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The StorySelling Method: Master The Art Of Storytelling To Build Trust, Stand Out, And Boost Sales

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Do you struggle to connect with your customers on a personal level?
Do you want to stand out in a very competitive market?
Or do you want to accelerate your sales career?

The StorySelling Method will teach you how to tell powerful stories that actually work in sales. No fluff, no BS… just straightforward and effective storytelling tactics that will transform your sales game. The techniques you’re about to learn are the same ones that have helped thousands of professionals at top companies like Google, Oracle, and Visa win more business.

The methods within this book are simple, authentic, and effective. Whether you're a sales professional, entrepreneur, or consultant, this StorySelling blueprint is your ultimate resource to unlock your storytelling potential and level up your sales skills.

In this step-by-step guide on everyday business storytelling, you’ll learn how to…
✓ Turn any moment (even the most boring one) into a captivating story
✓ Find, craft, and deliver the five fundamental story types that will yield the best results
✓ Build the confidence to share a story at any opportunity
✓ Weave stories into any sales conversation naturally and authentically
✓ Make storytelling an essential part of your communication

These storytelling tactics and techniques will help you:
✓ Leave magical first impressions
✓ Become your clients’ #1 trusted advisor
✓ Communicate the value you’re bringing to the table
✓ Overcome any sales resistance
✓ Inspire, motivate, and positively influence anyone around you

Filled with exercises and examples of everyday business storytelling, the book offers pragmatic advice on how to use stories to wow your customers.

Are you ready to unleash the power of storytelling?

Having coached thousands of people, I can say with certainty that everybody has the ability to become great at storytelling. You have the ability to tell amazing stories. With the right techniques, a growth mindset, and practice, you’ll become a phenomenal storyteller.

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2023

1692 people are currently reading
799 people want to read

About the author

Philipp Humm

10 books10 followers
Philipp Humm is on a mission to help people discover the storyteller within each of us.

He has helped thousands of sellers, leaders, and entrepreneurs around the world use stories to inspire in business and beyond. His clients include Google, Visa, Oracle, Bain & Co, Noom, and E.ON to name drop a few.

Prior to starting his storytelling business, Philipp worked for almost a decade at Uber, Bain & Company, and Blackstone.
He discovered his passion for performance arts (acting, improv., and storytelling) during his time in New York while completing his MBA at Columbia University. Over the past year, he has published his book The StorySelling Method and has given a TEDx talk on The Secret to Building Confidence.

In his free time, Philipp shares stories at open mic nights in Amsterdam, moves his hips at regular Bachata parties, and plays Spikeball with friends.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
208 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2023
Packed full of ideas

I really enjoyed reading this book. It can be read in only a couple of hours and it’s just long enough. There’s no fluff and every page has valuable details. The book gives many exercises that I need to do and it has inspired me to create and tell more stories. I plan to make some content modeling what is in this book. Definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Prateek Mehndiratta.
47 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2023
The StorySelling Method is an excellent guide that will help you craft wonderful stories to capture the attention of your audience.

The book methodically lists science and art of drafting a captivating story.

The book is written in a wonderfulful fashion and the writing style of author is crisp and efficient.
It's an easy to absorb and quick to read book.

On of my favorite chapters of the book was chapter on overcoming self-limiting beliefs which has shown ways to challenge and replace limiting thoughts.

The charts and diagrams in the book are also worth appreciating and worth going through.

All in all, its a highly useful and practical book that will assist you in becoming a better story teller.
Profile Image for Michelle.
Author 4 books7 followers
December 22, 2024
written for sales, but can work elsewhere too

I read this book but I didn’t realize it was for sales. If you use social media or are a content creator, author, or coach, this method could work too. The tips for telling stories and the types of stories you can use to build trust and relate to buyers or your audience are easy to implement. I enjoyed the section on limiting beliefs and listening to understand. I found them helpful in real life relationships. The book offered many scenarios and examples, although I skipped some of them and went right to the point. But some probably would find them helpful. Overall a good book with a great message.
Profile Image for Carolyn.
1,063 reviews8 followers
Read
July 4, 2023
The author's purpose for teaching storytelling ...oh my gosh - I just realized the title says what I was about to say - it is not called the Story TELLING method - it clearly states it is the story SELLING method. Ok so I guess this was my miss. I thought it was about how to be better at storytelling, and it did focus on that, but the purpose was to help drive more sales, which is not interesting to me. I could have saved some time if I had read the title more carefully.

The book still had value to me - primarily in the ways it helps improve the story by making it shorter. Brevity in stories has not ever been a strong suit for me. So give less context (people don't need it), eliminate side characters that do not add significant value to the story, and focus on a few critical points.

This part reminded me of one of my brothers and how he tells a story:

“Stories need to be true, not 100% accurate.” Feel free to exaggerate the thoughts to make it more dramatic.

That he does!
Profile Image for George Benaroya.
26 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2024
The StorySelling Method by Philipp Humm is an exceptional guide for anyone looking to harness the power of storytelling to build trust, differentiate themselves, and increase sales. As a reader, I found this book to be an invaluable resource filled with practical steps and insightful techniques that transform the way you communicate with your audience.

Humm breaks down storytelling into a clear, four-step process that makes it easy to craft compelling narratives:

1. **Context**: Humm emphasizes the importance of setting the scene by providing the when, where, and who of your story. This foundational step instantly builds credibility and helps listeners relate to the story. For example, starting with “Two years back, I got a call from the Head of Purchasing at one of the largest retailers...” immediately grounds the story in a real-world scenario.

2. **Challenge**: Introducing a relatable challenge is crucial. Humm advises choosing obstacles that resonate with your audience, ensuring they can connect emotionally with the story. Whether it’s a personal struggle or a professional dilemma, the challenge should be substantial and relatable, making the story engaging and meaningful.

3. **Response**: This step outlines how the main character tackles the challenge. Humm provides practical examples, such as collaborating with a team to develop a new product, demonstrating the proactive measures taken to overcome obstacles. This not only showcases problem-solving skills but also highlights the importance of teamwork and perseverance.

4. **Result**: Concluding with the outcome of the actions taken, Humm illustrates the transformation and success achieved. Sharing specific results, like increased sales or customer satisfaction, reinforces the effectiveness of the response and leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

What sets *The StorySelling Method* apart are the additional elements that enhance storytelling:

- **Surprise**: Incorporating unexpected twists keeps the audience engaged and makes the story memorable.
- **Emotions**: Humm underscores that emotions drive purchasing decisions, urging storytellers to connect on an emotional level to influence their audience effectively.
- **Visual Moments**: By including visual elements and dialogues, stories become more vivid and impactful. Techniques like outer dialogue and showing emotions through physical reactions make the narrative come alive.

Humm also introduces five powerful techniques to elevate your storytelling:

1. **Anticipation Hook**: Starting with a hook that builds excitement sets the stage for an engaging story.
2. **Pattern Interrupt**: Breaking the expected pattern with an unexpected event captures attention and maintains interest.
3. **Inner Dialogue**: Sharing the character’s thoughts adds depth and relatability to the story.
4. **Outer Dialogue**: Including actual conversations makes the story more dynamic and realistic.
5. **Show Emotions**: Demonstrating emotions through actions and expressions rather than just stating them enhances the emotional connection.

One of the most valuable insights from the book is the emphasis on storytelling about people rather than products. This approach not only builds trust but also makes the message more relatable and engaging for the audience.

Overall, *The StorySelling Method* is a comprehensive and practical guide that equips readers with the tools to master storytelling in a business context. Philipp Humm’s clear instructions and real-world examples make it easy to apply these techniques to build stronger relationships, stand out in the market, and boost sales. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, this book is an essential addition to your toolkit for effective communication and business success.

57 reviews
January 10, 2025
Humm's analytical approach to narrative-based sales presents an intriguing deconstruction of how story structures can be systematically employed for business outcomes. The book's strength lies in its methodical breakdown of storytelling elements into quantifiable components that can be strategically deployed in sales contexts.

The author's examination of neural response patterns to different narrative structures demonstrates a solid grounding in cognitive science, though some of the proposed cause-effect relationships would benefit from more rigorous empirical support. Particularly valuable is the analysis of how different story frameworks trigger specific psychological responses in potential customers, creating a predictable pattern of engagement and trust-building.

The book excels in its systematic approach to story construction for business applications, treating narrative not as an art form but as an engineered tool for achieving specific outcomes. The framework for mapping customer pain points to story elements demonstrates practical understanding of both psychology and sales mechanics. However, some of the proposed techniques could benefit from more nuanced discussion of ethical implications.

Where the methodology occasionally falls short is in its somewhat deterministic view of human response patterns. While the basic framework is sound, it doesn't fully account for varying levels of audience sophistication and pattern recognition. The section on measuring story effectiveness through concrete metrics provides valuable insights, though some suggested measurements feel artificially precise.

Best approached as a technical manual for constructing purposeful narratives rather than a general guide to business storytelling. The systematic deconstruction of successful sales stories provides actionable insights, even if some conclusions feel overly mechanistic.
Profile Image for Timo.
28 reviews13 followers
May 7, 2023
The StorySelling Method by Philipp Humm is a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their sales process through storytelling!

The book's main idea centers around using short stories in person-to-person verbal communication to engage potential customers and close deals.

Humm's writing style is casual, which makes the book fun and easy to read. He provides a lot of examples and anecdotes to support his arguments, which is a testament to his expertise in the field.

The StorySelling Method provides readers with a step-by-step methodology to follow when crafting stories that will resonate with customers. The book covers everything from coming up with story ideas to building the confidence needed to deliver them effectively.

The author's tips on how to weave stories into the sales process are also practical and easily applicable.

Personally, I found this book to be very informative and enjoyable to read. As someone new to the topic of storytelling, it provided me with a great introduction to the subject and actionable steps that I can use to incorporate storytelling into my everyday conversations.

In conclusion, The StorySelling Method is a unique and noteworthy book that provides a clear and practical framework for using storytelling to enhance the sales process, and basically every other conversation as well.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their sales techniques, especially those who are new to the topics of storytelling.
Profile Image for Arun Verma.
411 reviews8 followers
May 20, 2023
📚 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫.

The world is not made up of atoms but of stories.

Telling a story is a most powerful tool for easily connecting with someone. Storytelling is a powerful tool to pitch your ideas more effectively and gain buy-in. When you master the art of storytelling, you will be able to build more trusting relationships, stand out, and boost sales.
 
The book teaches the most demanded and effective technique of story telling to connect with your client. Being a salesman is tough, and making someone believe in your product is even tougher!
 
In this book, with the help of some graphics and examples, the author helps us become skilled storytellers. You will learn :

🔖 The basics of storytelling.
🔖 How to win confidence of your clients.
🔖 How to boost sales.
🔖 How to close deals.
🔖 Building a strong connection with clients.
 
The book is divided into five chapters. It is filled with various templates, realistic examples, and brainstorming exercises. The language is lucid, and the techniques are easy yet effective. It discusses various types of stories and representation styles. The exercises at the end of each chapter helps in sharpening the skills and examining your learning. This book makes approaching clients easy.
 
Overall, it's an easy, step-by-step guide to learn storytelling. Extremely beneficial to those in sales, entrepreneurship, or consulting.
Profile Image for Bookreadersclub.
227 reviews25 followers
April 26, 2023
Do you want to master the art of business storytelling?

The StorySelling Method by Philipp Humm is an effective guide that teaches how to tell powerful stories in sales. The book provides simple techniques and exercises to help you become a great storyteller, communicate your value, and positively influence others.

If you're in sales, entrepreneurship, or consulting, this book is a must-read to level up your sales skills!

In this step-by-step guide on storytelling, you’ll learn how to:

• Turn any moment (even the most boring one) into a captivating story

• Find, craft, and deliver five fundamental story types

• Build the confidence to share a story at any opportunity

• Weave stories into any sales conversation naturally and authentically

• Make storytelling an essential part of your communication

No fluff, no BS… just straightforward and effective storytelling tactics that will help you unleash the storyteller within you and transform your sales game.
Profile Image for Books With  Aartika.
129 reviews6 followers
June 16, 2023
learn how to:
captivating story

⚫ In this step-by-step guide on storytelling, you'll ✔Turn any moment (even the most boring one) into a types

✔Find, craft, and deliver five fundamental story Build the confidence to share a story at any opportunity.

• Story Selling Method" by Philipp Humm is a compelling guide that emphasizes the power of storytelling in sales.

• With concise and practical advice, Humm illustrates how crafting and delivering compelling narratives can effectively engage customers and drive sales success.

⚫ A valuable resource for sales professionals seeking to enhance their selling skills.

No fluff, no BS. just straightforward and effective storytelling tactics that will transform your sales game.
32 reviews
November 11, 2025
Start and stop with this book on this topic!

No BS , real-world examples, clear and specific recommendations abowhat to do, and not to do.
While I finished this book in a day, it is packed with so much valuable stuff that it needs to be read again and again to apply all the advice.

Philip has not wasted time explaining why this skill is important or giving advice that makes sense but leaves you scratching your head about how to apply it.
He uses the least amount of words to explain what why and (for me) most importantly... HOW.
Not many authors do this clearly, but this is a masterclass on HOW.

While I read this for free as part of my Prime membership, I'd be very willito pay for it!
Profile Image for Addy Reads.
508 reviews3 followers
June 2, 2023
This book will be useful for you if you want to become an effective communicator and storyteller
The StorySelling Method explains how stories can be a powerful tool for building trust and creating emotional connections.
It also illustrates how stories can activate different parts of the brain and create lasting impressions.

The focus of the book is mainly on improving sales, but the concept can also be applied to achieve greater success in all areas of your life.
I recommend it for anyone who wants to start learning about storytellng. The numerous practical examples provided in the book will help you get started on the right foot.
Profile Image for Dilek Olkun.
2 reviews
January 2, 2026
The Storytelling Method by Phillip Humm is an easy-to-read and well-structured guide for anyone who wants to understand storytelling without overcomplication. The book breaks things down into very simple, logical frameworks, making it easy to follow even if you’re new to the topic.

What I appreciated most is how practical it is — the methods can be applied immediately, whether you’re writing, presenting, or communicating ideas more effectively. There’s no unnecessary theory or fluff; everything feels focused and actionable.

If you’re looking for a straightforward introduction to storytelling with clear structures and practical takeaways, this book is a solid choice
3 reviews
January 12, 2024
Easy read. Effective and thought provoking exercises.

A nice framework for developing stories.

It is taken from the viewpoint of an interaction between a seller and a buyer but is easily transferable to situations like job interviews or project ideas.

If you want to make the most of the material, there are many thought provoking exercises to develop your own story catalog. Over the course of the book you will continue to adapt and refine your stories.

Although short in length and easy to read language and flow, this is not a “1 sitting” read.
Profile Image for Gary A. DePaul.
Author 4 books6 followers
March 15, 2024
Jumpstart your talks and writing with storytelling!

I feel fortunate finding Humm's book!

I've written four books and facilitated more than100 events, and I am passionate about improving my game. After reading this book, I discovered how I can improve my own writing and keynotes by telling more and better stories.

Humm walks you through the storytelling process systematically. In each phase, he Illustrates his technique in a way that makes his process stick.

I'm writing another manuscript and already begun applying what I learned.
Profile Image for Keenan Bartlett.
253 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2024
Great structure. Easily digestible

Presented as a book about increasing sales success, this book is much more than that. As Humm states:

“Even if you don’t directly work in sales, we all have to sell ourselves or our ideas in some way or another as part of our jobs.” That sentiment could not ring more true. This book outlines detailed storytelling structures for business adding with fantastic examples along the way.

Easy read with actionable insights and lessons that if you’re willing to implement, you will undoubtedly see results.
21 reviews
January 27, 2024
Insightful and easy to read

After struggling to find things to talk about in sales meetings other than my service I decided to find a book to help me. This book has been a lifesaver for me. The easy and short chapters allow you to take time and turn it into a workbook. I recommend anyone looking to make sales conversations meaningful pick this book up and read it while working on the strategies.
1 review
Read
July 1, 2024
Transformative

Unlike other commercial books. This one is a joy to read all the way to the end. Masses of freaky impaction and helpful ideas with a backup repository of free templates from the website. If only all business books eye like this. I passionately despise death by PowerPoint and this gave me the insights I needed into completely transform my approach to commercial science communication.
Profile Image for Carlo Cunanan.
41 reviews
August 2, 2024
The Story Selling Method was a nice short read on how to tell stories specifically for business and sales.

However, it has nice indirect applications on how to tell stories in a practical sense without that business context.

I appreciate the breakdown of what makes a story (Context, Challenge, Response, Result) and the practical guide on how to tell the stories in an interesting way.

I did find some of the later portions of the book practical but slightly bland and cliché.
Profile Image for Gerardo Martínez.
72 reviews
September 28, 2024
El libro explora el poder del storytelling en ventas para conectar con los clientes. Ofrece consejos prácticos sobre cómo identificar, desarrollar y practicar el storytelling, enfatizando la importancia de apelar a las emociones. Su estructura es clara y brinda diferentes ejemplos.

En general, es una buen libro para profesionales de ventas y marketing que buscan mejorar su conexión con las audiencias.
Profile Image for OMS.
2 reviews
November 16, 2024
Brilliant because it’s simple and super helpful.

This is a simple and super helpful business book. Phillip is practicing what he preaches in the structure and content he uses. Lots of ideas you can try. Lots of practical advice.

It overlaps with other smart business reads like “Made to stick”, Trusted Advisor and SPIN selling and it deserves a spot on your business bookshelf.

Now go craft some stories and sell some ideas.
Profile Image for Emilio Salgado.
2 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2025
Great book

I really enjoyed the sequence of this current book, I'll read it again and many more times because English isn't my primary language and I do really want to grasp it with accuracy the entire book details contexts, thanks to the author for such a great book 📖, I feel much better and more confident to build a storytelling skill for my personal and business purposes. I'm grateful for it.
Profile Image for Jose Cruz.
38 reviews
August 23, 2023
straight to the point

It is very oriented to sales, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to sell your idea in another business.
I learned from it and gave me additional knowledge that I can use in the future. At the end of the day, is a kind of detailed checklist and plan if you want to add stories to your influential portfolio.
69 reviews
January 29, 2024
Super quick read. It was informative even though I thought some of the points were obvious or techniques are already use. However it was good to read it again and through the lenses of business and sales. I also liked the 5 different types of stories and think having 1 story for each could come in handy. Would recommend to people looking to get into sales.
Profile Image for Aditya Sarvepally.
33 reviews3 followers
November 21, 2025
This book didn’t fully land for me, mostly because I’m not in sales and that’s exactly who it’s written for. The ideas are straightforward and the structure is clear, but it’s very much geared toward people who pitch, persuade, or sell. If that’s your world, you might actually “buy” what it’s offering. For me, it was an okay read but not especially relevant.

(With Aid of AI)
375 reviews4 followers
June 25, 2023
Absolutely Fascinating!

Knowingly or unknowingly, we use storytelling in our conversations.
This book gives us a structured way of utilizing storytelling in our professional and personal lives.

It's a brilliant book to read for sure.

Review by SRD
7 reviews
August 25, 2023
best StorySelling Book Ever

I don’t like review books but this one it’s the first I ever read on Story that doesn’t tell but shows you how you write and use stories to sell your ideas. I recommend it to all.
Profile Image for Jeff Bobin.
931 reviews13 followers
September 15, 2023
Excellent look at the role of storytelling in building communication in sales and buying relationships.

Not only for those in sales should read this but those in buying so they see the value in communicating through story in the purchasing relationship.
Profile Image for Denise Devincenzi.
104 reviews
March 3, 2024
Loved this. Not all of it was applicable for my job, but got such good insight on how I sell and how I can tailor my sales pitches. I literally read a passage of this to my sales team — definitely an impactful read.
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