Probably you’ve heard us talk about the importance of storytelling before 🙂 The topic is close to our heart. We believe that true storytelling is essential in making your corporate communication stand out. In today’s world, competition is fierce, and businesses must differentiate themselves by creating a connection with their target audience that extends beyond just selling a product or service.
By incorporating storytelling into corporate communication and corporate videos, companies can captivate their audiences and create a lasting impression that resonates long after the video has ended. Through true storytelling, businesses can communicate their brand message, values, and vision in a way that inspires and motivates their audience to take action.
This is why we, at 1Camera, believe that understanding the principles of storytelling is fundamental to creating compelling corporate videos that connect with your audience on a deeper level. In this article we have already explained ‘what we mean with true storytelling’, but we want to take it a step further. To help you even better understand the principles, we have compiled our top 6 storytelling books of all time and we will explain why they are so much worth the read.
Whether you are seeking general guidance on storytelling or want to focus on corporate storytelling specifically, these storytelling books offer practical advice and examples to assist you in communicating your message more effectively. We hope this article inspires you to take your storytelling skills to the next level. So, let’s dive in! Here is our top 6 storytelling book:
OUR TOP 6 STORYTELLING BOOKS
Let’s start off with Hollywood’s Storytelling Guru Robert McKee and his book “Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting”. (A book in which 1Camera is mentioned!). It is a classic book that explores the fundamentals of storytelling in a way that is both informative and engaging. McKee provides practical advice for writers and filmmakers on how to craft compelling stories that capture the imagination of their audience.
The book is particularly useful for those interested in corporate storytelling because it breaks down the storytelling process into its essential components, providing insights on character development, plot structure, and dialogue. It also delves into the importance of theme and how it can be used to convey a message effectively.
McKee’s teachings have been used by many successful filmmakers, including Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino, and his insights are applicable to any type of storytelling, including corporate videos. By reading this book, you will gain a deeper understanding of the principles of storytelling and learn how to apply them to your corporate video to make it more engaging and memorable.
“The Anatomy of story” is another Storytelling book that offers very valuable insights into the art of storytelling and screenwriting. However, John Truby approaches the subject in a slightly different way compared to McKee. “Story” is more focused on the technical aspects of screenwriting, while “The Anatomy of Story” offers a more comprehensive guide to creating and understanding stories.
“The Anatomy of Story” by John Truby takes a holistic approach to storytelling. It presents a comprehensive framework for creating stories, covering everything from character and plot to theme and symbolism. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context in which stories are created.
One of the things we like about the book is that it offers specific examples from popular films and literature, showing how the principles of storytelling can be applied to real-world examples. This makes the book very accessible and easy to understand.
This book explains storytelling by focusing on mythology and exploring the common themes and archetypes found in myths and legends from different cultures around the world.
Campbell argues that all hero stories follow a universal pattern, which he calls the “monomyth” or the hero’s journey. This journey consists of three main stages: departure, initiation, and return. During the departure stage, the hero is called to adventure and leaves their ordinary world behind. In the initiation stage, the hero faces a series of trials and challenges, which ultimately lead to a transformation or revelation. Finally, in the return stage, the hero returns to the ordinary world with newfound knowledge or a gift to share.
Throughout the book, Campbell draws on examples from a wide range of mythological and literary traditions, including ancient Greek, Hindu, and Native American stories, as well as works by authors such as James Joyce and J.R.R. Tolkien. He argues that these stories offer a glimpse into the deepest aspects of the human psyche, and that by understanding and embracing the hero’s journey, we can find meaning and purpose in our own lives.
“Made to Stick” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath is a book about how to make ideas memorable and “sticky” by using certain communication strategies. One of the key strategies they discuss in the book is the power of storytelling.
The authors argue that storytelling is a powerful way to make ideas stick because it taps into people’s emotions and helps them connect with the message on a deeper level. They provide several examples of successful stories, such as the “Jared” story from Subway’s advertising campaign and the story of the “Kidney Heist” urban legend, to illustrate how effective storytelling can be in communicating ideas and making them memorable.
In the book, the authors also outline a framework for effective storytelling, which they call the “SUCCES” model. This model includes six key elements that can make a story more memorable and effective: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotions, and a story that is told in a way that is “sticky” (i.e., memorable and compelling).
Overall, “Made to Stick” demonstrates the importance of storytelling as a communication tool and provides practical advice for how to use storytelling to make ideas stick in people’s minds.
This book emphasizes the importance of storytelling in shaping our personal and professional lives. The author argues that we all have a “core story” that defines our identity and influences our behavior, and that by understanding and rewriting this story, we can create positive change and achieve greater success.
The book offers a variety of exercises and tools to help readers identify their core story and challenge limiting beliefs and negative patterns. It also explores the role of storytelling in leadership, teamwork, and marketing, showing how businesses and organizations can use compelling narratives to inspire and motivate employees and customers.
Loehr draws on his experience as a performance psychologist and consultant to top athletes and executives to offer practical insights and real-world examples. He emphasizes the power of positive self-talk, visualization, and deliberate practice in transforming our stories and achieving our goals.
Overall, “The Power of Story” offers a compelling argument for the importance of storytelling in personal and professional growth, and provides practical guidance for anyone seeking to rewrite their own story and achieve greater success and fulfillment.
In this book Peter Guber explores the power of storytelling in the business world. The author draws on his experience as a successful film producer and studio executive to explain how compelling stories can help individuals and companies connect with their audience, persuade them to take action, and ultimately succeed in their goals.
Using real-life examples from business, entertainment, and sports, Guber demonstrates how effective storytelling can help build relationships, inspire loyalty, and create lasting impact. If you want to learn how to leverage the power of storytelling in your business or personal life, this book is a must-read. The practical advice, engaging stories, and insightful analysis make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and achieve greater success.
Conclusion
We hope that this list of our top 6 storytelling books will inspire you to take your storytelling skills to the next level. If you need help with your next corporate storytelling video, we at 1Camera would be happy to help. Our expertise lies in creating compelling and effective corporate videos that connect with your audience and leave a lasting impression. Enjoy reading the storytelling books!
