The Storytelling Animal

First published by Mariner Books in 2013, The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human explores the integral role of storytelling in human existence through a blend of science and literature. The author, Jonathan Gottschall, a scholar with a foundation in both English and psychology, uses his background to delve into why and how storytelling defines the human experience. This text straddles the genres of literary criticism and science, engaging with topics like evolutionary biology, psychology, and cultural studies to explain the human propensity for creating and consuming stories. Through a mix of anecdotes, scientific studies, and literary analysis, Gottschall considers the evolutionary roots of storytelling, arguing that it is a product of past human development and essential for psychological functions. He discusses how stories shape and reflect human values and behaviors, influencing social cohesion and personal identity, while considering the universality and diversity of storytelling across different cultures, suggesting that, despite varied histories, storytelling remains a universally shared trait that enhances understandings of the world and ourselves.

This guide refers to the 2012 Mariner Books Kindle Edition.

Summary

In The Storytelling Animal, Jonathan Gottschall explores the role of storytelling in shaping human life, arguing that humans are creatures inherently driven to create and live within stories. He begins with a discussion about the infinite monkey theorem, using it as a springboard to delve into the nature of storytelling and its ubiquitous influence across all facets of human existence.

Gottschall examines the human connection to stories through various lenses. He portrays storytelling not only as a form of entertainment but also as a fundamental component of human psychology. He uses examples like children at play and narratives in sports to demonstrate that storytelling is a cultural and neurological process embedded in the human brain.

Delving deeper, Gottschall presents a thought experiment featuring two hypothetical tribes, the Practical People and the Story People, illustrating that storytelling may have provided crucial evolutionary advantages, enhancing social cohesion and aiding survival. He suggests that stories function as a kind of social glue, an idea supported by his examination of how children use play to process and understand their world.

Throughout the book, Gottschall integrates insights from psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to argue that human brains are wired for stories. Examining the structure of traditional storytelling across cultures, he claims that people prefer narratives with conflict and emotional depth. This universal story grammar—character, predicament, and resolution—is a template that resonates with human emotions and helps individuals navigate the complexities of life.

Gottschall also tackles the darker sides of storytelling, such as stories’ capacity to deceive or manipulate. He discusses the phenomenon of narrative bias, the human tendency to impose coherent stories on random events, often leading to erroneous conclusions. This is exemplified in his discussion of conspiracy theories and the powerful role of fictional narratives in influencing real-world actions, like the political ideologies of Adolf Hitler, whose connection to Richard Wagner’s operas had dire historical consequences.

The Storytelling Animal further explores the role of stories in personal identity through the lens of memoirs. Gottschall discusses the unreliable nature of memory and the narrative construction of the self through the story of David Carr, a journalist whose memoir revealed discrepancies in his recollection of past events. Gottschall uses Carr to illustrate the constructive and often self-serving nature of personal narratives.

In the closing chapters, Gottschall speculates on the future of storytelling, particularly in the digital age, where traditional forms like novels and live theater might give way to more interactive and immersive experiences such as virtual reality and online role-playing games. He argues that storytelling will continue to evolve but never disappear, as it remains a core aspect of human identity.