NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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 “From toasts to eulogies, from job interviews to social events, this book will help you with ideas, structure, delivery and more.”—CNNLONGLISTED FOR THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARDOver 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.
"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"--
Praise for How to Tell a Story“Inspiring . . . This book . . . provides everything readers need to share their own personal narratives.”
—Booklist Praise for The Moth“There are many reasons I feel compelled to tell stories. Without stories, the past starts to mush together. And that makes me very anxious. Creating stories is a way for me to make sense of life. The Moth will help you tell great stories.”
—Roz Chast, New Yorker staff cartoonist“It’s because of The Moth that I learned the dynamic range of storytelling.”
—Hasan Minhaj, Peabody Award–winning comedian, writer, and producer
"The Moth changed my brain in the best possible way. Working with their amazing directors, I learned how to share my story in an authentic and powerful way that I now use almost every day as a teacher, author, and speaker. Now,
that’s some brain-changing magic!”
—Dr. Wendy Suzuki, author and professor of neuroscience and psychology at New York University