Will Storr - A Masterclass In Storytelling
“Our brains remix reality and turn that reality into a narrative, you know, with ourselves at the center.”
Medium: Podcast
How strongly I recommend it: 9/10
10 Take Aways
Humans think in stories rather than data or algorithms because storytelling is how our brains make sense of reality.
Stories are the most persuasive technology as they enable us to understand and navigate the world with ourselves as the centre.
Even rational, data-driven people are influenced by stories first and then seek data to confirm them.
Data is often subservient to the story people choose to believe, making pure rationality a naive assumption.
The bigger issue is “Knowingness”, where people believe they already have answers before questions are posed.
Storytelling evolved as a tool enabling humans to act as superorganisms, aligning goals and actions.
Story fuses indiviual brains into a collective reality, coordinating cooperation and shared purpose.
Powerful ads appeal to identity, not product details, by telling stories people want to be a part of.
Brand stories must align with their audience’s identity to maintain status and consumer loyalty.
In crisis, leaders must display selflessness to align with hero archetypes and maintain status.