# The Story Paradox: How Our Love of Storytelling Builds Societies and Tears Them Down - Hardcover

by **Jonathan Gottschall** (Author)

**Storytelling, a tradition that built human civilization, may soon destroy it**

Humans are storytelling animals. Stories are what make our societies possible. Countless books celebrate their virtues. But Jonathan Gottschall, an expert on the science of stories, argues that there is a dark side to storytelling we can no longer ignore. Storytelling, the very tradition that built human civilization, may be the thing that destroys it.

In _The Story Paradox_, Gottschall explores how a broad consortium of psychologists, communications specialists, neuroscientists, and literary quants are using the scientific method to study how stories affect our brains. The results challenge the idea that storytelling is an obvious force for good in human life. Yes, storytelling can bind groups together, but it is also the main force dragging people apart. And it's the best method we've ever devised for manipulating each other by circumventing rational thought. Behind all civilization's greatest ills--environmental destruction, runaway demagogues, warfare--you will _always_ find the same master factor: a mind-disordering story.

Gottschall argues that societies succeed or fail depending on how they manage these tensions. And it has only become harder, as new technologies that amplify the effects of disinformation campaigns, conspiracy theories, and fake news make separating fact from fiction nearly impossible.

With clarity and conviction, Gottschall reveals why our biggest asset has become our greatest threat, and what, if anything, can be done. It is a call to stop asking, "How we can change the world through stories?" and start asking, "How can we save the world from stories?"

### Author Biography

Jonathan Gottschall is a distinguished research fellow in the English Department at Washington & Jefferson College. He is the author of _The Storytelling Animal_, a _New York Times_ Editor's Choice and finalist for the _LA Times_ Book Prize, and _The Professor in the Cage_, one of the _Boston Globe_'s Best Books of the year. He has written for or been covered in the _New York Times_, _Scientific American_, the _New Yorker_, the _Atlantic_, the _Chronicle of Higher Education_, and _The Millions_. Gottschall has also appeared on popular podcasts like _Star Talk_, _The Joe Rogan Experience_, and _Radiolab_. He lives in Pennsylvania.

**Number of Pages:** 272

**Dimensions:** 1.1 x 9.5 x 6.1 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** November 23, 2021

## Details

- **Price:** 28.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 28.00 USD | In stock |

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- The Story Paradox: How Our Love of Storytelling Builds Societies and Tears Them Down - Hardcover

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