The Power of Personal Storytelling: Spinning Tales to Connect with Others Paperback – October 12, 1998

The gift receiver was very excited to read this book. He did so immediately and was happy to report that it was very interesting and helpful. All indications point to him already becoming a better storyteller.

Primitive societies preserved their history and some of their wisdoms through the medium of story telling. You can almost immediately and without fail capture the interest of a small child by offering to them a story ... and most small children love to hear stories about their parents' childhood. Stories are a natural way to inform and instruct small children.This book provides practical guidance on how to capture an audience's interest, regardless of age, through the art of story telling. Have you ever watched audience reaction when a speaker says, "Let me tell you a story!"? It immediately grabs their attention! This book gives practical advice on using this native interest to capture and hold audience interest.The art (or science) of making good presentations is developed by this author with practical suggestions anyone who is called upon to speak before a group can use.

Contrary to what one reviewer (1-star) says, I am not Macquire, even though I'm giving him a positive review. I find the book useful because it did offer techniques on how to tell stories effectively in the right settings. A useful example is Chapter 13 (pg 121) where he introduces the concept of story stalking (an annoying habit of the author is to join two words together, "storystalking", "restorying"; in the next edition of the book, please separate or at least hyphenate them).I have been a newspaper reporter and sub-editor for over 30 years, but it's only after reading this chapter that I realised my profession is no more than "story stalking". This chapter alone deserves four stars.Other important considerations on why you should buy this book:1. Although it's softcover, the binding is actually saddle-stitched just like in a hardcover, meaning you are able to open the book flat and write on the pages.2. On the left and righthand sides of the pages are margins of 2.4-inch wide, enough for you to scribble your comments and thoughts, just like in a college textbook.3. The pages are off white and comfortable on the eye. The paper does not grow brown spots. I bought the book in 2006 but the pages remained spotless. I live in hot, humid Singapore where books deteriorate fast but this book still looks new and clean. Compare this with Folio Society costly luxury books that I bought from London, within a few months most of them have brown spots!Why I did not add one more star to make the review five-starred?1. All the page are filled with words, words, words. The publishers are too stingy to hire a good illustrator to sketch graphics that can bring across the essential points straightaway.2. The author shares many tales but they are fragmentary and told in "by-the-way" tone -- see Children of Lir (pg 188). It gives the impression that Macquire is too stingy to share his stories fully, except for the one on the Titmouse (I can't find the passage in the book again without going through individual pages.)3. This brings me to the 3d point about the stingy nature of the book: the index doesn't include a list of the stories and snippets that are scattered randomly across the pages. I need to use a red pen to underline and highlight the interesting and meaningful stuff to make it easier for my eyes to scan and spot them again.

I have not the Power of Personal Storytelling for more then a year and I recommended it to everyone who want to speak in public and/or tell stories.Did not even realise that I never wrote a review of it.I learned a lot from the book and it helped me greatly.First, to discover my personal stories, to prepare them and create stories from my experience.Our crossroads, are the best part to begin, but that is just a beginning. Then the books gives advices how to shape them to make a story for the public from them.Then, instead of learning them by root, how to "embody" them. Perhaps that is the most powerful tool I learned from the book, how to imagine the stepping stones and become flexible.It did help a lot in my storytelling, this last year!And now, as I begun to study the book for the third time, I still discover new techniques and ideas and tips to use from it!Recommend it for all new, as I was a year and half ago, and all experienced, as I begin to become now. It will help your storytelling and enrich your public speaking.

This book is an excellent tool for any storyteller or would be storyteller. It leaves no stone unturned. Every type of storytelling is explored and wonderful examples are given, as well as a wealth of quotes from authors and storytellers, and more. It has been my major reference when encouraging others to tell their own personal stories and enrich the lives of their children in the telling process.

This book, The Power of Personal Storytelling is one of the most complete books I've read on the subject. Straight forward guidance. Well written and very useful. If you're looking to tell your story or help others tell their's, this is the book you'll want to invest in.

The writing was so fine. The content was not what I expected and this book provided little help to me

The author has obviously spent his life telling stories. That's good because he sums up what he has learned over the years and makes it easy to understand the steps it takes to be a storyteller. Plus, its full of his antidotes. Good book for step by step help to becoming a storyteller.

The book is great. But the quality is like that of a xeroxed book. Not worth the price at all. Was expecting a much better quality according to the price. The 3 stars are for the matter inside the book.

An excellent guide to refreshing your skills (and we all know how to tell stories - some of us have just forgotten). If you're preparing to write a book, teach or help children get to sleep, then it helps you get your mind around how to tell. If you are in management or sales, then combine this with  Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins: How to Find, Develop, and Deliver Stories to Communicate with Power and Impact  for maximum impact. Engage your audience! Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins: How to Find, Develop, and Deliver Stories to Communicate with Power and Impact

Well worth reading and has lots of usefull information.