"Our task," says Natalie Goldberg, "is to say a holy yes to the real things of our life." Jack Maguire, a professional storyteller, educator, and workshop leader for 25 years agrees. In this volume, which is part of the Inner Work Book series published by Jeremy P. Tarcher, he encourages us to cultivate the art of telling stories in the contexts of family, work, and community.
This art, according to Maguire, invests life with more meaning, connects us more vitally with others, develops our creativity, strengthens our humor, increases courage and confidence, and renders our lives more memorable. The author presents tips on listening, triggering memories, mental moviemaking, and spicing up the tale when we tell it. There are also thought-provoking pointers on story from experts such as Sam Keen, Roger Shank, Richard Stone, James Hillman, and others. "Every woman has a leading role in her own unfolding story," Jean Shinoda Bolen writes. The same is true for men. Share your latest installments as often and in as many situations as possible.