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The Best Books on Storytelling for Public Speakers

Stepping onto the stage for a public talk can be intimidating, especially when your goal is to captivate an audience. The secret weapon? Mastering the art of storytelling. This blog post dives into the transformative power of narrative techniques in public speaking by recommending top-rated books written by industry experts.

Get ready to sway any crowd with your story!

Key Takeaways

• Storytelling in public speaking has the power to connect with audiences, create engaging and memorable presentations, and build trust and credibility .
• The top books on storytelling for public speakers include “The Storyteller’s Secret” by Carmine Gallo, “Resonate” by Nancy Duarte, “Storyworthy” by Matthew Dicks, “The Art of Storytelling” by John Walsh, and “The story factor” by Annette Simmons.
• These books provide valuable insights into storytelling techniques , helping speakers understand the structure and elements of effective storytelling, learn techniques to captivate and engage audiences, develop storytelling skills for different speaking contexts, and craft compelling narratives that resonate with listeners.
• By mastering the art of storytelling through these recommended books, public speakers can enhance their communication skills and deliver impactful presentations.

The Power of Storytelling in Public Speaking

Storytelling in public speaking has the incredible power to connect with audiences , create engaging and memorable presentations, as well as build trust and credibility.

Connecting with the Audience

Striking an emotional chord with your audience dramatically enhances the impact of your speech. The power of storytelling in public speaking hinges on this pivotal connection, making it possible for listeners to relate to you and stay engrossed throughout.

Stories serve as bridges, narrowing the gap between you and the audience by fostering a sense of identification that resonates deeply. An engaging narrative garners more than just brief attention; it provokes emotions and stimulates rational thinking among listeners.

Crafting stories filled with movement not only enriches your delivery but also draws in audiences, securing their investment in your message right until the very end. As a speaker, perfecting this art allows you to turn momentary exchanges into lasting impressions through captivating tales and memorable anecdotes tailored uniquely for every speaking context.

Engaging and Memorable Presentations

Diving into the art of storytelling in public speaking can transform a basic speech into an unforgettable performance. Crafting stories that resonate with your audience and stimulate their imaginations is an effective way to boost engagement, making your presentations not just informative but deeply memorable too.

The power of narrative communication lies in its ability to create empathetic bonds, shaping messages that genuinely touch people’s hearts. This emotional connection deepens understanding, strengthens recall and encourages active listening among audiences.

Incorporating humor appropriately or integrating digital storytelling elements like audio, video or images further enhances this impact. Movement too has its place – deftly executed gestures can punctuate crucial moments in your story while expressive body language amplifies emotionality and holds attention captive.

Similarly, structuring speeches with a clear preview at the onset helps maintain intrigue throughout your presentation – just another storytelling technique helping you cast a spell on the audience!

Building Trust and Credibility

In the realm of public speaking, crafting compelling narratives isn’t just a matter of entertainment – it’s about creating authentic emotional connections with your audience. Storytelling establishes you as trustworthy and credible – two critical components in any presentation.

Think about how ethos, one of the pillars of persuasive communication, represents credibility and character. Stories beautifully exemplify this concept by showcasing your experiences, making your speech not just relatable but also convincing to listeners.

Letting your personality shine through contributes to authenticity and strengthens that speaker-listener bond further. It’s storytelling’s magic – it inspires trust, motivates action-oriented behavior and creates an indelible imprint on people’s minds long after the conversation has ended.

Top Books on Storytelling for Public Speakers

“the storyteller’s secret: from ted speakers to business legends, why some ideas catch on and others don’t” by carmine gallo.

The Storyteller’s Secret: From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don’t” by Carmine Gallo is a bestselling book that explores the power of storytelling in public speaking.

It focuses on techniques used by influential speakers to captivate audiences and make their ideas memorable. By analyzing real-life examples from TED talks and successful business leaders, the book reveals the key elements of a compelling story, including emotional appeal, authenticity, and a clear message.

Readers will gain practical advice on how to enhance their storytelling abilities for different speaking contexts, inspiring and persuading listeners with engaging narratives that truly resonate.”.

“Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences” by Nancy Duarte

In the world of public speaking, “Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences” by Nancy Duarte is a must-read for anyone looking to captivate and inspire their listeners. This book, written by renowned presentation expert Nancy Duarte, provides invaluable insights and techniques for creating impactful presentations through the power of storytelling.

With its emphasis on visual storytelling, “Resonate” guides speakers in crafting narratives that truly resonate with audiences. Through practical guidance and real-life examples, you’ll learn how to create engaging presentations that leave a lasting impact on your listeners.

Highly regarded as one of the best books on storytelling for public speakers, “Resonate” is an essential resource for honing your storytelling skills and delivering memorable presentations.

“Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling” by Matthew Dicks

“Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling” by Matthew Dicks  is a highly recommended book for public speakers looking to improve their storytelling skills.

Published in June 2018, this engaging book focuses on the power of storytelling and provides practical techniques for crafting compelling narratives that captivate audiences. By emphasizing vulnerability and authenticity , Dicks encourages readers to tap into their own personal experiences to create impactful stories.

With its combination of humor, candor, and humility, “Storyworthy” offers actionable strategies that can help public speakers connect with their audience on a deeper level. It’s no wonder why it’s considered one of the best books on storytelling for public speakers!

“The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story” by John Walsh

John Walsh’s “The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story” is a must-read for public speakers looking to enhance their storytelling skills. Whether you’re new to storytelling or already experienced, this book offers practical tips and techniques to engage your audience through captivating narratives.

Walsh emphasizes the importance of structure, characters, and emotional impact in crafting compelling stories that resonate with listeners. Published by Moody Publishers, this highly regarded resource provides clear and concise instructions on delivering impactful stories that leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Don’t miss out on mastering the art of storytelling with John Walsh’s insightful guide!

“The story factor” by Annette Simmons

“The Story Factor” by Annette Simmons  is a must-read for public speakers who want to take their storytelling skills to the next level. As one of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time, this book provides valuable insights on how stories can inspire, influence, and persuade others.

Simmons emphasizes that storytelling is more effective than presenting cold facts or bullet points when it comes to making a lasting impact on an audience. With her expertise as a vibrant keynote speaker and consultant, she shows how stories can be used to motivate and inspire listeners.

Whether you’re looking to gain influence or create memorable presentations, “The Story Factor” offers practical tips and techniques for leveraging the power of storytelling in your public speaking engagements.

How These Books Can Help Improve Public Speaking Skills

These books provide valuable insights into storytelling techniques, helping speakers understand the structure and elements of effective storytelling, learn techniques to captivate and engage audiences, develop storytelling skills for different speaking contexts, and craft compelling narratives that resonate with listeners.

Understanding the Structure and Elements of Effective Storytelling

Effective storytelling is a crucial skill for public speakers, as it can help captivate and engage audiences in a memorable way. By understanding the structure and elements of storytelling, you can craft narratives that resonate with listeners and make your presentations more impactful.

It’s important to grasp concepts such as narrative, delivery, and relatability to create authentic and compelling stories. Learning these techniques from top books on storytelling for public speakers like “The Storyteller’s Secret” by Carmine Gallo or “Resonate” by Nancy Duarte can greatly improve your public speaking skills.

With practice, you’ll be able to connect with your audience on a deeper level and deliver persuasive presentations that leave a lasting impression.

Learning Techniques to Captivate and Engage Audiences

In order to captivate and engage audiences during your public speaking engagements, it is important to learn effective techniques that will leave a lasting impression. One way to do this is by incorporating storytelling into your presentations.

By sharing personal stories and experiences , you can create a connection with your audience and make your message more relatable. Additionally, books such as “Hit Your Stride” offer valuable insights on delivering compelling presentations, while “Captivate” provides useful tools for creating engaging speeches that leave the audience wanting more.

These resources not only provide methods and techniques for improving public speaking skills but also offer practical tips for crafting narratives that resonate with listeners. So whether you’re looking to overcome anxiety or simply enhance your presentation abilities, these recommended books are sure to help you become a captivating storyteller in no time.

Developing Storytelling Skills for Different Speaking Contexts

To become a more versatile and engaging public speaker, developing storytelling skills for different speaking contexts is crucial. Whether you’re delivering a keynote address or presenting in a boardroom meeting, understanding how to craft compelling narratives that resonate with your audience is essential.

By honing your narrative skills, you can effectively communicate your ideas and connect with listeners on a deeper level. Learning effective communication techniques and adapting them to various speaking situations will help you captivate and engage audiences of all kinds.

Additionally, incorporating personal anecdotes into your speeches not only adds authenticity but also allows listeners to relate to your message more easily. Remember that mastering storytelling for different speaking contexts takes practice, but the results are well worth the effort.

Crafting Compelling Narratives that Resonate with Listeners

Crafting compelling narratives is a key skill for any public speaker. When you are able to tell stories that resonate with your audience, you can capture their attention and leave a lasting impression.

By incorporating storytelling techniques into your presentations, you create a connection with your listeners on an emotional level. This not only helps them remember the information you are conveying but also builds trust and credibility.

Whether you are sharing personal anecdotes or using fictional tales as metaphors, effective storytelling can make your message more relatable and memorable.

To craft narratives that truly resonate with listeners, it is important to understand the structure and elements of effective storytelling. By employing techniques such as the monomyth or hero’s journey narrative structure, which takes audiences on an adventure showcasing growth and wisdom gained along the way, you can engage your listeners from start to finish.

Additionally, by using vivid imagery, strong characters, and relatable conflicts in your stories, you can captivate their imagination and keep them interested throughout your presentation.

Remember that different speaking contexts require different approaches to storytelling. For example, if you are delivering a persuasive speech or business presentation, understanding how to weave powerful narratives into these specific frameworks will help convey your message persuasively while keeping everyone engaged.

By exploring different types of storytelling methods and gaining inspiration from examples related to presentations within various industries or public speaking scenarios like TED Talks or influential speakers’ performances, you can enhance both your communication skills and public speaking abilities.

In conclusion, mastering the art of storytelling is essential for public speakers looking to captivate and engage their audience. These top books on storytelling provide invaluable techniques and insights to enhance your communication skills and create impactful presentations.

So, grab a copy, unleash your inner storyteller, and watch as your speaking prowess soars to new heights!

1. What are the best books on storytelling for public speakers?

Some highly recommended books on storytelling for public speakers include “TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking” by Chris Anderson, “Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling” by Matthew Dicks, “Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences” by Nancy Duarte, and “The Storyteller’s Secret: From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don’t” by Carmine Gallo.

2. How can storytelling improve my public speaking skills?

Effective storytelling can captivate your audience, make your message more memorable and relatable, evoke emotions that can connect with listeners on a deeper level, engage attention throughout your presentation or speech, and ultimately inspire action or change in behavior.

3. Are there specific techniques I should learn about in these books?

Yes! These books cover various techniques such as structuring stories for maximum impact (beginning-hook-climax-end), incorporating personal anecdotes and experiences into speeches to establish credibility and connection with the audience, using vivid language to create imagery that enhances engagement, understanding different types of narratives (e.g., hero’s journey) to create compelling story arcs, and utilizing visuals effectively in presentations.

4. Can these books help me become a more confident speaker?

Absolutely! Alongside teaching you storytelling techniques specifically tailored for public speaking contexts like stage performances or business presentations; they also provide valuable insights into improving overall confidence as a speaker. Learning how to tell engaging stories helps build self-assurance while delivering talks or making important points before an audience

Presentation Storytelling Examples & Techniques (2024)

Learn techniques for telling a story in a presentation . Get narrative presentation examples and learn to apply storytelling in business presentations .

Joanne Camarce

8 minute read

Short answer

What should a presentation storytelling structure include?

Introduction

Rising Action

Falling Action

Storytelling in business presentations matters (a lot)

Stories convey a deeper meaning, idea, or lesson. They make us feel, experience, identify, and understand.

Most importantly for storytelling in business presentations, telling a story in a presentation makes people more likely to remember the message.

Researchers Dean and Chip Heath found that after a presentation, 63% of attendees could remember the story told by the presenter.

However, only 5% could recall specific statistics from the event.

Because stories allow audiences to visualize and imagine an idea or message, stories also make them better able to make decisions.

In other words, stories bring buyers, stakeholders, and decision-makers to better understand and remember your message. Which in turn enables them to make a decision and increases the chance they’ll act on it.

What is presentation storytelling?

Presentation storytelling is the art of using a narrative structure to convey information instead of dry facts. It delivers a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end that aligns with the presentation's objectives, making the content more relatable and memorable.

Storytelling in business presentations involves 2 complementing aspects: (1) textual presentation narrative, and (2) visual storytelling.

What is a narrative presentation?

A narrative presentation is a style of delivering information where the content is structured as a relatable story. It typically includes characters, a setting, a conflict, and a resolution, and weaves complex ideas, processes, and metrics into the narrative.

What is a visual storytelling presentation?

A visual storytelling presentation tells a story or multiple anecdotes using visual elements like videos, animations, and interactive content.

Modern storytelling presentations apply scrollytelling design which combines visuals and text seamlessly to let readers interact with the presentation as they scroll down the content.

How to use the 4 storytelling archetypes

Storytelling is the art of describing vivid ideas, beliefs, experiences, and life lessons through stories and narratives.

These stories stimulate a listener's imagination as you take them on an emotional journey. There are many ways to tell a story.

These story structures have been shown to work for narrative presentations and corporate storytelling, and they will work for you.

The Hero's Journey: Communicates a transformation from struggle to success

The Story Mountain: Builds tension and anticipation

Story loop: Joins multiple perspectives into a single narrative

In-Media Res: Grabs attention quickly

There are timeless narrative frameworks that have worked for storytellers throughout the ages from the methodologies of old, through Shakespearian plays to Apple commercials.

1) Hero's Journey

The hero's journey narrative archetype involves a hero who goes on a journey and returns as a changed person.

This storytelling template consists of three distinct parts, or "acts," that include a setup, confrontation, and resolution. It makes for a well-structured and engaging narrative.

2) The Mountain

The mountain storytelling structure strategically maps the tension and drama in a story. This archetype is represented visually as a mountain, with each section building to a complex obstacle that characters need to overcome.

Think of the protagonist at the bottom of the mountain. They must climb the mountain to reach their goal (your business goals in this case). They face obstacles along the way, and they must overcome those obstacles before they can reach the top.

3) Story loop

The story loop structure contains stories within another story. However, they aren't standalone stories.

Your first story is the most important. It's the core of your message, and you use the other stories to elaborate or explain your central point.

But you stop some of the way through it, leaving the audience in suspense. Then, you share part of the second story before moving on to the last.

Eventually, in the end, you bring it all together to make one cohesive point. The purpose of this storytelling technique is to provide context, background, or a different perspective to a central narrative.

Types of anecdotes you can use in your story loop presentation

• Customer success stories
• Personal experiences by clients
• Inspirational stories
• Fictional or hypothetical stories
• Historical or factual stories

Here's a short video explaining how to use a story loop:

4) In medias res (begin from the middle)

In medias res is Latin for "in the middle of things." With this storytelling archetype, the narrative begins in the middle of a scene. It skips over the background of the story and gets straight to the action.

To choose the right type of story for your presentation, consider your audience, the purpose of the presentation, and the emotional impact you want to create.

No matter what narrative structure you choose, include visuals, sensory details, and precise language to bolster your message.

If you want to learn more about this storytelling archetype, check out the video below:

Effective presentation storytelling structure

A well-structured story can engage and persuade your audience, making your corporate presentation much more effective and memorable.

Stories can be applied in any type of business presentation, such as a pitch deck, sales presentation, white paper, report, or business proposal.

A single document can include multiple stories that make up a joint narrative.

5 basic elements of a story structure:

1. Introduction

• Sets a relevant context with background information.
• Introduces the protagonist (business or product) and the current problem or challenge.

2. Rising Action

• Builds tension by detailing the obstacles and complications faced.
• Engages the audience with the steps taken to address the challenge.
• The turning point where the main tension or conflict peaks.
• Highlights the moment of greatest challenge and the decisive action taken.

4. Falling Action

• Shows the aftermath of the climax.
• Begins to lead towards the resolution, detailing the business solution and results of actions taken.

5. Resolution

• Wraps up the story with the outcome of all actions.
• Provides a clear ending, showing how the challenge was overcome and what was learned.

After developing your story structure, be sure to connect it to your core message by creating parallels and reinforcing it with examples.

Most importantly, don’t leave your audience with the realization that they need to take action without offering them an immediate way to act.

Effective storytelling techniques for presentations

The beauty of storytelling is that the possibilities are endless. There are so many ways to tell a story in presentations. It's just a matter of finding the right one for your unique needs and goals.

1) Build your stories around your audience’s pain points

Stories establish connections. But don’t confuse your story with your audience’s story.

Your audience doesn’t care about your story, and they don’t care about your product.

But they will care if they feel you care about them.

Understanding the audience's pain points, values, and opinions can help you weave a story into a narrative that aligns with their interests. It gives you the chance to be part of THEIR story.

Stop talking about yourself. Do this and see engagement blow up, conversions increase, and greater brand loyalty .

2) Establish common ground with your prospects

One effective presentation storytelling technique is to find common ground and share experiences with your audience to establish a connection and make them care about what you say.

These commonalities are what resonate strongest with your target audience.

Common-ground stories tell your audience a satisfied client of yours overcame a particular challenge they are experiencing themselves, and offer the lessons learned while overcoming it.

3) Tell stories that foster peer envy

Peer envy is one of the strongest motivators you can flame in sales presentation storytelling.

Simply put it just means telling the story of a known industry player that achieved remarkable results with the help of your product or service.

A peer envy story should present the initial challenge, the journey to overcome it, and the final enviable outcomes. Yet the reader should feel they can attain similar or better results by following a similar journey.

Here's a fragment of a podcast where Michael Bosworth touches on this very topic:

Business presentation storytelling examples

Here are some examples of famous brands that incorporated personal stories to convey a powerful message in their business presentations.

Zuora sales deck

The Zuora sales deck was aptly named the best sales deck ever . It is truly a best-in-class example of a transformation narrative set within the story mountain framework.

It masterfully narrates the shift to a subscription economy, emphasizing evolving consumer behavior.

And by highlighting the challenges businesses face in this new economy, Zuora positions itself as the essential solution.

The deck's use of data, visuals, and testimonials weaves a compelling story of transformation, urging businesses to adapt and thrive with Zuora or stay behind and decline.

Mign sales deck

Mign’s sales deck highlights the digital shift in musculoskeletal injury recovery, emphasizing the transformation from mass production to personalized care.

Mign applies the hero’s journey story framework and positions itself as the trusted guide in this transformation.

The deck contrasts "winners," who embrace new technologies like additive manufacturing and virtual care, with "losers," traditional manufacturers stuck in outdated processes.

Tinder pitch deck

Tinder's pitch deck effectively narrates the universal challenge of meeting new people and the fear of rejection.

By introducing a hypothetical user named "Matt," Tinder gives the reader a peek into the mind of their target user - an everyday nice guy scared to approach a girl he's interested in.

This concrete personal experience gives life to a basic human need that investors can understand intuitively and even relate to.

Tinder leverages this emotional understanding to make a compelling case for its solution - a platform that eliminates the fear of rejection.

The deck also applied great data storytelling showcasing Tinder's impressive statistics, emphasizing its global reach and popularity among Gen Z.

They also nail the one-liner. Their slogan "It Starts With A Swipe™" encapsulates the simplicity and effectiveness of the app, positioning Tinder as the modern solution to traditional dating challenges.

Brothers Pub restaurant pitch deck

Brothers Pub's pitch deck presents a captivating local business story, emphasizing the need for a fresh, community-focused social pub venue.

The deck tells the story of the owners’ journey, from the initial concept to securing a prime location in Northampton, highlighting their dedication and vision for the future.

The deck outlines the challenges faced by traditional pubs, with 7000 closures in the last decade, and positions Brothers Pub as the innovative solution.

LKE proposal

Legends Kratom Co. (LKE) creates a narrative around the origins and benefits of kratom. By telling the exotic tale of the medicinal tropical evergreen tree and its transformation into a beneficial supplement, the deck creates a vivid backdrop.

They take the reader on their discovery journey to Indonesia to find a supplier for the coveted plant.

This adds authenticity and allure, while their commitment to education and community showcases a heartfelt mission.

Testimonials provide real-world validation, making LKE's story relatable and positioning them as a trusted leader in the supplement industry.

Genius Workshop Event pitch deck

Genius's pitch deck for their storytelling workshop is a masterclass in selling an experience. The deck introduces Gabrielle Dolan's expertise, setting a foundation of trust.

The workshop's structure is presented as a narrative journey, guiding attendees from novice to storyteller.

The deck mixes video, scrollytelling, and vivid language to give rich detail to the experience it promises to provide.

The 90-day follow-up program adds an element of continued growth, while alumni testimonials serve as real-world success stories.

By framing the workshop as a transformative experience, the deck engages and entices potential attendees, showcasing the power of storytelling in action.

Barbie recruitment pitch deck

Barbie's recruitment deck immerses candidates into Barbie's vibrant world. With playful greetings and whimsical descriptions, it sets a creative tone.

The deck focuses on Barbie’s story as a human being (doll in her case), her values, and her experience, instead of focusing on the recruiting company.

The deck lists attributes and responsibilities that align with Barbie's ethos, such as "spreading positivity" and "rocking a pink wardrobe."

Nokia brand guidelines

Nokia's brand guidelines deck uses visual storytelling to effectively communicate the essence of the brand. It lets the visuals tell the story since they speak louder than words.

The deck begins by anchoring the audience in Nokia's mission and values, creating a narrative foundation.

It then unfolds the brand's visual identity, from color schemes to typography, weaving a cohesive story of what Nokia represents.

By providing clear dos and don'ts, Nokia ensures that its brand story remains consistent and impactful across all touchpoints.

This storytelling approach not only educates but also engages, making it easier for stakeholders to internalize and adhere to the guidelines.

nSure one-pager

nSure's one-pager effectively uses visual data storytelling to convey the benefits of their AI fraud protection for digital gift card purchases.

Introducing the challenge of ambiguous transactions, nSure lets the numbers tell the story.

With impressive numbers like their AI solution’s 98% approval rate. They can afford to.

The deck's visuals, combined with endorsements from industry leaders like AXA, make a compelling narrative that instills confidence in nSure's expertise.

Healthy.io proposal

Healthy.io's proposal uses video storytelling with real practitioners who tell the story of their experiences using Healthy.io’s solution.

The video testimonial from a practice nurse adds a personal touch, showing the positive impact on patient care. This brings the user's experience to the front and adds credibility to the proposal’s claims.

The proposal uses a transformation narrative to showcase Healthy.io’s remote kidney screening solution.

They highlight the challenges of legacy ACR testing against their modern home-based test using a smartphone app.

Principles of visual storytelling in business presentations

Storytelling allows you to simplify complex or abstract information and address any objections or resistance. As a result, listeners can better retain and remember the message, which improves the decision-making process.

Here are the main principles that can transform your narrative:

Authenticity

Authentic visuals resonate more with audiences. In an era where people are bombarded with staged and polished images, authentic, candid photos that reflect the reality of your work can make your message stand out and be memorable.

Your visuals should evoke a sensory experience. The goal is to cut through the noise and trigger a stronger emotional response.

For example, you can make the experience more immersive by adding interactive clickable elements, embedding videos, or images that highlight details or visual textures.

Scrollytelling can also play a crucial role here, allowing the story to unfold through interaction, as the audience scrolls through the narrative, engaging them in a multi-sensory journey.

You can see the difference that interactivity makes below. Which presentation would you rather read?

The stories told by your images must be relevant to your audience. Personalized visual storytelling, supported by data to understand what motivates your audience, can turn your story into an experience that resonates deeply.

Every story has characters that fit certain archetypes, such as the caregiver, the explorer, and the creator. Identifying with these archetypes helps your audience connect with the story on a deeper level, making your organization's mission more relatable and memorable.

Make your own storytelling presentation

We've curated an extensive collection of templates to help you achieve effective storytelling for whatever business presentation you need to make.

The business storytelling presentation templates below have been rigorously tested across various devices and refined with insights gleaned from real-world feedback.

They were designed with interactive storytelling at their core. They’ll serve you as handy visual storytelling aids to make your presentations engaging, memorable, and highly converting.

Grab a template!

Why the human brain loves storytelling presentations

According to neuroscientist Uri Hasson , storytelling fosters deep social interactions through brain-to-brain connections.

He found that when we hear stories, our brains mirror each other, helping us understand what the storyteller is feeling.

Called neurocoupling or mirroring, this process occurs across many areas of the brain, including the ones that are responsible for processing and understanding narratives.

So the human brain loves stories. But why?

The short answer is that ‌neural activity in the brain increases when we hear a captivating story. Our brains are made up of neurons, which are nerve cells that send messages throughout the body.

These neurons release neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that transmit signals from nerve cells to target cells.

The most common neurotransmitters in the brain include:

When we hear a story, the neurons in our brain light up with activity. And according to neuroscientists, "neurons that fire together wire together."

This means that as we hear stories, the neurons in our brains are wiring together. As a result, we're more likely to remember the information we receive from a story.

Storytelling also triggers the release of dopamine ("the brain's form of candy") and oxytocin ("the love drug"). In other words, stories make us feel good.

Here's an infographic showing how storytelling affects the brain:

This can influence buying behavior because it helps to create an emotional connection with potential customers or buyers.

Telling a story, instead of making a sales pitch , is less intimidating to an audience.

The company or product you're describing is easier to understand, seems less complex, and provides relevant information in a format that's easy to digest and remember.

As a result, the buyer can relate to the product or service and will eventually want to purchase it.

Joanne Camarce grows and strategizes B2B marketing and PR efforts @ codeless.io . She loves slaying outreach campaigns and connecting with brands like G2, Wordstream, Process Street, and others. When she's not wearing her marketing hat, you'll find Joanne admiring Japanese music and art or just being a dog mom.

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The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story Paperback – January 1, 2014

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Can you captivate an audience with your story?

Many of us would love to hold the attention of a crowd, a classroom, or just a group of our friends by telling them a great story. We have felt the pressure of a public presentation or the disappointment of telling a story that others ignore. We are ready to be heard, ready to captivate.

In The Art of Storytelling , John Walsh takes us through the steps to presenting a compelling story—outlining the strategies that helped him move from stutterer to storyteller. This book will help any person with a story to share by walking you through all aspects of presentation . . . from what to do with your hands as you speak all the way to crafting a killer ending.

Whether you’re telling bedtime stories to your children or Bible stories to a congregation, this book will take your storytelling to a new level.

• Print length 160 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Moody Publishers
• Publication date January 1, 2014
• Dimensions 5.25 x 0.41 x 8 inches
• ISBN-10 0802411339
• ISBN-13 978-0802411334
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

Wonderful! Everyone has the opportunity to share stories – some of us do a great job and others need a boost. The Art of Storytelling breaks down the steps necessary to tell a wonderful story! Mr. Walsh writes in a soft conversational tone that offers the reader the opportunity to learn without the fear of failure. A must read for everyone wanting to tell their story a little better. This would be a great gift for seminarians and anyone in the communications field. Enjoy! NetGalley and Moody Publishers provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review by Lynda Smock, October 10, 2013, Goodreads

What I liked about this book was that story-telling wasn't restricted to just kids, it's presented as a way of sharing that can work for everyone. And while the first application for story-telling that came to mind was for sermons, this book also shows that it's possible to use it in a classroom setting. If you're looking for a book that will help you in Children's ministry or in any ministry that requires public speaking, you should definitely pick up this book.  4 out of 5 stars.

Review by Eustacia Tan, October 20, 2013, Net Galley

People of all ages enjoy listening to a good story told. Stories are often a more effective means of conveying instruction and truths than didactic, analytical teaching. John D. Walsh, in The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story gives readers, whether new to the art or are already experienced public speakers, tips and tools for improving their craft. Through numerous exercises and activities, the reader is encouraged to participate and practice honing skills that are introduced in each chapter. John wants stories to become the point of telling stories. Too often in modern public speaking, stories are relegated to "spice up" sermons and presentations and to illustrate some points in them. The modern mindset has been conditioned to accept that stories are for children (and must have a stated application or moral), that "real teaching" happens in didactic lectures. John discusses how people relate to and recall stories far better than didactic teaching - lectures and sermons with "the big idea" or "here are three points." The book itself is divided into three sections. Part one, the longest section, teaches the aspiring storyteller fourteen steps in preparing to tell a story. John further subdivides these steps into ten essential steps toward telling a good story, and four optional steps that may be taken to raise a good story to a great one. This book is written by a Christian with the Christian audience in mind, but it can be valuable to anyone who speaks to an audience, whether to one or a million or anywhere in-between. Particularly, sections one and two are applicable to all public storytelling engagements. Even the third section can be valuable as case studies on how to turn written materials that may not initially strike the reader as a story, into an engaging story that can be told to an audience. I highly recommend this book for all public speakers, but especially for pastors and church teaching staff. Rating 5 of 5 stars.

Review Mark Kubo, Net Galley, October 21, 2013

In The Art of Storytelling, John Walsh clearly demonstrates that storytelling is one of the most effective ways to connect with people's hearts and minds. Walsh's valuable insights from a lifetime of storytelling are applicable to parents (who want to capture their children's imaginations), business men (who want to impart their vision to clients and associates), teachers (who want students to think on their own), public speakers (who want to improve their skills), actors and writers (who want their characters to speak volumes - even without words), and anyone who wants to improve their personal conversation skills. Walsh packs much from his storytelling workshops into this clear, easy to read guide. The author makes elusive communication concepts simple to understand, and he gives helpful advice for practical questions like - What do you with your hands while you speak? and How do I handle nervousness? Towards the end of the book, Walsh talks about BibleTelling - using storytelling techniques to communicate Bible stories. In this section, Walsh explains why Bible teachers should not just give the point of the story away (which teachers are frequently tempted to do). Instead, Walsh shows teachers how to harness the power of storytelling to draw people in and get them to think on their own. As a result, life-changing connections are made!

Review by David Rainey, Net Galley, October 22, 2013

This book is not just a book about the techniques and methods of story telling. It is also a personal odyssey of the author's learning path toward great story-telling. He was inspired by people who spoke well. He was encouraged to pursue the path of public speaking by people who believed in him. He was willing to be trained, and to learn how to make stories come alive not just for himself but for the audience. The two pieces of advice Walsh provides in this book is worth remembering. Learn it well. Then teach it well. I am full of praise for this very powerful book of ideas that not only gives tips of how to craft and to present stories effectively, it inspires even the meekest persons or untrained individual to desire to give storytelling a shot! I recommend this book highly for all speakers and speakers to be. Rating: 5 stars of 5.

Review by Conrad Yap, Net Galley, November 9, 2013

There seems much disagreement on if this is a good or bad book based on Biblical examples. Don't miss the point! People learn with stories, they remember with stories! Whether this is Biblical stories, a presentation at a seminar or reading to kids - don't we want them to remember? If not it's just a waste of time! And I don't like wasting time. In full disclosure, I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review. And honestly, there's a lot of good information here, packed in a concise but complete book chock full of tips from warming up your voice before hand to dealing with the umm..uh...well... stammers. He gives solutions for nerves, and emphasizes practicing. This is a good book with a lot of great info. If you get stalled because the examples he uses are "religious" you're missing a lot of good content that works just as well in a business presentation. Rating 5 out of 5 stars.

Review by Jan Hoadley, Net Galley 11/21/13

The Art Of Storytelling will help you if you need to be able to tell a better story, or give a speech.  Whether you are asked to tell a Story at Church, or teach a class.  The Art of Story Telling could benefit you. John Walsh breaks this book up into short easy to read chapters, giving you techniques for Storytelling, in your Bible Class, Sunday School or anywhere els you may need to tell a story.  I wish I had this book when I worked with Children, because as short as it is, it is full with wonderful gyms, that can help you for years to come. If you want to be able to tell a better story when you are asked to speak, or if you are a Sunday School Teacher who wants to better illustrate a lesson I would definitely reccommend The Art of Story Telling. Rating 5 out of 5 stars.

Review by Michelle Kidwell, Net Galley 11/21/13

This may be the most fun book I’ve read this year. As a writer, reader, and story lover, the title The Art of Storytelling grabbed me. Storytelling sometimes seems mysterious and out of reach. Storytellers are people from the past. You hear about ancient stories like Homer’s The Illiad and The Odyssey being passed down orally by storytellers. We’ve lost that sort of reverence for the storyteller in American (at least in my estimation). I will admit I was bored with the first chapter. My two questions with the first chapter were: first, do we really learn all that differently from the past? Is there such a neat division between the previous generation and this current generation? I agree storytelling is undervalued, but I’m not sure it’s because we started learning differently. It would be interesting to see if there’s studies to back the claim up. Also, I’m not sure there’s such a sharp distinction between how men and women learn. I know some women who learn better with hard facts and some men that do or some that prefer stories and visa versa. These were minor parts of the book. Once he got into the techniques, games, and tips the book took off.

Review by Mathew Sims, Net Galley 12/5/13

Written by a person who started out as a stutterer, John Walsh is a Christian who has the Christian audience in mind, but his book can be valuable to anyone who stands in front of audiences of 5 people or 1,000 people. Learn it well, then teach it well.  If you’ve been looking for a book like this, and you’d love to work with the exercises at the end of the sections, then you should look into getting this book. 

Review by Spencer Robinson, Net Galley 12/27/13

John Walsh does a great job of taking you through the steps and art of story telling. He does so in a way that is interesting and engaging. This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to be a better, interesting and more engaging speaker and story teller. 4 out of 5 star rating.

Review by Darian Burns, Net Galley 1/17/14

Story telling is imperative when speaking to an audience. It is a great tool for keeping an audience engaged, and for helping a speaker to be relational and real with the audience--even Jesus did it to help explain things! However, it doesn't come naturally to everyone. This book takes the guesswork out of it and lays out the groundwork in an easy to understand way, explaining how to tell a story, and why it's so important. 5 out of 5 stars.

Review by Crystal Brothers, Net Galley 1/19/14

If this book were food, it would be a melt in your mouth roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered beans, hot rolls dripping with butter and best of all, a thick slice of warm apple pie with homemade vanilla ice cream. It not only encourages and teaches a person to tell stories, but it provides the tools and ideas necessary to equip them. Best of all (the apple pie and ice cream), it tells us how to tell Bible Stories and why they are so effective. I both savored and devoured this book. I hope you will enjoy it too! Rating 5 out of 5 stars.

Review by Jael Roy, Net Galley 1/20/14

Are you a story-teller? I know, that is a very open question but guess what? If you are breathing, you are telling stories. Some people might not think they are story tellers but they are. If you have ever told a story to more than yourself, you’re a story-teller. When I think of story tellers I don’t typically think of myself. I think of men like Max Lucado. I once heard him teach and I could have listened for hours. Time flew by so fast and when he was done I thought it could have gone longer. I consider Max Lucado a master story-teller. In John Walsh’s book, “The Art of Story Telling,” he walks you through step-by-step how to captivate your audience, whether it’s a classroom, a church, or a group of friends. I recently recommended this book to a friend of mine that is a Bible teacher for a large women’s Bible study and she looked at me like I was an idiot but once I read off some of the high points from my notes (yes, I take notes when I read), she agreed it might be w

From the Back Cover

In  The Art of Storytelling , John Walsh takes us through the steps to presenting a compelling story—outlining the strategies that helped him move from stutterer to storyteller. This book will help any person with a story to share by walking you through all aspects of presentation . . . from what to do with your hands as you speak all the way to crafting a killer ending.

About the Author

Excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved., the art of storytelling, easy steps to presenting an unforgettable story, moody publishers.

A NEW WORLD AND ITS STORY

It was a drizzly Sunday morning and our daughter Christie was getting ready for church. Her husband, Michael, needed to stay home and take care of their two sons who were sick. He helped Christie get the two girls into the car, kissed them all goodbye, and waved as they drove off.

When the trio arrived at church, Christie delivered Amelia to the nursery and escorted Laura to children's church. She planted herself in the auditorium, knowing she could enjoy the pastor's sermon without being distracted with restless children.

Christie enjoyed the way her pastor preached with love and compassion. It was obvious he put a lot of preparation into his sermons, so she always took notes.

When the service ended, she gathered the two girls and headed home where the men of the family were waiting. Once inside the house, Michael asked how the service was.

"Great!" She then told him about the choir rehearsal after the service, and how she practiced her solo in preparation for the next Sunday.

"What was the sermon about?"

"Oh, um ... well ... it was really good." She tried to recall some of the details of the sermon, but couldn't remember a thing. She concluded that all the activity after the service caused her memory to lapse. Finally, she shuffled through her Bible and found the notes she had taken.

"Let's see ..." her voice trailing off as she skimmed her notes. "Ah, yes. That's right. He's continuing his series through the gospel of Luke. It was really good."

From behind her, Laura said, "I remember what Mr. Gorman spoke about in children's church." With that, the child went into enthusiastic detail about all her teacher had taught in the children's service. Not only did she remember the entire lesson, she was able to relate it in a way that made her parents wish they had been able to hear such an exciting presentation.

Did my granddaughter remember the sermon because she is younger and has a better memory? Not at all. While preparing his lesson, Mr. Gorman was aware of how his audience receives and remembers information.

What Mr. Gorman did should be done whenever a presentation is prepared for any group, including adults. There are two types of adults who respond especially well to stories. They are (1) story thinkers and (2) men. Knowing how these two groups receive and remember information will help you to adapt your presentation with them in mind.

ADAPTING PRESENTATIONS FOR STORY THINKERS

Our culture has gone through a change that has altered our society. Many Christian ministries are becoming aware of it, but don't know how to respond. Other ministries have labeled it ungodly, so they ignore it and continue on as if nothing had changed.

This cultural change is neither godly or ungodly. It is simply the difference in how people receive information and the way they remember information. People of past generations were considered analytical thinkers. For them, everything is linear. They think in facts and figures, and the best way to communicate to them is through an outline.

If speakers want analytical thinkers to remember information for any length of time, they create points and put them in a creative order. For instance, they can have all the words of the outline start with the same letter. Better yet, the first letter of all the points can spell out a word. They don't feel the need to include a story, unless it reinforces the outline. Stories are props that illustrate the points, so they are no longer called stories. They are called illustrations.

This was excellent preparation for past generations, but everything has now changed. Most people today receive information best if it is given to them in the form of stories. They are not linear thinkers but are what I call story thinkers.

These people are some of the most creative, productive citizens of our society. They want the information, and they want it straight in a way that holds their interest. You still need a theme and even an outline; just don't let them know you have it. They don't want your clever tricks and ingenious alliterations. Stories are the best way to reach this new breed of thinker.

TIME TO ADJUST

I was invited to a school several years ago to teach creative writing to their students. The principal was concerned about my going into one particular fourth grade class. The teacher had tried everything but was frustrated. The principal told me, "The class is full of ADHD students. You are going to have problems there, so I better go with you in case you need my help."

He sat in the back as I taught the class. He was amazed. I was using storytelling to teach the students to create, write, and rewrite. He watched as these students listened in rapt attention. He was astonished at how I kept the room in a constant state of chaos. Yet every student was learning and creating. They walked around the room, sat on the floor, talked to one another, participated in fun activities, and created fantastic compositions. This classroom was full of story-thinking students, and I was successful because I adjusted to their way of thinking. It may have seemed chaotic to an outsider, but it was organized and completely under my control.

I teach adult Bible studies the same way, with the same results. People are encouraged to move around, talk to one another, express ideas, and be creative. No one knows exactly what to expect when they walk into class, but they know it is going to be fun and they will learn the Scriptures. Members of the class tell me they understand their Bible better and they are growing in their walk with God.

We have taken this process into prisons and have watched it change lives. Inmates respond enthusiastically, and soon their entire worldview is changed. It is hard to maintain their reputation as a troublemaker when they are out in the yard telling Bible stories. Some wardens have told us it changes not only the prisoners but also the atmosphere of the entire prison. It is exciting when inmates learn this method and use it to teach the Bible to others.

THE SCRIPTURES CONTAIN BOTH

Jesus stood before Galileans and looked into their faces. He had a message and wanted them to listen and remember what He said. He told them stories. It is said Jesus was the master teacher because of His use of stories. No, He was the master teacher because He knew His audience and adapted His message to their way of thinking.

Paul stood before Greeks and looked into their faces. He had a message and wanted them to listen and remember what he said. He used analytical reasoning to explain the gospel. He knew his audience and adapted his presentation.

Later, when Paul went to Jerusalem, he neglected to adapt his presentation for the Jewish audience; instead he used the analytical method that worked so well with his Gentile audience. But the people standing before him were unmoved by his message. Only the Romans listened to him.

Don't make this mistake. Know your audience! Always present your message in a way that is consistent with how they think.

The Bible reflects the different ways people receive and remember information. The various writers of Scripture wrote to either story thinkers or analytical thinkers. The Gospels are written in stories. To this day, they appeal to the story thinkers in our society. The Epistles are analytical and appeal to that type of thinker. Both need to be read and studied, but the appeal is different.

STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES

It is no longer acceptable to add an illustration near the end of a lesson, sermon, or business presentation. The techniques you will find in this book will give you the ability to skillfully adjust your message so you can talk the language of the people around you. Today your audience thinks in stories, they remember stories, and they will listen if you tell stories.

A few years ago, a woman told me she was scheduled to speak to a particular organization, but was allowed only seven minutes to make her presentation. "How can I give my three important points and still have time to tell a story?"

She was still thinking "linear" and wanted to add an illustration to her points. I showed her how to reverse that thinking. She was then able to create a seven-minute story that contained all three concepts she wanted to communicate. The key was to emphasize the story and not the points. I told her, "If you are brave enough to do this, your talk will be the most dramatic seven minutes of the day, and the audience will never forget it."

ADAPTING YOUR PRESENTATION FOR MEN AND WOMEN

Men and women generally receive information differently. Men tend to think in pictures, while women tend to think in words.

I was in a meeting of businesspeople attended mostly by men. A woman came to talk about her business and how it related to our community. She spent the entire time telling us facts. She was giving us words not pictures. The men in the room might have stayed at the meeting out of courtesy, but every one of them left the room mentally. Each one was thinking about things unrelated to what she was talking about.

I knew she had fantastic stories about her business that would have completely captivated this group, but she just wasn't using them. Since we were friends, I waited a few days and then made an appointment with her. I asked how she felt the meeting went. She knew it had not gone well but was puzzled as to why.

I explained about the different thinking processes of men and women. I led her through a process where she put her points inside relevant stories. We worked on this together until we had created a presentation about herself, her clients, and the impact her business was making. It transformed how she has been received in the business community. She is able to tell all the facts, but they are hidden in interesting stories. Now her audiences pay attention to what she says.

MAKING A PRESENTATION?

• In one phrase, state what you hope to accomplish with your presentation.

• Give three or four important aspects about the subject matter.

• Craft several two-minute stories that illustrate each aspect. The number of stories is determined by the length of your presentation.

• Weave these stories together to make a formal presentation.

* Use the instruction in this book to increase how effectively you deliver this presentation.

REACHING LISTENERS WITH STORIES

People approach this book for different reasons. Some want to create stories designed to enhance business presentations or influence clients. Others specialize in children's stories for a Sunday school class or children's church. Perhaps you sense a need to put a new spark into family devotions and capture the hearts of your children. Pastors may be reading this book because they want to become more creative in the way they prepare and present sermons.

Whatever the reason, we are all called to work with both analytical and story thinkers. We are to communicate to both men and women. As you keep reading, you will learn to prepare a story and present it in a way that leaves a lasting impression. You will increase the impact you will have on a wide variety of people, some you may not have been able to reach until now.

Connecting with story thinkers is easy compared to communicating with analytical thinkers. It will seem harder if you are already active in public speaking. That is because it is different from how you were trained. Look at it this way. Your training causes you to focus on a generation that is decreasing in numbers.

As you read this book, practice each step, and do the exercises. It will show you how to communicate in a way your audience will hear and remember. Men and boys will listen with a higher level of attention. But more important, you will be able to reach out to a society that is desperate for your message.

Oh, to make things simple, I am going to refer to you as "a storyteller." This doesn't mean I think you are a professional storyteller. It simply means you are one who plans to communicate to our "story-thinking culture" through the use of stories.

Before, people heard you speak. Now they will understand what you are saying.

STEP 1: Select a Story

Sometimes it is difficult to find a story that fits a particular occasion and also fits your personality. This is amazing since the world is full of stories. We have heard them all our lives, and some of them are our favorites. Still, when you need one, it's nowhere to be found. So I am going to simplify the "finding" process for you.

Start with a few folktales. These have been classics down through the years. This may not be the type of stories you want to tell on a regular basis, but you can use them to help become a better storyteller. From there you can move into stories that better fit your purposes.

The best way to find folktales is to talk to your local librarian. Call in advance and say you are developing your storytelling skills. Ask if they can help you find books that contain some old storytelling classics. They love to be asked for recommendations and will no doubt have a stack of books waiting for you when you arrive.

PROCESS FOR CHANGING A STORY

I was once asked to tell a story at our church's Thanksgiving service. My pastor wanted to add a little variety to this traditional service, and it was my job to help him do it. He had three requirements: The story was to be about twenty minutes long, it must have a Thanksgiving theme, and should contain a good Christian message. "Oh, by the way," he added, "try to make it enjoyable."

I had to find a story that would be just right for this occasion. There is a world of possibilities that could be used. So what type of tale should I look for? Here are the criteria I use when I search for a story.

LESS IS BETTER

Start with a small story. It doesn't matter if you are to give a ten-minute presentation or forty-five-minute presentation. It is always best to start with a smaller story. The reasons are simple:

• You want to practice adding description to the story, which will make it captivating.

• You want to learn how to make the story relate to the specific needs of your listeners, which will make it relevant.

So find a small story. This will give you room to develop it according to your personality and the needs of your listeners. The story will naturally expand to fill the time allotment.

THE RESOURCE OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Even though my Thanksgiving story was for an adult audience, I visited the children's department of my local library. Children's books are the best source for small, well-structured stories, while books written for adults are full of written description designed to entertain readers. This gets in the way of a storyteller.

So I called my favorite children's librarian and said, "Georgianne, do you have any Thanksgiving stories?" Of course she did. She selected several she especially liked and put them aside for me. This saved me an enormous amount of work. If I had searched for a story by myself, I might have gone through a hundred books to find the one I wanted. A librarian is a storyteller's best friend.

A QUALITY STORY

Once I arrived at the library, I looked at the seven books Georgianne had selected. Now it was time to decide which story was the best for the occasion. Each person is different, so you will need to determine what is important to you. I look for two—and only two—qualities:

Does the story resonate with me?

I want my audience to see that I am excited about the story. I can't do this if I don't like it. Besides, once I have developed the story, I may end up telling it many times. It is important that I like the story.

Do I like the ending?

For me, a good ending is a nonnegotiable element. I can adapt the rest of the story to fit the occasion, but good endings are hard to find. Step nine will show you how to craft a good story ending, but it will save you a lot of work if the story already has a good one.

It wasn't long before I found the story I could use for the Thanksgiving service. I crafted it using the fourteen steps in this book, and it turned out to be just what the pastor wanted.

MAKING APPROPRIATE CHANGES

I was asked to tell a cowboy story for a museum of history. I searched and searched, but I couldn't find one that resonated with me. Suddenly, I came across a Japanese story that had a great plot and a wonderful ending. By the time I had finished reworking it, the little family in the story no longer lived in Japan. They lived in western Wyoming in the late 1800s. Jim was trying to get his herd established, and his wife, Helen, was making a home out of a sod-roofed cabin. Their daughter was unaware she was isolated from civilization; instead, she made friends with local natives. Most important, she had a vivid imagination. The story fit the occasion and has delighted many audiences since.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Moody Publishers; New edition (January 1, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802411339
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802411334
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.41 x 8 inches
• #549 in Christian Education (Books)
• #558 in Performing Arts (Books)
• #1,943 in Christian Evangelism (Books)

About the author

John Walsh is an author, speaker, and professional storyteller. He is the founder of BibleTelling, an organization dedicated to using Bible stories for evangelism and discipleship. John is an expert at helping people learn and tell Bible stories. Those involved in BibleTelling travel around the world, speaking at conventions and conducting trainings for missionaries, pastors, teachers, and Christian workers. They go into prisons providing programs that change the atmosphere of the prison. They provide ESL (English as Second Language) programs, and Adult Literacy programs based on Bible stories. BibleTelling has lesson plans for adults, children, and young people. Along with this book, John has authored The Art of Storytelling, a practical guide on how to develop the skill of storytelling; Successful Living, studies in the book of Proverbs; and I’m not a Duck, memories of a few times God interfered with John’s plans.

See more of John's work at www.bibletelling.org and www.btstories.com.

Customer reviews

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Customers say

Customers find the book concise, easy to follow, and accessible for beginners. They say it provides a simple approach to storytelling and is practical. Readers describe the book as great, worth reading, and an eye-opener. However, some feel the Christian content is awkwardly standing in for good stories and exasperating to non-Christian readers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book concise, easy to follow, and accessible for beginners. They say it provides a simple approach to storytelling and offers plenty of useful tips and examples. Readers also mention the book uses interesting and exciting language.

"...Truly captivating, inspiring, and easy to follow ! It also has a wonderful YouTube video series to go with it!" Read more

"...While it offers plenty of useful tips and examples , I wish it delved deeper into advanced storytelling techniques...." Read more

"...the idea of practicing the stories and using interesting, exciting language is very good ...." Read more

"...It is well written and easy to follow." Read more

Customers find the book practical and helpful. They say it shares useful ideas and advice that anyone can apply. Readers also mention the book has helped them in their teaching capabilities.

"...Truly captivating, inspiring , and easy to follow! It also has a wonderful YouTube video series to go with it!" Read more

"...'s advice is bringing new life to the scriptures and new life to my ability to communicate , period!..." Read more

"It is an insightful and practical resource for anyone looking to enhance their storytelling skills...." Read more

"...I think that ultimately it will provide good points in communication effectiveness , I'm already seeing the same tips mentioned by Dale Carnegie and..." Read more

Customers find the book great, worth reading, and an eye-opener. They also say it's captivating, inspiring, and easy to follow.

"What an amazing tool for becoming a better storyteller! Truly captivating , inspiring, and easy to follow!..." Read more

"Yes, Walsh's book is a real eye-opener ! Very cool...." Read more

"...Nonetheless, it's a valuable read for anyone wanting to captivate their audience with memorable stories." Read more

" Really great book on our how to tell a great story. I was very surprised how much I learned so quickly." Read more

Customers find the Christian content awkwardly standing in for good stories. They say it has a heavy narrative and convoluted process. Readers also mention the book is exasperating to non-Christian readers, with too much Jesus and archaic views.

"...It's exasperating to non-Christian readers . I tried to return it, but I'd have to pay mail fees and I won't waste more money on this...." Read more

"...For what I was promised by the blurb, this book is just too much about The Bible and not enough about practical tips...." Read more

"Be Aware:This book has a Heavy Christian narrative and a convoluted "14 step process" that is both unnecessary and lacks insight...." Read more

"This book is extremely religious and aimed at a specific audience. For me not belonging to that group, it was boring and convoluted...." Read more

Customers find the book's pacing disappointing, boring, and convoluted. They also say it contains unnecessary and painfully simple sentences.

"...narrative and a convoluted "14 step process" that is both unnecessary and lacks insight...." Read more

"...I wanted to learn about story telling, not about church sermons. Very disappointed and would not recommend. Save your money! Can I get a refund?..." Read more

"...writing, and storytelling, and I STILL found this book to be a complete waste . I would really like my money back on this one...." Read more

"...For me not belonging to that group, it was boring and convoluted...." Read more

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