The Story of Stories The Million-Year History of a Uniquely Human Art

"Imagine a vast cabinet of curiosities, and everywhere you look is another fascinating, mesmerizing objet. Welcome to Kevin Ashton's The Story of Stories, traversing the history of humankind to tell the story of our need to communicate, pausing to investigate, among other things, cave paintings of pigs, the invention and reinvention of the printing press, the genius and madness of Isaac Newton, and the promises and threats-lots of threats-of the AI era. With charming erudition, Ashton celebrates our species's resourcefulness. Page by page, I was intrigued and enthralled." - Benjamin Dreyer, New York Times bestselling author of Dreyer's English

"Kevin Ashton shows that stories aren't entertainment. They're the operating system of civilization. By connecting cave walls, printing presses, and algorithms into one riveting thread, he reveals how every new tool rewrites what we believe and who we become. This astonishing work of history will change how you see the screen in your pocket and how you hear the story in your head." - Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret and Drive

"A riveting exploration of how tools have transformed the stories we tell-and who we become. Kevin Ashton opens our eyes to the hidden past, present, and future of narratives." - Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast Re:Thinking

"Ultimately, this is both an explanation and defense of what it means to be human. We need both more than ever. Of particular note is Ashton's undramatic but strident take on what he calls 'unstoried newness.' With dozens of exhaustively researched examples, he persuasively redirects our fearfulness of new technologies to a world where we no longer have the power nor ability to tell stories about ourselves. Chilling and empowering." - Maggie Stiefvater, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Listeners

"Why is The Story of Stories such an incredibly compelling book? Maybe because it has all the ingredients of great stories: It has fascinating characters (ranging from René Magritte to the Buddha to the Very Hungry Caterpillar). And twists and turns (you'll find surprising revelations about everything from the metaverse to the Darwinian value of shame). And emotional resonance (this book evoked in me awe, joy, and fear, to name but a few). As technology ushers in wild new opportunities and dangers for our story-shaped brains, it's more important than ever to understand this defining feature of human thought. I relished this book from beginning to end." - A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically and The Year of Living Constitutionally

"An ambitious celebration of storytelling." - Kirkus Reviews

"Ashton (How To Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery) has written an epic history of storytelling that is bursting with stories. Readers interested in the many manifestations of storytelling in human history will savor Ashton's encyclopedic overview, which deserves a home in all public and academic libraries." - Library Journal

"[A] commanding work of storytelling. Vitally important, The Story of Stories lays out the dangers that we face if we fail as critical thinkers. Beautifully written and engaging on every page, The Story of Stories issues a call to action that is nothing short of transformative." - BookPage (Starred Review)

"Remarkable individuals and unanticipated consequences fuel this well-told story about stories that are now more plentiful, accessible, and craved than ever before even as book bans and deliberate misinformation are, sadly, on the rise."

- Booklist