CR 2.2 Chapter 5: Story
Main Idea of Chapter: "We are our stories. we compress years of experience, thought, and emotion into a few conpact narratives that we convey to others and tell to ourselves...we must listen to each other's stories and that we are each the authors of our own lives" (Pink, 2006, p.115).
Why are stories important for R-thinkers of the future?
"Stories are easier to remember- because in many ways, stories are how we remember... Most of our experience, our knowledge and our thinking is organized as stories" (Pink, 2006, p. 101).
Facts used to be more important (now they are accessible and an abundance), but now stories are more important because they demonstrate empathy and understanding between humans. (p.102).
"Stories capture the context, capture the emotions...Stories are important cognitive events, for they encapsulate, into one compact package, knowledge, context, and emotion" (Pink, 2006, p. 103).
Joseph Campbell argued all stories are made from the same equation.
The "Hero's Journey"- Departure, initiation, and journey. (p.105).
The Story Business
"If a businessperson understands that his or her own mind naturally wants to frame experience in a story, the key to moving the audience is not to resist this impulse but to embrace it" (Pink, 2006, p. 106).
Persuasion, advertising, counseling, consulting accounts for 25% of U.S. domestic product. (p.107).
"'Storytelling doesn't replace analytical thinking. It supplements it by enabling us to imagine new perspectives and new worlds...abstract analysis is easier to understand when seen through the lens of a well-chosen story'" (Pink, 2006, p. 108).
Like design, story is another way for companies to distinguish their products from others.
realtor example from author
wine example from author
References
Pink, D.H. (2006). A whole new mind: why right-brainers will rule the future. New York, NY: Riverhead books.
The Story of Healing
Narrative and stories are an important aspect of medicine that needs to be utilized more. (p. 111).
Dr. Rita Charon noticed everything she did as a doctor revolved around stories: patients explaining their ailments, doctors telling their own stories, illness unfolding as narrative. But narrative was not in med school curriculum. She worked with Columbia University to include classes like this in the curriculum. (p. 112-113).
How to incorporate Story into your life and as an educator (my favorite suggestions from the book) p. 119-128.
write a mini saga
Record stories with a tape recorder. (This made me think about recording stories from my grandparents and great-grandmother.)
Create stories of strangers you see. Who are they? What are they doing? Where are they going? What is their relationship?