In today's world, the traditional gatekeepers of truth like journalists have been bypassed, allowing crazy stories to spread globally. People are no longer seeking truth, but rather engaging stories. Conspiracy theories have an advantage as they offer compelling narratives, unlike boring truths. The dramatic grammar of storytelling, with villains, victims, and heroes, makes conspiracy theories more appealing and widespread.
Humans are storytelling animals. Stories are what make our societies possible. Countless books celebrate their virtues. But Jonathan Gottschall, an expert on the science of stories, argues that there is a dark side to storytelling we can no longer ignore. Storytelling, the very tradition that built human civilization, may be the thing that destroys it.
In The Story Paradox, Gottschall explores how a broad consortium of psychologists, communications specialists, neuroscientists, and literary quants are using the scientific method to study how stories affect our brains.
In this conversation based on his new book, Gottschall reveals why our biggest asset has become our greatest threat, and what, if anything, can be done. It is a call to stop asking, “How we can change the world through stories?” and start asking, “How can we save the world from stories?”