Tell Me a Story : The Life-Shaping Power of Our Stories

This book explores the story-shaped nature of our lives. Each of us is the product of all the stories we have ever heard - and of many of which we are unaware. These stories shape how we see ourselves, the world, and our place in it. The first great storytellers in our lives are home, school, popular culture, and, perhaps, church. Knowing and embracing healthy stories are crucial to living rightly and well. This book investigates the relationship between stories and meaning in life, the difference between character and personality, the ability of story to make connections between things, the power of story to bring about a desired future, how stories create community and a sense of belonging, and how broken stories can be healed. The book is rooted in psychological, literary, and theological research into the nature of story, but is written in a personal, engaging voice. It includes a series of questions designed to help readers identify the important stories in their own lives.