Live data from Hacker News

Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

wsj.com

41–50 of 68 posts

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#41
post #31

I fully agree that storytelling is an important skill, but boy howdy is that experiment ridiculous. Every time I read about one of these ridiculous studies I wish someone would start an organization for reproducing and debunking bad studies.

The Open Science Framework has Reproducibility Projects for a number of different fields. Like this one for Psychology: https://osf.io/ezcuj/wiki/home/ and are generally trying to make science more open and reproducible.

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#42
post #7

So how does one become a good storyteller? Obviously it takes experience but is there a book that anyone can recommend to get an edge?

I would suggest joining a Toastmasters International club. There are TM clubs literally all over the planet and there are probably several in your area (LA, I am sure, has many).

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#43
post #7

So how does one become a good storyteller? Obviously it takes experience but is there a book that anyone can recommend to get an edge?

I'd recommend Impro by Keith Johnstone. He also has a sequel of sorts called Impro for Storytellers but having read both I'd say go with Impro. It's actually a really interesting read in our modern age of status update storytelling. It deals directly with the art of "status play" as the key to being amusing. It's amazing how much of making people laugh and enjoy your company comes down to managing your display of sta…

Is there much more to "diminishing status" than self-deprecation?

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#44
post #7

So how does one become a good storyteller? Obviously it takes experience but is there a book that anyone can recommend to get an edge?

I would suggest joining a Toastmasters International club. There are TM clubs literally all over the planet and there are probably several in your area (LA, I am sure, has many).

The one I went to once, people were talking but I didn't feel they were genuine.

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#45
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd recommend Impro by Keith Johnstone. He also has a sequel of sorts called Impro for Storytellers but having read both I'd say go with Impro. It's actually a really interesting read in our modern age of status update storytelling. It deals directly with the art of "status play" as the key to being amusing. It's amazing how much of making people laugh and enjoy your company comes down to managing your display of sta…

Is there much more to "diminishing status" than self-deprecation?

The two have very little to do with eachother. It's mostly about mannerisms / body language, largely w.r.t. interactions.

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#46
post #7

So how does one become a good storyteller? Obviously it takes experience but is there a book that anyone can recommend to get an edge?

I would suggest joining a Toastmasters International club. There are TM clubs literally all over the planet and there are probably several in your area (LA, I am sure, has many).

Can I ask where on the personality spectrum you fall? I am quite introverted, but also in a leadership position where, due to being placed in positions of increasing responsibility, have to talk in front of people semi-regularly. I've given some thought to joining TM for practice controlling nerves before speaking, do you have personal experience with the group?

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would suggest joining a Toastmasters International club. There are TM clubs literally all over the planet and there are probably several in your area (LA, I am sure, has many).

Can I ask where on the personality spectrum you fall? I am quite introverted, but also in a leadership position where, due to being placed in positions of increasing responsibility, have to talk in front of people semi-regularly. I've given some thought to joining TM for practice controlling nerves before speaking, do you have personal experience with the group?

I am a complete introvert and was more fearful of public speaking than probably anyone you know. That's why I joined toastmasters which was supremely challenging at first, but through repeated desensitization (i.e., practice) you become less fearful. Public speaking is still not my favorite thing, but at least it is not limiting my personal and professional growth. I can now give talks at conferences without having a complete panic attack. There are other benefits too like practicing your extemporaneous speaking skills (table topics for you TMs out there) such that you sound cogent even when someone catches you off guard.

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#48
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would suggest joining a Toastmasters International club. There are TM clubs literally all over the planet and there are probably several in your area (LA, I am sure, has many).

The one I went to once, people were talking but I didn't feel they were genuine.

As they say at TMs, every club is different and you have to check out a few before finding one you like.

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#49
post #7

So how does one become a good storyteller? Obviously it takes experience but is there a book that anyone can recommend to get an edge?

Storytelling is learned as a child, think about it - every day child comes home and tells mummy all about their day. In this circumstance mummy can say 'very good, now play over there!' or they can ask questions about the story, e.g. ask for details to be explained or parts told again. It is this storytelling ability learned as a child rather than anything that can be done as an adult. You could learn and master ever…

Wow, what an insightful post! What are some of these "big books" you alluded to?

Re: Good Storytellers Are Happier in Life and in Love

#50
post #32

You know its going to be pure garbage when the title is 'Doing X makes you happy!! '. Fuck these studies that can never be reproduced even under the exact circumstances. These charlatans continue to be allocated funds instead of going to jail; despite being exposed as frauds countless times. Just because reading stuff like this gives us good vibes doesn't mean we should continue wasting money on these "studies". Time…

I think the article answered that, oddly enough - the liars may not have done any actual science, but they told a great story. Apparently that's enough!

It may have made them happier in life and in love, but what about the rest of us? Does it make you happy to see funds wasted on "research" like this?
Post reply on HN