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The Moth
Fifty true stories told on The Moth Radio Hour.
Unknown Binding
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 26, 2019
I came to know of regular storytelling joints through this book. What a wonderful way to spend time as a group. Loved hearing tales of a motley bunch - perspectives I suspect I never would have considered otherwise.
May 14, 2014
These are not the 50 best stories ever told at The Moth, but the 50 stories most adaptable to print. Since the Moth storytellers only have 10 minutes, they have to get to the point fast and not waste a moment. So the stories are short, dense, and dramatic. Each one represents a turning point or special moment for the storyteller, and so each story is like one of those extreme roller coasters that only last a few minutes but shake you to the core. I read it in two sittings and could have read more...
October 7, 2014
50 all true stories from the famous and non famous alike. As a non-fan of non-fiction, I really didn't think this would move me the way it did. But let me assure you, there were laugh-out-loud, cringe inducing, and tear jerking moments. You're allowed a glimpse into lives you didn't even know were possible. It is exciting, insightful, witty, and most of all, human. The format is so you can easily just take it one story at a time, or crazily devour it all in one go (guess which I did). Highly recommended. Read it.
December 26, 2017
Fifty stories and they all make you think what Adam Gopnik, Moth regular and one of the contributors, says on the dust-jacket: "And everything that ever happened to me afterwards, I never felt the same again."
Dip your toes into this incredible institution - The Moth storytelling event - an ocean of which these 50 stories are just a tiny, miraculous puddle.
Dip your toes into this incredible institution - The Moth storytelling event - an ocean of which these 50 stories are just a tiny, miraculous puddle.
September 12, 2019
50 stories initially told at live Moth Hours, now collected in a book. Volume 1 had some very touching stories.
May 27, 2014
The patterns of story making; the connection of a listening audience.-
I can quote no better description of The Moth than Neil Gaiman’s introduction to these performed narrations
“The Moth connects us, as humans. Because we all have stories. Or perhaps, because we are, as humans, already an assemblage of stories. And the gulf that exists between us as people is that when we look at each other we might see faces, skin colour, gender, race, or attitudes, but we don’t see, we can’t see, the stories. And once we hear each other’s stories we realise that the things we see as dividing us are, all too often, illusions, falsehoods: that the walls between us are in truth no thicker than scenery”
The Moth, an American phenomenon – but, o blessed be, due to arrive in the UK this year, is a collection of true story tellings by hundreds of people, which later became broadcast on radio, and has here been collected into a book of 50 of them. Some of the contributors are already in the public eye, as writers, performers, luminaries of one kind or another. But some of them are ‘just ordinary people with extraordinary, ordinary lives. I must admit it was these I found more fascinating.
Inevitably, in appearing ‘in public’ we all, to a greater or lesser extent assume a polished persona. And those most used to this will have a slicker and more professional persona to more easily assume. Sure, each storyteller gets helped, directed, coached to an extent in delivering their story with spellbind and style, but those who do this with less frequency are more likely to let us see the raw of them.
This is a most interesting book of events and lives and viewpoints to read, but I found myself aching for what I could not have – the live presence of these storytellers, their voices, speech patterns, gestures, - to experience the narration in the presence of other listeners.
Reading is primarily a solitary, interior experience – but this sort of storytelling needs the audience and the storyteller to be wrapped together.
I assume this book will introduce those unfamiliar with ‘The Moth – This Is A True Story’ to the concept itself, and create an audience for the live experience.
Make no mistake, these are fascinating and enjoyable, moving and amusing. Live, they must be mesmeric, sensational, cohesive and exhilarating to hear.
As the Moth Editor and Artistic Director, Catherine Burns, reminds us
“As a society, we have forgotten how to listen deeply. Each Moth evening is a chance to practice listening, to find connection with your neighbours. And while that intimacy might feel terrifying at first, it’s vital. It’s what will save us”
I received this as a review copy from Amazon Vine UK
Reviewing Blog
I can quote no better description of The Moth than Neil Gaiman’s introduction to these performed narrations
“The Moth connects us, as humans. Because we all have stories. Or perhaps, because we are, as humans, already an assemblage of stories. And the gulf that exists between us as people is that when we look at each other we might see faces, skin colour, gender, race, or attitudes, but we don’t see, we can’t see, the stories. And once we hear each other’s stories we realise that the things we see as dividing us are, all too often, illusions, falsehoods: that the walls between us are in truth no thicker than scenery”
The Moth, an American phenomenon – but, o blessed be, due to arrive in the UK this year, is a collection of true story tellings by hundreds of people, which later became broadcast on radio, and has here been collected into a book of 50 of them. Some of the contributors are already in the public eye, as writers, performers, luminaries of one kind or another. But some of them are ‘just ordinary people with extraordinary, ordinary lives. I must admit it was these I found more fascinating.
Inevitably, in appearing ‘in public’ we all, to a greater or lesser extent assume a polished persona. And those most used to this will have a slicker and more professional persona to more easily assume. Sure, each storyteller gets helped, directed, coached to an extent in delivering their story with spellbind and style, but those who do this with less frequency are more likely to let us see the raw of them.
This is a most interesting book of events and lives and viewpoints to read, but I found myself aching for what I could not have – the live presence of these storytellers, their voices, speech patterns, gestures, - to experience the narration in the presence of other listeners.
Reading is primarily a solitary, interior experience – but this sort of storytelling needs the audience and the storyteller to be wrapped together.
I assume this book will introduce those unfamiliar with ‘The Moth – This Is A True Story’ to the concept itself, and create an audience for the live experience.
Make no mistake, these are fascinating and enjoyable, moving and amusing. Live, they must be mesmeric, sensational, cohesive and exhilarating to hear.
As the Moth Editor and Artistic Director, Catherine Burns, reminds us
“As a society, we have forgotten how to listen deeply. Each Moth evening is a chance to practice listening, to find connection with your neighbours. And while that intimacy might feel terrifying at first, it’s vital. It’s what will save us”
I received this as a review copy from Amazon Vine UK
Reviewing Blog
December 20, 2015
If you ever read my reviews you might be aware i dont like short stories. I dont count this as a book of short stories its more a book of short tales.
The book is better than the podcast for the simple reason that you dont have to hear the voice, you can put whatever personality you want to upon the writer rather than have the voice give you an opinion.
The writers are more or less famous , the tales are taut and interesting , i recognise one from the guardian and im sure others have reached the press in another format.
Its a great between books book it has interest any tales you dont find interesting are over in a few pages and the interesting stuff is excellent.
Possibly underrating the book on the star count but i dont really like stars.
May 4, 2014
Of course, these musings are wonderful. And the voices come through clearly enough, but I miss the casual, near-ad-libbed feeling of the recorded voice and the reactions of the audience that I'm so used to from public radio. And some of the more famous storytellers have less moving chapters in the book. But overall, this collection teaches us that voice is everything in writing and performing, and the discipline of working it out on stage creates power and uniqueness that is rarely matched by more literary versions. A wonderful set of stories -- despite the familiarity of some of them from the radio.
May 29, 2015
I'd heard so much about this book and also the original radio series I was really looking forward to it. It's not without some good stories but for me some them rambled a bit and it was all too American for me. Couldn't help but feel it would have been better to stick with the radio series. Is this nothing more than an opportunistic attempt at getting the money in?
April 12, 2016
I didn't realize what an asshole Malcolm Gladwell was until I read his story in this book.
I have read all of his books and I enjoyed them all very much; they were well-written and thought provoking. So I was taken aback and dismayed to read the vignette he recounts in this book.
Other than that, I did enjoy the book.
I have read all of his books and I enjoyed them all very much; they were well-written and thought provoking. So I was taken aback and dismayed to read the vignette he recounts in this book.
Other than that, I did enjoy the book.
April 8, 2015
A fantastic book, the honesty of the stories grips you from the start and reading on, i feel like i'm peering into the most private moments of these diverse individuals, at their most vulnerable. A wonderful read and a roller-coaster of emotions, thoroughly recommended
March 29, 2014
I highly recommend the book and podcast.
Want to read
April 4, 2014Awesome podcast
May 25, 2014
Excellent podcast, excellent book of stories. Highly recommended!
July 18, 2014
These are wonderful stories. I had heard most of them on "The Moth" radio show, and they seemed to have chosen some of the best for the book. All are so different, and all are worth reading.
June 27, 2015
Not my kind of book...
August 16, 2014
Many of the stories were exceptional and riveting. Others were just OK. Hearing them is much better then reading them though. They have a lot more power when they are audible.
January 22, 2016
Tears on the tube every day.
October 4, 2015
If you like The Moth Radio Hour, you will love this book.
April 29, 2014
First I've heard of the Moth, and now I'm hooked. I will tune into PRX for more.
July 13, 2014
Great stories - better out loud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 22, 2015Great book just as good or better than the radio show
November 10, 2014
Loved the variety here. Dip in at leisure or indulge in one greedy sitting!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews