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Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results
Unleash the Power of Storytelling offers a practical roadmap to crafting and delivering more powerful, persuasive stories that you can use to get more of what you want out of your career and your life. “In this engaging, no-nonsense, and often extremely funny handbook on the craft behind great stories, Rob Biesenbach shares his own storytelling roadmap without hesitation, giving you precisely what you need to raise your business storytelling to an art form.” Shonali Burke, ABC, President & CEO, Shonali Burke Consulting "There is no greater skill that will positively impact your career as much as becoming a masterful storyteller. Well-told stories have the power to teach, clarify, and inspire. Rob's experience and unique point of view makes him a go-to authority for ambitious leaders." Patricia Fripp, Past President, National Speakers Association
“Storytelling is hard; just ask Ernest Hemingway. Rob Biesenbach makes it as easy as possible for you to become the Hemingway of your organization. In this book he reveals the secrets of good storytelling to help you create stories that command attention in this distracted age.” Dr. Nick Morgan, Communications Coach and Author of Give Your Speech, Change the World "All the experts suggest you tell stories — but no one tells you how. That's where Unleash the Power of Storytelling comes in. Rob Biesenbach provides a five-step process for crafting your stories, and six ways to ensure they’re relevant to your audience. After you read this book, you’ll never again have to wonder ... ‘but how?’" Gini Dietrich, Founder and Author, Spin Sucks WHAT CAN STORYTELLING DO FOR YOU? Study after study confirms that stories have unparalleled power to break down walls, build trust, and influence people to act. More than facts and data alone, stories are fundamental to capturing and expressing our ideas, wishes, and beliefs … and getting the results we want. The right story can help • Nail a job interview • Earn a raise • Close a sale • Build trust with an employee or colleague • Strengthen relationships with customers • Become a more comfortable networker • Win over a skeptic • Rally a team • Align people with a strategy • Promote your brand • Raise a toast • Deliver a eulogy • Get out of a speeding ticket • And more… WHY THIS BOOK? The market is flooded with a dizzying array of books, experts, and resources on business storytelling. This book cuts through the hype to clarify and demystify the storytelling process. So if you’re intimidated and think you can’t tell a good story, Unleash the Power of Storytelling offers step-by-step instructions for finding, shaping and telling powerful stories. On the other hand, if you think there’s nothing new to learn about storytelling, it’s probably more complicated than you think. Here you’ll learn about the essential ingredients that go into any good story and how to avoid common storytelling pitfalls. A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THE BUSY PROFESSIONAL Taking a fun, no-nonsense approach, Unleash the Power of Storytelling will teach • The hard science behind why stories work • A simple three-part structure for telling any story • The role of emotion in fueling great stories • How to cut the clutter and focus your story on the essentials &
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2018
805 people are currently reading
2365 people want to read
About the author
Rob Biesenbach
5 books11 followersRob Biesenbach is an award-winning corporate communications consultant, keynote speaker and author.
As a consultant, he helps Fortune 500 companies and executives communicate with more purpose, power and impact. Clients have included AC Nielsen, Mars, MillerCoors and Motorola.
An in-demand speaker and trainer, Rob has delivered programs on storytelling, presentation and communication skills for clients including AARP, Allstate, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Deloitte and Lockheed Martin.
Rob is a former vice president at Ogilvy PR Worldwide, where he co-founded the global employee communications practice. He was also press secretary to a state attorney general and a nonprofit and association executive in Washington, DC.
As a Second City-trained actor and improviser, he has appeared in nearly 200 stage and commercial productions, including major campaigns for BMO Harris, Blue Cross Blue Shield, ScottTrade, and Walgreens. Although he’s not a doctor, he’s played one on TV.
Rob brings the worlds of acting and business together in his fun, practical books that apply principles from the world of performance to help business people communicate more persuasively and confidently.
Rob lives just outside Chicago in leafy Evanston, Illinois with his wife, two unfailingly perfect children and, as of this writing, no dogs.
As a consultant, he helps Fortune 500 companies and executives communicate with more purpose, power and impact. Clients have included AC Nielsen, Mars, MillerCoors and Motorola.
An in-demand speaker and trainer, Rob has delivered programs on storytelling, presentation and communication skills for clients including AARP, Allstate, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Deloitte and Lockheed Martin.
Rob is a former vice president at Ogilvy PR Worldwide, where he co-founded the global employee communications practice. He was also press secretary to a state attorney general and a nonprofit and association executive in Washington, DC.
As a Second City-trained actor and improviser, he has appeared in nearly 200 stage and commercial productions, including major campaigns for BMO Harris, Blue Cross Blue Shield, ScottTrade, and Walgreens. Although he’s not a doctor, he’s played one on TV.
Rob brings the worlds of acting and business together in his fun, practical books that apply principles from the world of performance to help business people communicate more persuasively and confidently.
Rob lives just outside Chicago in leafy Evanston, Illinois with his wife, two unfailingly perfect children and, as of this writing, no dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
March 24, 2022
This book could have been shorter than it already was.
To sum it up, stories need to contain the following: have a character (someone relatable, and avoid overused heroes of the past), a goal you want to solve, a challenge, and a resolution. You honestly don't need to follow a linear path. As long as you touch upon these four things you're golden..sometimes stories you tell may not resonate with all. This is why it's important you determine your audience beforehand. Additionally, do not allow too many people to join in on the writing process if you work for a firm. This can muddy the overall story. If you need to compromise, compromise on the little things that don't take away from the overall picture.
To sum it up, stories need to contain the following: have a character (someone relatable, and avoid overused heroes of the past), a goal you want to solve, a challenge, and a resolution. You honestly don't need to follow a linear path. As long as you touch upon these four things you're golden..sometimes stories you tell may not resonate with all. This is why it's important you determine your audience beforehand. Additionally, do not allow too many people to join in on the writing process if you work for a firm. This can muddy the overall story. If you need to compromise, compromise on the little things that don't take away from the overall picture.
January 18, 2019
I am intrigued with the power of stories to bring new insight and even lead to transformation, and I am always on the hunt for how stories work, how they may be structured, and to what ends they may be used. That is what drew me to Rob Biesenbach’s book, Unleash the Power of Storytelling, and it did not disappoint.
Ignore the fundamentals of storytelling, the author contends, and “you could end up squandering an opportunity to change minds and even lives.”
What makes stories this powerful? Beisenbach gives us six keys to impactful stories: (1) stories trigger an emotional response; (2) stories involve characters we can related to; (3) stories connect us; (4) they communicate what we value; (5) they raise the stakes; and (6) they show, rather than tell, what we stand for.
So what is a story? In simplest terms, it is “a character in pursuit of a goal in the face of some challenge or obstacle.” There are, of course, other elements in a story—a turning point, a climax, and more—but character, goal, and challenge are “the three legs of the stool.” Without these three, you don’t have a story.
For a story to work, the author says, you need the following elements: (1) a character who is a specific individual, (2) conflict (the tension between your character’s goal and the challenge facing your character, (3) something important at stake (a serious problem that cries out for action), (4) events connected to one another in a cause-effect relationship (rather than just a random series of events), and (5) an emotional response from the audience (frustration, disappointment, joy, etc.).
A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. In the beginning of the story, you set the scene and introduce the main character. Then, something happens (a challenge) that upsets the balance of things. The middle is where the character works to overcome the challenge, and the end is where things come to a resolution (the character either reaches his goal or doesn’t).
The best stories are the ones that come from our own experience, but whatever their source, our stories must show that (1) we know who our audience is, (2) we know what we want them to do (buy a product, work more efficiently, join our cause), (3) we have thought through the main challenges that are likely to get in the way of our goal, (4) we have found a character who has overcome one or more of those challenges, and (5) we have brought resolution to our story.
The importance of emotion cannot be underplayed in an effective story. In fact, claims Beisenbach, “facts don’t influence action the way an emotional appeal does.” He goes on to say that “emotion drives decision-making.” (People buy on emotion and justify their purchase with logic.) In order to reinforce the emotional impact of a story, the author suggests that the storyteller focus not just on what he or she does but on why they do it.
The goal of telling any story is an important consideration. For example, our goal may be to align our team with a certain strategy, or it may be to promote a brand. We might be seeking simply to establish common ground or even show others how humanly real we are. We may want to motivate a change in behavior, inspire a team, or establish trust and credibility with a customer. Whatever our goal, we should have it clearly in mind, and the story we’re telling should be directed toward that goal.
Collecting stories is a lifelong pursuit—and a worthy one. You will have just the story you need when the time comes to tell it. Or, perhaps a story won’t be exactly what’s needed but a metaphor or an analogy will be. Beisenbach covers this skill as well.
This book has great value to anyone who seeks to communicate with others, motivating them and encouraging them. According to Beisenbach, there is power in storytelling. Our stories define who we are and what we stand for. They set us apart. So, think of a character with whom others can identify, lay out his or her goal and the challenges she or he faced in pursuing that goal, and bring the whole thing to resolution. And read Beisenbach’s book. He will be just the coach you need to impact the world around you for good.
Ignore the fundamentals of storytelling, the author contends, and “you could end up squandering an opportunity to change minds and even lives.”
What makes stories this powerful? Beisenbach gives us six keys to impactful stories: (1) stories trigger an emotional response; (2) stories involve characters we can related to; (3) stories connect us; (4) they communicate what we value; (5) they raise the stakes; and (6) they show, rather than tell, what we stand for.
So what is a story? In simplest terms, it is “a character in pursuit of a goal in the face of some challenge or obstacle.” There are, of course, other elements in a story—a turning point, a climax, and more—but character, goal, and challenge are “the three legs of the stool.” Without these three, you don’t have a story.
For a story to work, the author says, you need the following elements: (1) a character who is a specific individual, (2) conflict (the tension between your character’s goal and the challenge facing your character, (3) something important at stake (a serious problem that cries out for action), (4) events connected to one another in a cause-effect relationship (rather than just a random series of events), and (5) an emotional response from the audience (frustration, disappointment, joy, etc.).
A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. In the beginning of the story, you set the scene and introduce the main character. Then, something happens (a challenge) that upsets the balance of things. The middle is where the character works to overcome the challenge, and the end is where things come to a resolution (the character either reaches his goal or doesn’t).
The best stories are the ones that come from our own experience, but whatever their source, our stories must show that (1) we know who our audience is, (2) we know what we want them to do (buy a product, work more efficiently, join our cause), (3) we have thought through the main challenges that are likely to get in the way of our goal, (4) we have found a character who has overcome one or more of those challenges, and (5) we have brought resolution to our story.
The importance of emotion cannot be underplayed in an effective story. In fact, claims Beisenbach, “facts don’t influence action the way an emotional appeal does.” He goes on to say that “emotion drives decision-making.” (People buy on emotion and justify their purchase with logic.) In order to reinforce the emotional impact of a story, the author suggests that the storyteller focus not just on what he or she does but on why they do it.
The goal of telling any story is an important consideration. For example, our goal may be to align our team with a certain strategy, or it may be to promote a brand. We might be seeking simply to establish common ground or even show others how humanly real we are. We may want to motivate a change in behavior, inspire a team, or establish trust and credibility with a customer. Whatever our goal, we should have it clearly in mind, and the story we’re telling should be directed toward that goal.
Collecting stories is a lifelong pursuit—and a worthy one. You will have just the story you need when the time comes to tell it. Or, perhaps a story won’t be exactly what’s needed but a metaphor or an analogy will be. Beisenbach covers this skill as well.
This book has great value to anyone who seeks to communicate with others, motivating them and encouraging them. According to Beisenbach, there is power in storytelling. Our stories define who we are and what we stand for. They set us apart. So, think of a character with whom others can identify, lay out his or her goal and the challenges she or he faced in pursuing that goal, and bring the whole thing to resolution. And read Beisenbach’s book. He will be just the coach you need to impact the world around you for good.
January 17, 2024
Rob Biesenbach ultimately fulfills the purpose of his book, at times I lost focus...but having closed the last page, I would say I have a better understanding about good (and bad) storytelling. I had two key takeaways from this book: The sections on eulogies and toasts no doubt will have been well worth reading when once in a lifetime events occur and Rob encourgages the reader to find stories in the everyday, (later dressing them up for audience appeal). Overall, conversations would be far more interesting if it was complusory to read Rob's work.
May 19, 2022
Definitely great book if you're new at storytelling:)
>We tell stories every day, but only a few make history
>. The power of storytelling can influence people, convince, inspire, and prevent them from doing unnecessary things.
>All your stories are worthy, but they reveal their true power when they influence someone's worldview.
>Researcher Paul Zak discovered that stories make the brain release oxytocin, a hormone associated with empathy.
>Other studies have shown that while listening to a story, the brain triggers the same areas as when experiencing an actual event.
>We subconsciously associate ourselves with the protagonist of the story and place ourselves at its epicenter; our palms sweat, and our heart rate increases — this is our body's feedback.
>Biesenbach identified six keys to a strong story:
• Emotions. A compelling story evokes an emotional response.
• The story should have a face. People do not remember percentages and statistics, but they will feel a kinship with the character that personifies the issue.
• The stories should connect your listeners with each other and with your brand.
• Stories make us more human. They should remind people of who they are.
• Stories should reiterate the importance of values such as love and care. They should temporarily distract people from their routine existence.
• Show; don't tell. Back up your words with a reliable example.
>Your story should offer people something they can't refuse.
>Read more books. Memoirs and biographies are excellent sources of valuable stories.
>Sometimes an appropriate analogy, phrase, or metaphor can replace an entire story.
>We tell stories every day, but only a few make history
>. The power of storytelling can influence people, convince, inspire, and prevent them from doing unnecessary things.
>All your stories are worthy, but they reveal their true power when they influence someone's worldview.
>Researcher Paul Zak discovered that stories make the brain release oxytocin, a hormone associated with empathy.
>Other studies have shown that while listening to a story, the brain triggers the same areas as when experiencing an actual event.
>We subconsciously associate ourselves with the protagonist of the story and place ourselves at its epicenter; our palms sweat, and our heart rate increases — this is our body's feedback.
>Biesenbach identified six keys to a strong story:
• Emotions. A compelling story evokes an emotional response.
• The story should have a face. People do not remember percentages and statistics, but they will feel a kinship with the character that personifies the issue.
• The stories should connect your listeners with each other and with your brand.
• Stories make us more human. They should remind people of who they are.
• Stories should reiterate the importance of values such as love and care. They should temporarily distract people from their routine existence.
• Show; don't tell. Back up your words with a reliable example.
>Your story should offer people something they can't refuse.
>Read more books. Memoirs and biographies are excellent sources of valuable stories.
>Sometimes an appropriate analogy, phrase, or metaphor can replace an entire story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2019
This book is on point
I like how he gets to the point and gives many practice insights. The section on brand and telling your story is important for anyone wanting to grow their career.
I like how he gets to the point and gives many practice insights. The section on brand and telling your story is important for anyone wanting to grow their career.
September 21, 2024
It is a fine book. Maybe better for someone who is new to this, or maybe targeted more towards businesses. There are some nice lessons I will remember for future occasions. It was a short read. Didn't think it gave bad advice. Just want new advice. .Not one I will likely go back to.
October 20, 2019
A great book for public speaker and story tellers. Should be a must read for executives, managers, and educators
March 6, 2022
An primer on the basics of storytelling and how it can be used in most everyday life, including business. However, if you have a strong grasp of either of these things, it's probably not worth your time.
January 3, 2024
Good information, but felt very long for the content. This could have been a few bullet points on a linkedin post.
March 1, 2018
‘Storytelling is about condensing and interpreting events in order to better ensure audience understanding.’
Author/actor Rob Biesenbach could be making a fortune as a standup comedian - his training as an actor and improviser at Chicago's Second City has polished his innate sensitivity to people at large and more specifically people the compose his audience. But the acting skills (though quite evident in this thoroughly entertaining communication guide) are also supported by his history of composing important speeches for high level executives, delivering his own speeches and serving a press secretary for the Ohio Attorney General, being an executive for Ogilvy PR, and holding workshops and conferences on his specialty - bringing `energy, humor and show business style to the subject of business communication, entertaining and informing rapt audiences nationwide'.
Deliver a side `Whew', and come back to why this little book is so important to every form of speaking before a group, whether in a small office of employees or vast auditoriums. His goal is to teach us how to present ourselves, our message, and our image of both our personalities and our `products' in a compelling manner.
In his sparkling introduction Rob sets the tone for this very useful book – ‘I do an exercise in my workshops where I have audience members craft a short story and pair up with others to tell it. Most people take to the activity right away, and the room brims with energy as people discover the wealth of stories that reside within them. But a few people get stumped. Like the nice woman in Ballroom B a couple of years ago whose expression was as blank as the sheet of paper in front of her. I came down from the stage and offered to help. “I just can’t think of a story,” she said. “What do you do?” I asked. “I’m in IT.” “Okay, what’s the biggest challenge you face?” “Oh, that’s easy. People ignore all our procedures and warnings and end up downloading viruses and malware.” “So do you have an example of someone who did something stupid that infected your systems and caused chaos?” “Of course!” she said. “That’s your story.” Stories are all around us. We may not recognize them, but they’re there — just waiting to be found, shaped, and shared. And when we tap into the power of stories, we can sway opinion, influence people to act and even stop them from doing stupid things — in a way that’s far more effective than a list of “dos and don’ts."
Following this lead Rob divides his book into Storytelling Essentials (What Makes Stories so powerful? What is a Story? How to Create a Story, Emotion Fuels Stories, Stories at Work), Advanced Storytelling (How to Focus Your Story, How to Preserve the Integrity of Your Stories, How and Where to Find Great Stories, Story’s Cousins: Comparison, Analogy, and Metaphor, The Dark Side of Story Telling), and Applied Storytelling (How to Tell Your Company’s Origin Story, How to Use Stories in a Presentation, Hw to Tell Your Own Story, How to Tell Your Personal Brand Story, and How to Use Story for a Toast, Tribute or Eulogy).
No matter your profession or position in life, storytelling the way Rob Biesenbach teaches it will definitely impassion your approach – personal and business. Excellent book!
Author/actor Rob Biesenbach could be making a fortune as a standup comedian - his training as an actor and improviser at Chicago's Second City has polished his innate sensitivity to people at large and more specifically people the compose his audience. But the acting skills (though quite evident in this thoroughly entertaining communication guide) are also supported by his history of composing important speeches for high level executives, delivering his own speeches and serving a press secretary for the Ohio Attorney General, being an executive for Ogilvy PR, and holding workshops and conferences on his specialty - bringing `energy, humor and show business style to the subject of business communication, entertaining and informing rapt audiences nationwide'.
Deliver a side `Whew', and come back to why this little book is so important to every form of speaking before a group, whether in a small office of employees or vast auditoriums. His goal is to teach us how to present ourselves, our message, and our image of both our personalities and our `products' in a compelling manner.
In his sparkling introduction Rob sets the tone for this very useful book – ‘I do an exercise in my workshops where I have audience members craft a short story and pair up with others to tell it. Most people take to the activity right away, and the room brims with energy as people discover the wealth of stories that reside within them. But a few people get stumped. Like the nice woman in Ballroom B a couple of years ago whose expression was as blank as the sheet of paper in front of her. I came down from the stage and offered to help. “I just can’t think of a story,” she said. “What do you do?” I asked. “I’m in IT.” “Okay, what’s the biggest challenge you face?” “Oh, that’s easy. People ignore all our procedures and warnings and end up downloading viruses and malware.” “So do you have an example of someone who did something stupid that infected your systems and caused chaos?” “Of course!” she said. “That’s your story.” Stories are all around us. We may not recognize them, but they’re there — just waiting to be found, shaped, and shared. And when we tap into the power of stories, we can sway opinion, influence people to act and even stop them from doing stupid things — in a way that’s far more effective than a list of “dos and don’ts."
Following this lead Rob divides his book into Storytelling Essentials (What Makes Stories so powerful? What is a Story? How to Create a Story, Emotion Fuels Stories, Stories at Work), Advanced Storytelling (How to Focus Your Story, How to Preserve the Integrity of Your Stories, How and Where to Find Great Stories, Story’s Cousins: Comparison, Analogy, and Metaphor, The Dark Side of Story Telling), and Applied Storytelling (How to Tell Your Company’s Origin Story, How to Use Stories in a Presentation, Hw to Tell Your Own Story, How to Tell Your Personal Brand Story, and How to Use Story for a Toast, Tribute or Eulogy).
No matter your profession or position in life, storytelling the way Rob Biesenbach teaches it will definitely impassion your approach – personal and business. Excellent book!
September 24, 2024
Rob Biesenbach delivered much more than I expected.
When I was looking for good introductory books on storytelling, Biesenbach's "Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results" was high on the list of recommendations. But as I looked at the cover and read the description on Amazon, I had my doubts that this was really a book I should pick up. Still, something made me add it to my shopping cart.
Having now finished reading the book, I'm very glad I bought it.
It's a comparatively short book. But in its pages are a terse introduction to the power of a good story, practical advice on how to write one, and some excellent examples showing good stories.
I'll need to read this book a couple more times to fully harvest all the goodies it contains.
When I was looking for good introductory books on storytelling, Biesenbach's "Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results" was high on the list of recommendations. But as I looked at the cover and read the description on Amazon, I had my doubts that this was really a book I should pick up. Still, something made me add it to my shopping cart.
Having now finished reading the book, I'm very glad I bought it.
It's a comparatively short book. But in its pages are a terse introduction to the power of a good story, practical advice on how to write one, and some excellent examples showing good stories.
I'll need to read this book a couple more times to fully harvest all the goodies it contains.
October 2, 2019
Goed (basis)boek over storytelling. Helaas niet zoveel meer dan een paar uur surfen op internet je kunnen leren. Al was het maar op mijn eigen site via http://fikz.eu/storytelling-klanten-o....
Gelukkig goed geschreven, en mooi gestructureerd, met enkele extra's als een grafrede of een dankwoordje. Maar net iets te kort en ik zou meer voorbeelden zeker geapprecieerd hebben. Verhalen zijn er toch om te vertellen, niet om er over te schrijven dat het goede verhalen zijn? Van voorbeelden zou zeker nog veel te leren vallen. Wellicht ook van wat grondiger opgebouwde systematiek en aanpak. Dat vond ik toch vrij basis.
Gelukkig goed geschreven, en mooi gestructureerd, met enkele extra's als een grafrede of een dankwoordje. Maar net iets te kort en ik zou meer voorbeelden zeker geapprecieerd hebben. Verhalen zijn er toch om te vertellen, niet om er over te schrijven dat het goede verhalen zijn? Van voorbeelden zou zeker nog veel te leren vallen. Wellicht ook van wat grondiger opgebouwde systematiek en aanpak. Dat vond ik toch vrij basis.
June 25, 2020
I picked this book to offer a fresh perspective on telling my own story and the story of my business.
I struggled through the first half of the book. It felt like very generic advice and best practices that I've heard in english class. But if you're willing to stick it out to last 3rd of the book and that's when I got a few 'nuggets' of information I could take away. Rob gives good examples of using stories in business and it's clear he's had a lot of experience. This offered that fresh perspective I was looking for on crafting my personal narrative, influencing my brand, and/or the use of stories for toasts/eulogies.
I struggled through the first half of the book. It felt like very generic advice and best practices that I've heard in english class. But if you're willing to stick it out to last 3rd of the book and that's when I got a few 'nuggets' of information I could take away. Rob gives good examples of using stories in business and it's clear he's had a lot of experience. This offered that fresh perspective I was looking for on crafting my personal narrative, influencing my brand, and/or the use of stories for toasts/eulogies.
December 20, 2022
I was looking for a book that would cover the fundamental principles of storytelling and persuasion. While this book excels in storytelling, it is less effective in terms of persuasion. However, it did help me to organize my thoughts and existing knowledge about communication, which I hope to use to improve my writing skills. (This was not within the scope of the book).
Overall, in reviewing my past experiences, I found that many of Biesenbach's tips could be applied, which comes in handy in improving my communication skills and bringing assertiveness to my conversations; that's the best part of it all.
Overall, in reviewing my past experiences, I found that many of Biesenbach's tips could be applied, which comes in handy in improving my communication skills and bringing assertiveness to my conversations; that's the best part of it all.
February 28, 2023
The book brings together several bite-sized articles that illustrate why storytelling is so compelling, from how to story-tell to the diverse types of storytelling. The audience for the book is primarily those in a business setting, so the focus is on marketing, and corporate communications, with a small section near the end for events such as eulogies or weddings. While convincing and filled with examples, it does not appear exhaustive, so while a helpful resource, it may not apply to all situations.
April 3, 2021
I know what you’re thinking from the title, but hear me out. This book isn’t contrived or manipulative but helps readers better understand the power of storytelling in connecting us with one another in a deeper level. Personally, I’ve been on a quest to better my own communication skills & this book has met me an indispensable time in my life. Absolutely worth a read if you like learning about communicating & the components of telling better stories!
Read
June 19, 2022Very interesting - notes made and (hopefully) relevant learnings taken in!
I definitely feel that I now have "roadmaps" to storytelling, which will help me not only tell an appropriate story well, but also to look out for, listen for and gather stories, which ultimately will all help me to choose which story would be best to help make a specific point, both in presentations and in writing.
This is a valuable resource for me.
I definitely feel that I now have "roadmaps" to storytelling, which will help me not only tell an appropriate story well, but also to look out for, listen for and gather stories, which ultimately will all help me to choose which story would be best to help make a specific point, both in presentations and in writing.
This is a valuable resource for me.
January 3, 2023
The main focus of this book is how to effectively use stories in business presentations; which it does a good job describing in depth. The book feels directed mostly towards sales pitch type scenarios, which put me off a bit. Informative, but not quite what I expected. I envisioned going in to work the next day and popping off a story that had everyone rolling on the floor laughing. What I got was how to splice a short story into a slideshow presentation to help “relate” to the audience.
June 23, 2019
Good but too short to illustrate the ideas
Although, it's a good book I was absolutely stunned how short it is. The author does provide some details and short stories but I think the book could have been bigger to illustrate the ideas in detail. In fact I would have appreciated more stories.
Although, it's a good book I was absolutely stunned how short it is. The author does provide some details and short stories but I think the book could have been bigger to illustrate the ideas in detail. In fact I would have appreciated more stories.
January 25, 2022
I don’t recommend buying this book. Repetitive and very beginner. There were a few good tips on what to focus on when making stories and presenting (like skipping the agenda/summary, not over-loading with stories, different tips on performances). I was expecting more hands-on tips. There were also some interesting examples of companies the author has worked with as a consultant. Easy read too!
October 4, 2022
great little book
Stumbled upon this book because I want to practice more storytelling. Rob explained why storytelling is effective and what would make it more effective. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to put it to practice but look foward to using the newfound knowledge whenever I can.
Stumbled upon this book because I want to practice more storytelling. Rob explained why storytelling is effective and what would make it more effective. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to put it to practice but look foward to using the newfound knowledge whenever I can.
March 27, 2023
I read this book for a class. I enjoyed the simplicity of its structure, but I found it to be a little repetitive. I was mostly looking for tools to implement in grant writing, and while it didn't intentionally exclude nonprofit work, I think I can find a better source of information on nonprofit work and storytelling.
April 20, 2023
As a creative business student this book was great - it has not only helped me career wise or academically but application to general life.
Interviews, networking, understanding the importance of stories in childhood - it is very applicable and well rounded.
An easy read whilst being informative and succinct, would highly recommend.
Interviews, networking, understanding the importance of stories in childhood - it is very applicable and well rounded.
An easy read whilst being informative and succinct, would highly recommend.
October 3, 2024
Emphasizes a skill which is often neglected. Definitely food for thought and guidance for great presentations. The practical and down-to-earth advice was refreshing. Biesenbach did not leave the conversation in the realm of theory, instead he applied it and gave an abundance of real world examples. A great choice for anyone interested in storytelling, for business or otherwise.
September 10, 2018
Loved the book!
Compelling read. A must for everyone: students, young professionals, teachers, anyone who interacts with others! I am sure to use this book as reference material for formal as well as informal occasions!
Compelling read. A must for everyone: students, young professionals, teachers, anyone who interacts with others! I am sure to use this book as reference material for formal as well as informal occasions!
September 11, 2019
Everyone needs to be a better storyteller. Everyone. This book gives mostly advice you know and sometimes advice you don't. Helped me to focus on a few things I'd like to improve. Useful as a motivator and focusing tool.
September 22, 2019
Good basic book on storytelling.
Geared toward storytelling in business. I found a few good new tips but not a lot of depth beyond the basics.
Good beginner book especially for those looking to use storytelling in a business environment.
Geared toward storytelling in business. I found a few good new tips but not a lot of depth beyond the basics.
Good beginner book especially for those looking to use storytelling in a business environment.
May 3, 2021
I loved the practical advice on how to tell a story in this book! It kept me engaged and wanting to read more from start to finish. And has also made me relook at how I go about my day by being more mindful of the potential stories all around me.
May 8, 2021
Concise, but not for beginners
The message and advice delivers is concise and to the point. It is easily understandable, but lacks some detail that the novice story teller could use to get airborne. Probably more suited for amateurs with some experience.
The message and advice delivers is concise and to the point. It is easily understandable, but lacks some detail that the novice story teller could use to get airborne. Probably more suited for amateurs with some experience.
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