The Power of Personal Storytelling: Spinning Tales to Connect with Others

by Jack Maguire

You're stuck in an endless, dull conversation. As the speaker drones on, your mind wanders, until you hear the words, "I remember once when I was.." Your ears perk up. You become engrossed. An anecdote unfolds, and suddenly, the speaker is alive and excited and you know just what he means. He has used the age-old technique of storytelling to powerfully get his point across, capturing your attention through a well-told narrative of personal experience that invited you to relate to his message on an intimate level. In The Power of Personal Storytelling , professional storyteller Jack Maguire explains how to mine your memories to communicate more effectively, enhance personal and professional relationships, and understand yourself better so that you can better understand others. Step by step, he illustrates how shaping and expressing true stories about our lives and those of the people we've known connect us more vitally with others;* develop our creativity;* strengthen our humor, courage, and confidence; and* render our lives more memorable.Whether you're a teacher or a salesman, a minister or a parent, personal storytelling can help improve the key relationships in your life while investing your memories with more meaning.

Genres: Writing, Psychology, Nonfiction, Communication, Business

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 1998

Reviews

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clinic on storytelling, complete with workbook and exercises. Developed and put down for the reader who is interested in embracing their personal narrative, and fleshed out with examples and quotes and step-by-step instructions for how to proceed with turning memory into story and story into memory. Very useful, accessible and a good book for not only honing your personal craft, but also understanding the tales of others.

[Luis Louro Oliveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well structured. It needs time and practice to really get the best of it. On my todo list.