Book Review: “The Storytellers’ Secret by Carmine Gallo”
I recently borrowed this book from my library just by reading what the cover said: The Storytellers Secret by Carmine Gallo. I have always been drawn to the idea of including storytelling in my everyday scheme of work whether it is content creation, delivering a presentation at work or the way I interact with my friends and family.
I absolutely love a non-fiction book that conveys a strong message through real stories. This is exactly why I picked this book. It features 50 visionaries who have mastered the art of storytelling. The author gives instances of powerful personalities from different fields like business, entertainment, politics. The chapters include snippets of how these individuals used their ability to tell compelling stories and achieved their dreams.
The book has been very interestingly divided into 3 parts:
1. The featured storyteller (Warren Buffet, Richard Branson, Gary Vaynerchuck etc.)
2. A complete guide on how to apply the tools
3. And the storytellers’ secret
Each chapter in the book begins with a story of a visionary followed by a section that focuses on the tools used by the storyteller to create impact. The chapter ends with the “Storyteller’s secret” that recaps the core lesson of the chapter.
A little peak to one of the chapters that really moved me:
Mark Burnett left the UK to come to Los Angeles at the age of 22 with only $200 in his pockets. To make ends meet, he hung t-shirts on fences in Venice beach and sold them. After working for two years as a nanny and then as a sidewalk T-shirt salesman, Burnett would go on to create and produce such blockbuster TV hits as “Survivor,” “The Apprentice,” “Shark Tank” and “The Voice.” Burnett’s storyteller secret: the audacity and optimism that comes from supreme self-confidence.
The author highlights one of the basics of storytelling: The Rule of Three. It says use groups of three whenever possible. The best speakers divide their key points into categories of three. For example: Get, set, go; 3 musketeers, Hip, Hip, Hurray! Does it ring a bell? The basic three-act structure of storytelling made complete sense to me when I read about how these leaders mastered it in their communication skills.
The book doesn’t simply end with chapters. The author offers a valuable and succinct manual at the end of the book. The manual is built like a template for effective storytelling that readers can pursue in their own lives. This template is designed very creatively and is inspired by the techniques of the world’s most powerful leaders from different fields. I think this by far was the biggest takeaway from the book. I think more non-fiction books should offer a tangible handbook template at the end of their books.
The Storyteller’s Secret is a powerful reminder that stories work wonders. Look no further and give this book a read if you are looking for inspiration for conveying your ideas, products, and services better.