stove in the back-room where coal-black coffee was consumed by the gallon; fixing fences on a summer morning; in quiet whispers during a long summer afternoon of fishing.
This book doesn’t resonate with me, possibly because stories were never analyzed and “prescripted” in my little sphere of fly-over country—they were the fabric our days were cut from.
Part of this is in the book, but I became aware of how much of what I’ve grown up with and been exposed to organically so far as relating stories to one another, has been analyzed and twisted and stripped and revised and coached TO DEATH by a non-profit group of narrative experts who seem to be hell-bent on a certain type of story—-one that will change—if only just the smallest corner—of the world.
I’m not sure how all the people who take Moth seminars and workshops and courses were raised; clearly, they were not parts of their communities and families where “The Story” was prized above all else. Stories came from the table during the “little lunch” period that started with coffee and cookies at 10 am everyday; in the winter evenings around the stove in the back-room where coal-black coffee was consumed by the gallon; fixing fences on a summer morning; in quiet whispers during a long summer afternoon of fishing.
This book doesn’t resonate with me, possibly because stories were never analyzed and “prescripted” in my little sphere of fly-over country—they were the fabric our days were cut from.
May 19, 2022
This was very fun to listen to. I think a print edition as well as a study guide to improve my story telling skills. Lots of good ideas that cross over from entertainment to advocacy to business to politics. This is not a writer's guide but a story tellers guide though many of the techniques may cross over. I would highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in learning to tell their stories.
February 6, 2023
DNF at 100 pages. A how-to on how to improve our oral stories. I found the accompanying real stories by people who told their own stories via the Moth program entertaining, but could not get truly invested. Then it was time to start a new book club choice, and it wasn't that traumatic for me to quit this book without finishing it.
July 21, 2022
“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 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.
November 27, 2022
I love the underlying message of this book, that we all spend a significant portion of our lives telling our stories, and it’s worth investing our time and energy in the skills needed to tell our stories well. The parts about telling difficult parts of our stories also resonated with me, that learning to tell those stories often helps the storyteller find some level of control and purpose over the story, and prove to themself that they have agency. Telling your story allows you to own it, gives you permission to cast off narratives others may have ascribed to you or harmful ones you may tell yourself, and let’s you define your own. The process of storytelling helps you discover how the joys, sorrows, and struggles fit into the larger arc of who you are. No one has a story quite like yours. When we are authentic and vulnerable in telling our stories, we create community and inspire others to share theirs as well.
December 2, 2023
Rating 5 stars.
I love stories - reading them and listening to them - yet I lack confidence in telling them. How to Tell a Story by key people from The Moth was just the book to help me (and you). This book acts as the story coordinator giving encouragement , examples, and excellent advice for anyone wanting to better tell their story. The authors collaborate and use many voices, experiences, and opinions to teach storytelling, in a unified way. The stories included helped to illustrate the tactical advice and also captured my curiosity and awakened my emotions. This is an enjoyable read and one to come back to repeatedly as I practice telling more stories.
I love stories - reading them and listening to them - yet I lack confidence in telling them. How to Tell a Story by key people from The Moth was just the book to help me (and you). This book acts as the story coordinator giving encouragement , examples, and excellent advice for anyone wanting to better tell their story. The authors collaborate and use many voices, experiences, and opinions to teach storytelling, in a unified way. The stories included helped to illustrate the tactical advice and also captured my curiosity and awakened my emotions. This is an enjoyable read and one to come back to repeatedly as I practice telling more stories.
July 9, 2022
It's like the people who made this book never told a story. It's mainly Tell instead of Show.
The obvious thing to do would have been to play Before/After versions of some of their best stories, to show how their advice improves things. But they don't even play the After versions. Instead, they play tiny snippets here and there, to try to illustrate one of their prescriptions. Having said that, the advice sounds reasonable. I guess they figure readers will go look up all the individual stories referred to, or else they assume readers are all Moth fans with photographic memories. To me, it just seemed like a huge missed opportunity.
The obvious thing to do would have been to play Before/After versions of some of their best stories, to show how their advice improves things. But they don't even play the After versions. Instead, they play tiny snippets here and there, to try to illustrate one of their prescriptions. Having said that, the advice sounds reasonable. I guess they figure readers will go look up all the individual stories referred to, or else they assume readers are all Moth fans with photographic memories. To me, it just seemed like a huge missed opportunity.
October 10, 2022
4.5 stars. I had never heard of The Moth organization or podcast, but was drawn to this book because of the title. It is filled with the how-tos of storytelling in an effort to “honor and celebrate the diversity and commonality of human experience.” Moth stories are true, told out-loud, without any notes, involving transformation, and within a specific time frame (usually 5-6 minutes). I appreciated both the lessons on how to shape and tell a great story, as well as the beautiful, heartwarming, and funny stories shared in this book. The lessons touch on story selection (decisions, transformations, stakes, tension), arc, choosing details, sequencing, pacing, emotion, and calming nerves. The book also makes a great case for why everyone should learn to effectively share their stories: they are the currency of community, connect us, allow us to see and feel the feelings of others, and share pieces of ourselves. From dinner parties, to eulogies, talks in church, toasts, work presentations, meeting people, strengthening relationships, and advocacy…all are improved through effective storytelling. The prompts are great for not only discovering our most defining stories, but also for journal entries. Would recommend (especially the audiobook).
Notes and Quotes:
-When you really listen to someone’s story, your brain begins to align or couple with the brain of the storyteller: “speaker-listener neural coupling” (improved through better engagement and effective storytelling)
-Do rehearsal runs in front of another person and don’t memorize (memorization vs familiarization…only memorize first and last line)
-See the memory as you are telling it…step into the moment
-Preach from your scars and not your wounds…you need distance to process the event and give perspective
-“And to understand each other better, we need a true diversity of stories, from a diversity of people. We need to hear, feel, and understand what it’s like to walk in each other’s shoes.” p. xii
-“Because we have the capacity for imagination, stories bring other people’s experiences to life, so we can see, and very often feel, events that didn’t happen to us. When you choose to share your story, you share a piece of yourself. Stores explain your heart, decode your history , decipher who you are, and translate it all to whoever takes the time to listen carefully.” p. 4
-“What we do want: “Hook us in. Make us care about you. Paint a scene. Clearly state your fears, desires, the dilemma. Make us invested in the outcome. Introduce the conflict. Make us worried for you. Impress us with observations that are uniquely yours. Rope us into the moment when it all goes down. Conclude as a different person: Triumphant? Defeated? Befuddled? Enlightened?...CHANGED.” p. 20
-“Sharing a story is an act of courage and an act of generosity. Both are spectacular components, but it’s the second that moves me most—the gifts storytellers bestow on an audience. Thanks to the generosity of storytellers, we listeners are almost always granted the pleasure of simultaneously losing ourselves and finding ourselves in the story. We’re restored to compassion and possibility and reconnected to our messy, marvelous, exacerbating, exalted human community. For a while, at least, are hearts and minds are open. That’s a good practice for after our stories are over.” p. 23
-“Stories are not static; they grow, they shrivel, they stretch on one side and shrink on the other. Like people, stories evolve…Memory is unreliable; we tend to remember things based on present perceptions. And in that sense, no person’s story stays the same.” p. 97
-“I think writing is a business of perfection. You want every sentence to glow and shine, and have its own little balance and structure and charm. A story’s not like that. A story can tolerate a lot of rough stuff in the course of its being relayed, as long as what’s being related is significant.” p. 211 Readers aren’t forgiving of imperfection, but listeners are forgiving if a story is genuine and sincere.
-A few favorite stories p. 76, 82, 83-84,
-Story/writing prompts p. 15, 28, 29, 36, 39, 261, 289
Notes and Quotes:
-When you really listen to someone’s story, your brain begins to align or couple with the brain of the storyteller: “speaker-listener neural coupling” (improved through better engagement and effective storytelling)
-Do rehearsal runs in front of another person and don’t memorize (memorization vs familiarization…only memorize first and last line)
-See the memory as you are telling it…step into the moment
-Preach from your scars and not your wounds…you need distance to process the event and give perspective
-“And to understand each other better, we need a true diversity of stories, from a diversity of people. We need to hear, feel, and understand what it’s like to walk in each other’s shoes.” p. xii
-“Because we have the capacity for imagination, stories bring other people’s experiences to life, so we can see, and very often feel, events that didn’t happen to us. When you choose to share your story, you share a piece of yourself. Stores explain your heart, decode your history , decipher who you are, and translate it all to whoever takes the time to listen carefully.” p. 4
-“What we do want: “Hook us in. Make us care about you. Paint a scene. Clearly state your fears, desires, the dilemma. Make us invested in the outcome. Introduce the conflict. Make us worried for you. Impress us with observations that are uniquely yours. Rope us into the moment when it all goes down. Conclude as a different person: Triumphant? Defeated? Befuddled? Enlightened?...CHANGED.” p. 20
-“Sharing a story is an act of courage and an act of generosity. Both are spectacular components, but it’s the second that moves me most—the gifts storytellers bestow on an audience. Thanks to the generosity of storytellers, we listeners are almost always granted the pleasure of simultaneously losing ourselves and finding ourselves in the story. We’re restored to compassion and possibility and reconnected to our messy, marvelous, exacerbating, exalted human community. For a while, at least, are hearts and minds are open. That’s a good practice for after our stories are over.” p. 23
-“Stories are not static; they grow, they shrivel, they stretch on one side and shrink on the other. Like people, stories evolve…Memory is unreliable; we tend to remember things based on present perceptions. And in that sense, no person’s story stays the same.” p. 97
-“I think writing is a business of perfection. You want every sentence to glow and shine, and have its own little balance and structure and charm. A story’s not like that. A story can tolerate a lot of rough stuff in the course of its being relayed, as long as what’s being related is significant.” p. 211 Readers aren’t forgiving of imperfection, but listeners are forgiving if a story is genuine and sincere.
-A few favorite stories p. 76, 82, 83-84,
-Story/writing prompts p. 15, 28, 29, 36, 39, 261, 289
March 28, 2022
'We all have stories to tell'. The first acting truth I would share with my students when I taught acting in high school. 'We all have stories to tell.' In 'How to Tell a Story' appropriately subtitled as, ''The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from the Moth,' Meg Bowles and others guide readers through a process to truly discover their stories, moment by moment. The authors / storytellers discuss how to structure your story and focus on essential truths - and what's most important about them; what makes a compelling beginning., and a memorable ending, and every detail in between.
This book is a treasure, not just for storytellers, but for everyone. Stories surround us all our working lives—from interviewing for a job, negotiating with a colleague, advertising, news, business meetings, presenting data and fund-raising. How well you persuade someone depends on how well you tell a story.
What I enjoyed about the book was how comprehensive it covered the art of storytelling. The authors chose lots of anecdotes / examples that clearly demonstrated their lessons. and why the stories succeeded. There is so much to take away from this book - whether you are a writer, actor, novice (or experienced) storyteller, or curious listener. The writing is casual, but clear and concise. Filled with empowering, easy-to-follow tips for crafting stories that will help you connect you to your story, and your story to the audience, the book draws on twenty-five years of experience from the storytelling experts at The Moth.
I read an advance copy of How to Tell a Story courtesy of NetGalley and Crown Books in exchange for an honest review..
This book is a treasure, not just for storytellers, but for everyone. Stories surround us all our working lives—from interviewing for a job, negotiating with a colleague, advertising, news, business meetings, presenting data and fund-raising. How well you persuade someone depends on how well you tell a story.
What I enjoyed about the book was how comprehensive it covered the art of storytelling. The authors chose lots of anecdotes / examples that clearly demonstrated their lessons. and why the stories succeeded. There is so much to take away from this book - whether you are a writer, actor, novice (or experienced) storyteller, or curious listener. The writing is casual, but clear and concise. Filled with empowering, easy-to-follow tips for crafting stories that will help you connect you to your story, and your story to the audience, the book draws on twenty-five years of experience from the storytelling experts at The Moth.
I read an advance copy of How to Tell a Story courtesy of NetGalley and Crown Books in exchange for an honest review..
June 30, 2022
I devoured this book. As someone who has become increasingly interested and involved in live storytelling, I found this book so informative and fun...I loved the inclusion of excerpts of stories that work. Very well done. Beautiful.
June 29, 2022
I’d never heard of this book before Book Riot put it on my radar. I’d give the organization 5 stars for their work, but the book didn’t hold a lot of new ideas for me. Most of them would work as well for writing and journaling prompts, not just for giving talks. Many of the stories narrated on the audio version are touching. It’s a great book for anyone who likes listening to transformational stories. Recommend the audiobook over reading a print edition.
May 8, 2022
Great coaching with oodles of examples. I think it will improve my story game. I grabbed the kindle version because the information in this book is very dense. This book is quite valuable as it enhances the other training I received on writing personal stories.
November 15, 2022
This book is a good reference and it is organized in a way that can be very helpful to a new storyteller. It shares some baseline techniques that get the audience hooked onto your narrative. It also stresses the difference between reading a story and telling a story, ie. it goes into the usage of grammatical tenses and explains why one approach is different from the other when the medium is different.
At the same time, the book's selection of stories illustrating the examples are too woke. I expected some bias from The Moth, but they've definitely overdone it this time.
I understand that for many people raising the stakes in their personal stories include overcoming trauma. I get it that coming out to your teetotaler evangelical cis male dad as a gender non-binary wine connoisseur is traumatic and brave. In a similar, but different vein, telling a story from a point of view of a vegan inner city socialist to a crowd of sausage grilling cowboys at a republican convention requires a special set of brass testes... I'm still with you.
At some point the book's stories become too preachy. They might illustrate the good storytelling advice from each of the chapters (and the book definitely contains solid advice), but when you start suspecting hidden woke meaning in a story about a woman locked out of her apartment while wearing her pajamas and no bra, you understand that they've gone too far with the wokeness.
In the end, I don't think it's a bad book, but I felt distracted and annoyed by the example stories.
At the same time, the book's selection of stories illustrating the examples are too woke. I expected some bias from The Moth, but they've definitely overdone it this time.
I understand that for many people raising the stakes in their personal stories include overcoming trauma. I get it that coming out to your teetotaler evangelical cis male dad as a gender non-binary wine connoisseur is traumatic and brave. In a similar, but different vein, telling a story from a point of view of a vegan inner city socialist to a crowd of sausage grilling cowboys at a republican convention requires a special set of brass testes... I'm still with you.
At some point the book's stories become too preachy. They might illustrate the good storytelling advice from each of the chapters (and the book definitely contains solid advice), but when you start suspecting hidden woke meaning in a story about a woman locked out of her apartment while wearing her pajamas and no bra, you understand that they've gone too far with the wokeness.
In the end, I don't think it's a bad book, but I felt distracted and annoyed by the example stories.
January 27, 2024
The first 10% and last 5% of this book = the history of The Moth.
The rest of the book = helpful tips and prompts for anyone who wants (or needs) to tell a story — for a memorial, a toast or even a Moth story pitch. It would also be a good resource for someone who wants to lead a storytelling workshop.
For the average person not familiar with The Moth, I rate this book three stars (though I'd prefer to give 3.5) because of the length. It positions itself as a handbook, but doesn't function as such.
- Some sections repeat points given earlier.
- There are a lot of examples for each point
For those short on time, The Moth's website has a distilled version of the info in this book.
For Moth fans who might want to tell a story some day, I give this book a solid 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
The rest of the book = helpful tips and prompts for anyone who wants (or needs) to tell a story — for a memorial, a toast or even a Moth story pitch. It would also be a good resource for someone who wants to lead a storytelling workshop.
For the average person not familiar with The Moth, I rate this book three stars (though I'd prefer to give 3.5) because of the length. It positions itself as a handbook, but doesn't function as such.
- Some sections repeat points given earlier.
- There are a lot of examples for each point
For those short on time, The Moth's website has a distilled version of the info in this book.
For Moth fans who might want to tell a story some day, I give this book a solid 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
March 11, 2024
Great read on the power of storytelling and the various ways one can go about doing it. The book is centered around the style used by “The Moth” storytelling and provides both pieces of stories (the audiobook has the actual storyteller’s clips, so awesome to hear their voices!) and advice about how to structure your story whether it be a toast, a eulogy, a dinner party, etc. Can be used as a useful how-to guide that one can keep coming back to.
March 2, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ I really wanted to love this book! The power of storytelling is huge in every aspect of our relationships with one another. They have the power to bring us together, tear us apart, motivate us, demoralize us, transform us or just alter our perceptions; regardless of context. At home, on a date, at work or over a meal - anywhere and everywhere are opportunities to share our stories.
The hyper focus on only how to tell and present Moth story … fell short of where this book could have achieved.
The hyper focus on only how to tell and present Moth story … fell short of where this book could have achieved.
April 28, 2022
For those who are already writers or storytellers, this is very very basic advice on what makes a compelling story. I love The Moth, so it's worth it to me to read excerpts of stories I've enjoyed, but overall the book is mostly useful for those starting out.
August 10, 2022
The audiobook has clips of the storytellers. It makes the examples more compelling. Not a bad how-to book but they lean heavy on some clichés. I just ignored the overtly sentimental stuff and enjoyed the book.
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