Jonathan Gottschall has written a great little book on how stories make us human. Drawing on the latest research in psychology, evolutionary biology and neuroscience, Gottschall tells us what it means to be a storytelling animal. The purpose of any story is to carry a value system – a moral message – that is communicated to inform and inspire the listener/reader. We are genetically ‘wired’ to respond to stories – and this book explains how and why. An excellent addition to a summer book bag for the beach!
The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human
MythGinger 
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I have always believed that if you can gain a new nugget of useful information, the reading was worthwhile!
I just read The Storytelling Animal last weekend, I thought it was good but was bummed when I got to the last chapter. I got this book in ebook form but will probably also get a paper copy of it as well since it’s the kind of book that I’d like to thumb through from time to time.