Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Storyworthy summary
Matthew Dicks
Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling
18 mins
Brief summary
'Storyworthy' by Matthew Dicks is a guidebook on how to craft and tell engaging stories. The author shares his personal experiences, tips and exercises that can turn any story into a captivating tale that resonates with the audience.
Table of Contents
Storyworthy
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Great stories contain an element of change and cast the storyteller as the protagonist.
The author teaches people from all walks of life how to tell stories about themselves and their experiences. From sales executives hoping to entrance potential clients to grandfathers wanting to engage with their grandchildren, the author believes storytelling helps everyone be a better communicator.
Importantly, there are some non-negotiable rules to follow if you want to be an engaging storyteller.
Firstly, your story shouldn’t just consist of a succession of extraordinary events – it should reflect some type of change happening to someone or something over a period of time.
Don’t worry, though, because this change may be very small, and it also doesn’t need to reflect personal improvement. But some sort of change must occur in your story. Just consider the worst movies you’ve ever seen – even these reflect certain character changes during the action.
Significantly, stories that fail to involve change over the narrative are simply anecdotes and include vacation-related stories, drinking stories and various other one-note romps. Anecdotes merely recount harrowing, heartfelt or funny moments that may have been extraordinary but, nonetheless, do not leave a permanent mark on who we are. Unfortunately, without an aspect of change, you can’t expect your listeners to feel any sort of deeper connection with you after you’ve finished, or to change their opinions about something important on the basis of what you’ve told them.
You should also ensure that the stories you tell cast you as the protagonist. Your audience wants to hear about something that happened to you, rather than to your best friend.
Why?
Importantly, there is something intrinsically vulnerable, gritty and immediate about hearing the story of the person standing right in front of you. Telling your story requires a lot more courage than telling someone else’s. It also involves hard truths and authenticity – all things that your audience will appreciate.
Crucially, this is not to say that you can’t tell another person’s story; you just need to tell it from your perspective. For instance, through his work with an organization called Voices of Hope, the author taught Holocaust survivors’ children how to tell the stories of their parents. Importantly, they learned how to structure their stories so that the narrative was grounded in their lives while also dipping into the past to include their parents’ experiences. Thus, their stories became engaging – instead of sounding only like historical lessons from the past, they revolved around how their parents’ experiences have altered their own lives as well.
Want to see all full key ideas from Storyworthy?
Key ideas in Storyworthy
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Storyworthy about?
Storyworthy (2018) explains how to craft a story for maximum impact. From intriguing beginnings to satisfying endings and everything in between, these blinks provide simple and effective tips and techniques for engaging your audience and bringing entertainment, authenticity and immediacy to your storytelling.
Storyworthy Review
Storyworthy (2020) by Matthew Dicks is a book that takes you on a journey of the power of storytelling and shows you why it's worth the read. Here's what makes this book special:
- It provides insightful techniques and strategies to help you craft your own compelling stories, making it a valuable resource for aspiring storytellers.
- With its blend of personal anecdotes, humor, and practical advice, the book keeps you engaged and entertained, ensuring you won't get bored along the way.
- The book's emphasis on the transformative power of storytelling and its impact on our relationships and personal growth make it a unique and worthwhile read.
Best quote from Storyworthy
Dont get hung up on the big moments, the unbelievable circumstances, or the hilarious details. Seek out the moments when you felt your heart move.
—Matthew Dicks
Who should read Storyworthy?
- Anyone wanting to improve their storytelling skills.
- People looking to get better at public speaking.
- Shy wallflowers wanting to brush up on their communication skills.
Categories with Storyworthy
Book summaries like Storyworthy
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
31 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Storyworthy FAQs
What is the main message of Storyworthy?
The main message of Storyworthy is the power of storytelling in connecting with others and creating memorable experiences.
How long does it take to read Storyworthy?
The reading time for Storyworthy varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Storyworthy a good book? Is it worth reading?
Storyworthy is worth reading because it teaches valuable storytelling techniques that can enhance communication and make experiences more enjoyable.
Who is the author of Storyworthy?
The author of Storyworthy is Matthew Dicks.
What to read after Storyworthy?
If you're wondering what to read next after Storyworthy, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Story Factor by Annette Simmons
- The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr
- Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling by Jonathan Shapiro
- Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
- Stories for Work by Gabrielle Dolan
- The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall
- On Writing Well by William Zinsser
- Lead with a Story by Paul Smith
- Talk Triggers by Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin
- Mindset by Carol Dweck