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The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story Paperback – January 1, 2014
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Can you captivate an audience with your story?
Many of us would love to hold the attention of a crowd, a classroom, or just a group of our friends by telling them a great story. We have felt the pressure of a public presentation or the disappointment of telling a story that others ignore. We are ready to be heard, ready to captivate.
In The Art of Storytelling, John Walsh takes us through the steps to presenting a compelling story—outlining the strategies that helped him move from stutterer to storyteller. This book will help any person with a story to share by walking you through all aspects of presentation . . . from what to do with your hands as you speak all the way to crafting a killer ending.
Whether you’re telling bedtime stories to your children or Bible stories to a congregation, this book will take your storytelling to a new level.
- Print length160 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMoody Publishers
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2014
- Dimensions5.25 x 0.41 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100802411339
- ISBN-13978-0802411334
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Wonderful! Everyone has the opportunity to share stories – some of us do a great job and others need a boost. The Art of Storytelling breaks down the steps necessary to tell a wonderful story! Mr. Walsh writes in a soft conversational tone that offers the reader the opportunity to learn without the fear of failure. A must read for everyone wanting to tell their story a little better. This would be a great gift for seminarians and anyone in the communications field. Enjoy! NetGalley and Moody Publishers provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review by Lynda Smock, October 10, 2013, Goodreads
What I liked about this book was that story-telling wasn't restricted to just kids, it's presented as a way of sharing that can work for everyone. And while the first application for story-telling that came to mind was for sermons, this book also shows that it's possible to use it in a classroom setting.
If you're looking for a book that will help you in Children's ministry or in any ministry that requires public speaking, you should definitely pick up this book. 4 out of 5 stars.
Review by Eustacia Tan, October 20, 2013, Net Galley
People of all ages enjoy listening to a good story told. Stories are often a more effective means of conveying instruction and truths than didactic, analytical teaching. John D. Walsh, in The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story gives readers, whether new to the art or are already experienced public speakers, tips and tools for improving their craft. Through numerous exercises and activities, the reader is encouraged to participate and practice honing skills that are introduced in each chapter.
John wants stories to become the point of telling stories. Too often in modern public speaking, stories are relegated to "spice up" sermons and presentations and to illustrate some points in them. The modern mindset has been conditioned to accept that stories are for children (and must have a stated application or moral), that "real teaching" happens in didactic lectures. John discusses how people relate to and recall stories far better than didactic teaching - lectures and sermons with "the big idea" or "here are three points."
The book itself is divided into three sections. Part one, the longest section, teaches the aspiring storyteller fourteen steps in preparing to tell a story. John further subdivides these steps into ten essential steps toward telling a good story, and four optional steps that may be taken to raise a good story to a great one.
This book is written by a Christian with the Christian audience in mind, but it can be valuable to anyone who speaks to an audience, whether to one or a million or anywhere in-between. Particularly, sections one and two are applicable to all public storytelling engagements. Even the third section can be valuable as case studies on how to turn written materials that may not initially strike the reader as a story, into an engaging story that can be told to an audience.
I highly recommend this book for all public speakers, but especially for pastors and church teaching staff. Rating 5 of 5 stars.
Review Mark Kubo, Net Galley, October 21, 2013
In The Art of Storytelling, John Walsh clearly demonstrates that storytelling is one of the most effective ways to connect with people's hearts and minds.
Walsh's valuable insights from a lifetime of storytelling are applicable to parents (who want to capture their children's imaginations), business men (who want to impart their vision to clients and associates), teachers (who want students to think on their own), public speakers (who want to improve their skills), actors and writers (who want their characters to speak volumes - even without words), and anyone who wants to improve their personal conversation skills.
Walsh packs much from his storytelling workshops into this clear, easy to read guide.
The author makes elusive communication concepts simple to understand, and he gives helpful advice for practical questions like - What do you with your hands while you speak? and How do I handle nervousness?
Towards the end of the book, Walsh talks about BibleTelling - using storytelling techniques to communicate Bible stories. In this section, Walsh explains why Bible teachers should not just give the point of the story away (which teachers are frequently tempted to do). Instead, Walsh shows teachers how to harness the power of storytelling to draw people in and get them to think on their own. As a result, life-changing connections are made!
Review by David Rainey, Net Galley, October 22, 2013
This book is not just a book about the techniques and methods of story telling. It is also a personal odyssey of the author's learning path toward great story-telling. He was inspired by people who spoke well. He was encouraged to pursue the path of public speaking by people who believed in him. He was willing to be trained, and to learn how to make stories come alive not just for himself but for the audience. The two pieces of advice Walsh provides in this book is worth remembering. Learn it well. Then teach it well. I am full of praise for this very powerful book of ideas that not only gives tips of how to craft and to present stories effectively, it inspires even the meekest persons or untrained individual to desire to give storytelling a shot!
I recommend this book highly for all speakers and speakers to be. Rating: 5 stars of 5.
Review by Conrad Yap, Net Galley, November 9, 2013
There seems much disagreement on if this is a good or bad book based on Biblical examples. Don't miss the point! People learn with stories, they remember with stories! Whether this is Biblical stories, a presentation at a seminar or reading to kids - don't we want them to remember? If not it's just a waste of time! And I don't like wasting time.
In full disclosure, I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review. And honestly, there's a lot of good information here, packed in a concise but complete book chock full of tips from warming up your voice before hand to dealing with the umm..uh...well... stammers. He gives solutions for nerves, and emphasizes practicing.
This is a good book with a lot of great info. If you get stalled because the examples he uses are "religious" you're missing a lot of good content that works just as well in a business presentation. Rating 5 out of 5 stars.
Review by Jan Hoadley, Net Galley 11/21/13
The Art Of Storytelling will help you if you need to be able to tell a better story, or give a speech. Whether you are asked to tell a Story at Church, or teach a class. The Art of Story Telling could benefit you.
John Walsh breaks this book up into short easy to read chapters, giving you techniques for Storytelling, in your Bible Class, Sunday School or anywhere els you may need to tell a story. I wish I had this book when I worked with Children, because as short as it is, it is full with wonderful gyms, that can help you for years to come.
If you want to be able to tell a better story when you are asked to speak, or if you are a Sunday School Teacher who wants to better illustrate a lesson I would definitely reccommend The Art of Story Telling. Rating 5 out of 5 stars.
Review by Michelle Kidwell, Net Galley 11/21/13
This may be the most fun book I’ve read this year. As a writer, reader, and story lover, the title The Art of Storytelling grabbed me. Storytelling sometimes seems mysterious and out of reach. Storytellers are people from the past. You hear about ancient stories like Homer’s The Illiad and The Odyssey being passed down orally by storytellers. We’ve lost that sort of reverence for the storyteller in American (at least in my estimation).
I will admit I was bored with the first chapter. My two questions with the first chapter were: first, do we really learn all that differently from the past? Is there such a neat division between the previous generation and this current generation? I agree storytelling is undervalued, but I’m not sure it’s because we started learning differently. It would be interesting to see if there’s studies to back the claim up. Also, I’m not sure there’s such a sharp distinction between how men and women learn. I know some women who learn better with hard facts and some men that do or some that prefer stories and visa versa. These were minor parts of the book. Once he got into the techniques, games, and tips the book took off.
Review by Mathew Sims, Net Galley 12/5/13
Written by a person who started out as a stutterer, John Walsh is a Christian who has the Christian audience in mind, but his book can be valuable to anyone who stands in front of audiences of 5 people or 1,000 people. Learn it well, then teach it well. If you’ve been looking for a book like this, and you’d love to work with the exercises at the end of the sections, then you should look into getting this book.
Review by Spencer Robinson, Net Galley 12/27/13
John Walsh does a great job of taking you through the steps and art of story telling. He does so in a way that is interesting and engaging. This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to be a better, interesting and more engaging speaker and story teller. 4 out of 5 star rating.
Review by Darian Burns, Net Galley 1/17/14
Story telling is imperative when speaking to an audience. It is a great tool for keeping an audience engaged, and for helping a speaker to be relational and real with the audience--even Jesus did it to help explain things! However, it doesn't come naturally to everyone. This book takes the guesswork out of it and lays out the groundwork in an easy to understand way, explaining how to tell a story, and why it's so important. 5 out of 5 stars.
Review by Crystal Brothers, Net Galley 1/19/14
If this book were food, it would be a melt in your mouth roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered beans, hot rolls dripping with butter and best of all, a thick slice of warm apple pie with homemade vanilla ice cream.
It not only encourages and teaches a person to tell stories, but it provides the tools and ideas necessary to equip them. Best of all (the apple pie and ice cream), it tells us how to tell Bible Stories and why they are so effective. I both savored and devoured this book. I hope you will enjoy it too! Rating 5 out of 5 stars.
Review by Jael Roy, Net Galley 1/20/14
Are you a story-teller? I know, that is a very open question but guess what? If you are breathing, you are telling stories. Some people might not think they are story tellers but they are. If you have ever told a story to more than yourself, you’re a story-teller. When I think of story tellers I don’t typically think of myself. I think of men like Max Lucado. I once heard him teach and I could have listened for hours. Time flew by so fast and when he was done I thought it could have gone longer. I consider Max Lucado a master story-teller. In John Walsh’s book, “The Art of Story Telling,” he walks you through step-by-step how to captivate your audience, whether it’s a classroom, a church, or a group of friends.
I recently recommended this book to a friend of mine that is a Bible teacher for a large women’s Bible study and she looked at me like I was an idiot but once I read off some of the high points from my notes (yes, I take notes when I read), she agreed it might be w
From the Back Cover
Can you captivate an audience with your story?
Many of us would love to hold the attention of a crowd, a classroom, or just a group of our friends by telling them a great story. We have felt the pressure of a public presentation or the disappointment of telling a story that others ignore. We are ready to be heard, ready to captivate.
In The Art of Storytelling, John Walsh takes us through the steps to presenting a compelling story—outlining the strategies that helped him move from stutterer to storyteller. This book will help any person with a story to share by walking you through all aspects of presentation . . . from what to do with your hands as you speak all the way to crafting a killer ending.
Whether you’re telling bedtime stories to your children or Bible stories to a congregation, this book will take your storytelling to a new level.
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The Art of Storytelling
Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story
By John Walsh, Pam PughMoody Publishers
Copyright © 2014 John WalshAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8024-1133-4
Contents
A Personal Word,Section One: STEPS TO CRAFTING A CAPTIVATING STORY,
1: A New World and Its Story,
2: "Where Do You Find Your Stories?",
3: Let Them Walk in Your Shoes,
4: Make It Unforgettable,
5: Know When to Ramble,
6: The Finishing Touches,
7: The Last Ingredient,
Section Two: TOOLS FOR PRESENTING A CAPTIVATING STORY,
8: You Have to See It,
9: Committing Your Body,
10: Talking; Not Talking,
11: Turning Weakness into Strength,
Bonus Section: BIBLETELLING,
12: Why Storying?,
13: The BibleTelling Triangle,
14: Experiencing BibleTelling,
Excerpt from Tell Me a Story,
CHAPTER 1
A NEW WORLD AND ITS STORY
It was a drizzly Sunday morning and our daughter Christie was getting ready for church. Her husband, Michael, needed to stay home and take care of their two sons who were sick. He helped Christie get the two girls into the car, kissed them all goodbye, and waved as they drove off.
When the trio arrived at church, Christie delivered Amelia to the nursery and escorted Laura to children's church. She planted herself in the auditorium, knowing she could enjoy the pastor's sermon without being distracted with restless children.
Christie enjoyed the way her pastor preached with love and compassion. It was obvious he put a lot of preparation into his sermons, so she always took notes.
When the service ended, she gathered the two girls and headed home where the men of the family were waiting. Once inside the house, Michael asked how the service was.
"Great!" She then told him about the choir rehearsal after the service, and how she practiced her solo in preparation for the next Sunday.
"What was the sermon about?"
"Oh, um ... well ... it was really good." She tried to recall some of the details of the sermon, but couldn't remember a thing. She concluded that all the activity after the service caused her memory to lapse. Finally, she shuffled through her Bible and found the notes she had taken.
"Let's see ..." her voice trailing off as she skimmed her notes. "Ah, yes. That's right. He's continuing his series through the gospel of Luke. It was really good."
From behind her, Laura said, "I remember what Mr. Gorman spoke about in children's church." With that, the child went into enthusiastic detail about all her teacher had taught in the children's service. Not only did she remember the entire lesson, she was able to relate it in a way that made her parents wish they had been able to hear such an exciting presentation.
Did my granddaughter remember the sermon because she is younger and has a better memory? Not at all. While preparing his lesson, Mr. Gorman was aware of how his audience receives and remembers information.
What Mr. Gorman did should be done whenever a presentation is prepared for any group, including adults. There are two types of adults who respond especially well to stories. They are (1) story thinkers and (2) men. Knowing how these two groups receive and remember information will help you to adapt your presentation with them in mind.
ADAPTING PRESENTATIONS FOR STORY THINKERS
Our culture has gone through a change that has altered our society. Many Christian ministries are becoming aware of it, but don't know how to respond. Other ministries have labeled it ungodly, so they ignore it and continue on as if nothing had changed.
This cultural change is neither godly or ungodly. It is simply the difference in how people receive information and the way they remember information. People of past generations were considered analytical thinkers. For them, everything is linear. They think in facts and figures, and the best way to communicate to them is through an outline.
If speakers want analytical thinkers to remember information for any length of time, they create points and put them in a creative order. For instance, they can have all the words of the outline start with the same letter. Better yet, the first letter of all the points can spell out a word. They don't feel the need to include a story, unless it reinforces the outline. Stories are props that illustrate the points, so they are no longer called stories. They are called illustrations.
This was excellent preparation for past generations, but everything has now changed. Most people today receive information best if it is given to them in the form of stories. They are not linear thinkers but are what I call story thinkers.
These people are some of the most creative, productive citizens of our society. They want the information, and they want it straight in a way that holds their interest. You still need a theme and even an outline; just don't let them know you have it. They don't want your clever tricks and ingenious alliterations. Stories are the best way to reach this new breed of thinker.
TIME TO ADJUST
I was invited to a school several years ago to teach creative writing to their students. The principal was concerned about my going into one particular fourth grade class. The teacher had tried everything but was frustrated. The principal told me, "The class is full of ADHD students. You are going to have problems there, so I better go with you in case you need my help."
He sat in the back as I taught the class. He was amazed. I was using storytelling to teach the students to create, write, and rewrite. He watched as these students listened in rapt attention. He was astonished at how I kept the room in a constant state of chaos. Yet every student was learning and creating. They walked around the room, sat on the floor, talked to one another, participated in fun activities, and created fantastic compositions. This classroom was full of story-thinking students, and I was successful because I adjusted to their way of thinking. It may have seemed chaotic to an outsider, but it was organized and completely under my control.
I teach adult Bible studies the same way, with the same results. People are encouraged to move around, talk to one another, express ideas, and be creative. No one knows exactly what to expect when they walk into class, but they know it is going to be fun and they will learn the Scriptures. Members of the class tell me they understand their Bible better and they are growing in their walk with God.
We have taken this process into prisons and have watched it change lives. Inmates respond enthusiastically, and soon their entire worldview is changed. It is hard to maintain their reputation as a troublemaker when they are out in the yard telling Bible stories. Some wardens have told us it changes not only the prisoners but also the atmosphere of the entire prison. It is exciting when inmates learn this method and use it to teach the Bible to others.
THE SCRIPTURES CONTAIN BOTH
Jesus stood before Galileans and looked into their faces. He had a message and wanted them to listen and remember what He said. He told them stories. It is said Jesus was the master teacher because of His use of stories. No, He was the master teacher because He knew His audience and adapted His message to their way of thinking.
Paul stood before Greeks and looked into their faces. He had a message and wanted them to listen and remember what he said. He used analytical reasoning to explain the gospel. He knew his audience and adapted his presentation.
Later, when Paul went to Jerusalem, he neglected to adapt his presentation for the Jewish audience; instead he used the analytical method that worked so well with his Gentile audience. But the people standing before him were unmoved by his message. Only the Romans listened to him.
Don't make this mistake. Know your audience! Always present your message in a way that is consistent with how they think.
The Bible reflects the different ways people receive and remember information. The various writers of Scripture wrote to either story thinkers or analytical thinkers. The Gospels are written in stories. To this day, they appeal to the story thinkers in our society. The Epistles are analytical and appeal to that type of thinker. Both need to be read and studied, but the appeal is different.
STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES
It is no longer acceptable to add an illustration near the end of a lesson, sermon, or business presentation. The techniques you will find in this book will give you the ability to skillfully adjust your message so you can talk the language of the people around you. Today your audience thinks in stories, they remember stories, and they will listen if you tell stories.
A few years ago, a woman told me she was scheduled to speak to a particular organization, but was allowed only seven minutes to make her presentation. "How can I give my three important points and still have time to tell a story?"
She was still thinking "linear" and wanted to add an illustration to her points. I showed her how to reverse that thinking. She was then able to create a seven-minute story that contained all three concepts she wanted to communicate. The key was to emphasize the story and not the points. I told her, "If you are brave enough to do this, your talk will be the most dramatic seven minutes of the day, and the audience will never forget it."
ADAPTING YOUR PRESENTATION FOR MEN AND WOMEN
Men and women generally receive information differently. Men tend to think in pictures, while women tend to think in words.
I was in a meeting of businesspeople attended mostly by men. A woman came to talk about her business and how it related to our community. She spent the entire time telling us facts. She was giving us words not pictures. The men in the room might have stayed at the meeting out of courtesy, but every one of them left the room mentally. Each one was thinking about things unrelated to what she was talking about.
I knew she had fantastic stories about her business that would have completely captivated this group, but she just wasn't using them. Since we were friends, I waited a few days and then made an appointment with her. I asked how she felt the meeting went. She knew it had not gone well but was puzzled as to why.
I explained about the different thinking processes of men and women. I led her through a process where she put her points inside relevant stories. We worked on this together until we had created a presentation about herself, her clients, and the impact her business was making. It transformed how she has been received in the business community. She is able to tell all the facts, but they are hidden in interesting stories. Now her audiences pay attention to what she says.
MAKING A PRESENTATION?
In one phrase, state what you hope to accomplish with your presentation.
Give three or four important aspects about the subject matter.
Craft several two-minute stories that illustrate each aspect. The number of stories is determined by the length of your presentation.
Weave these stories together to make a formal presentation.
* Use the instruction in this book to increase how effectively you deliver this presentation.
REACHING LISTENERS WITH STORIES
People approach this book for different reasons. Some want to create stories designed to enhance business presentations or influence clients. Others specialize in children's stories for a Sunday school class or children's church. Perhaps you sense a need to put a new spark into family devotions and capture the hearts of your children. Pastors may be reading this book because they want to become more creative in the way they prepare and present sermons.
Whatever the reason, we are all called to work with both analytical and story thinkers. We are to communicate to both men and women. As you keep reading, you will learn to prepare a story and present it in a way that leaves a lasting impression. You will increase the impact you will have on a wide variety of people, some you may not have been able to reach until now.
EASY—HARD
Connecting with story thinkers is easy compared to communicating with analytical thinkers. It will seem harder if you are already active in public speaking. That is because it is different from how you were trained. Look at it this way. Your training causes you to focus on a generation that is decreasing in numbers.
As you read this book, practice each step, and do the exercises. It will show you how to communicate in a way your audience will hear and remember. Men and boys will listen with a higher level of attention. But more important, you will be able to reach out to a society that is desperate for your message.
Oh, to make things simple, I am going to refer to you as "a storyteller." This doesn't mean I think you are a professional storyteller. It simply means you are one who plans to communicate to our "story-thinking culture" through the use of stories.
Before, people heard you speak. Now they will understand what you are saying.
CHAPTER 2"Where DO YOU FIND YOUR STORIES?"
STEP 1: Select a Story
Sometimes it is difficult to find a story that fits a particular occasion and also fits your personality. This is amazing since the world is full of stories. We have heard them all our lives, and some of them are our favorites. Still, when you need one, it's nowhere to be found. So I am going to simplify the "finding" process for you.
Start with a few folktales. These have been classics down through the years. This may not be the type of stories you want to tell on a regular basis, but you can use them to help become a better storyteller. From there you can move into stories that better fit your purposes.
The best way to find folktales is to talk to your local librarian. Call in advance and say you are developing your storytelling skills. Ask if they can help you find books that contain some old storytelling classics. They love to be asked for recommendations and will no doubt have a stack of books waiting for you when you arrive.
PROCESS FOR CHANGING A STORY
I was once asked to tell a story at our church's Thanksgiving service. My pastor wanted to add a little variety to this traditional service, and it was my job to help him do it. He had three requirements: The story was to be about twenty minutes long, it must have a Thanksgiving theme, and should contain a good Christian message. "Oh, by the way," he added, "try to make it enjoyable."
I had to find a story that would be just right for this occasion. There is a world of possibilities that could be used. So what type of tale should I look for? Here are the criteria I use when I search for a story.
LESS IS BETTER
Start with a small story. It doesn't matter if you are to give a ten-minute presentation or forty-five-minute presentation. It is always best to start with a smaller story. The reasons are simple:
You want to practice adding description to the story, which will make it captivating.
You want to learn how to make the story relate to the specific needs of your listeners, which will make it relevant.
So find a small story. This will give you room to develop it according to your personality and the needs of your listeners. The story will naturally expand to fill the time allotment.
THE RESOURCE OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Even though my Thanksgiving story was for an adult audience, I visited the children's department of my local library. Children's books are the best source for small, well-structured stories, while books written for adults are full of written description designed to entertain readers. This gets in the way of a storyteller.
So I called my favorite children's librarian and said, "Georgianne, do you have any Thanksgiving stories?" Of course she did. She selected several she especially liked and put them aside for me. This saved me an enormous amount of work. If I had searched for a story by myself, I might have gone through a hundred books to find the one I wanted. A librarian is a storyteller's best friend.
A QUALITY STORY
Once I arrived at the library, I looked at the seven books Georgianne had selected. Now it was time to decide which story was the best for the occasion. Each person is different, so you will need to determine what is important to you. I look for two—and only two—qualities:
Does the story resonate with me?
I want my audience to see that I am excited about the story. I can't do this if I don't like it. Besides, once I have developed the story, I may end up telling it many times. It is important that I like the story.
Do I like the ending?
For me, a good ending is a nonnegotiable element. I can adapt the rest of the story to fit the occasion, but good endings are hard to find. Step nine will show you how to craft a good story ending, but it will save you a lot of work if the story already has a good one.
It wasn't long before I found the story I could use for the Thanksgiving service. I crafted it using the fourteen steps in this book, and it turned out to be just what the pastor wanted.
MAKING APPROPRIATE CHANGES
I was asked to tell a cowboy story for a museum of history. I searched and searched, but I couldn't find one that resonated with me. Suddenly, I came across a Japanese story that had a great plot and a wonderful ending. By the time I had finished reworking it, the little family in the story no longer lived in Japan. They lived in western Wyoming in the late 1800s. Jim was trying to get his herd established, and his wife, Helen, was making a home out of a sod-roofed cabin. Their daughter was unaware she was isolated from civilization; instead, she made friends with local natives. Most important, she had a vivid imagination. The story fit the occasion and has delighted many audiences since.
(Continues...)Excerpted from The Art of Storytelling by John Walsh, Pam Pugh. Copyright © 2014 John Walsh. Excerpted by permission of Moody Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- Publisher : Moody Publishers; New edition (January 1, 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 160 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0802411339
- ISBN-13 : 978-0802411334
- Item Weight : 7.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.25 x 0.41 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #77,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #402 in Christian Education (Books)
- #427 in Performing Arts (Books)
- #1,363 in Christian Evangelism (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
John Walsh is an author, speaker, and professional storyteller. He is the founder of BibleTelling, an organization dedicated to using Bible stories for evangelism and discipleship. John is an expert at helping people learn and tell Bible stories. Those involved in BibleTelling travel around the world, speaking at conventions and conducting trainings for missionaries, pastors, teachers, and Christian workers. They go into prisons providing programs that change the atmosphere of the prison. They provide ESL (English as Second Language) programs, and Adult Literacy programs based on Bible stories. BibleTelling has lesson plans for adults, children, and young people. Along with this book, John has authored The Art of Storytelling, a practical guide on how to develop the skill of storytelling; Successful Living, studies in the book of Proverbs; and I’m not a Duck, memories of a few times God interfered with John’s plans.
See more of John's work at www.bibletelling.org and www.btstories.com.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book provides clear direction on storytelling and other genres. They find it easy to read and a great resource for everyone. The book offers practical advice and examples, making it a good follow-up to any book that gets them interested in communicating. Readers appreciate the concise guide with practical steps that are easy to implement. The language quality is well-written and easy to follow, providing confidence for both experienced and novice speakers.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers appreciate the author's storytelling tips. They find the book helpful for beginners and veterans alike. The clear instructions on how to tell stories are a useful reminder for them. While some readers felt the book focused too much on Christian storytelling, others found it a great step-by-step primer for beginner storytellers.
"What an amazing tool for becoming a better storyteller! Truly captivating, inspiring, and easy to follow!..." Read more
"...insightful and practical resource for anyone looking to enhance their storytelling skills...." Read more
"...It's exasperating to non-Christian readers. I tried to return it, but I'd have to pay mail fees and I won't waste more money on this...." Read more
"...that I could about story telling from this great but very humble story teller. Yes, he is a Christian...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and helpful for storytelling. They appreciate the captivating cover and interesting language. The book is a worthwhile read and a great resource for communicating effectively. It also has a wonderful YouTube video series to complement it.
"What an amazing tool for becoming a better storyteller! Truly captivating, inspiring, and easy to follow!..." Read more
"...Nonetheless, it's a valuable read for anyone wanting to captivate their audience with memorable stories." Read more
"A great book teaching how to tell the stories of the Bible, making them interesting as well as factual and exciting...." Read more
"I Loved the book!..." Read more
Customers find the book provides practical advice and examples. They find the steps easy to follow, making it accessible for beginners. The book offers a concise guide with good guidelines that are helpful for anyone looking to enhance their storytelling skills.
"...Truly captivating, inspiring, and easy to follow! It also has a wonderful YouTube video series to go with it!" Read more
"...My wife and I want to work through it together. It's just easier with her own copy, so we've ordered another...." Read more
"...While it offers plenty of useful tips and examples, I wish it delved deeper into advanced storytelling techniques...." Read more
"I really enjoyed the book. It shares very useful and practical ideas that anyone can use to better their storytelling." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and follow. It helps them feel confident in speaking before groups and encourages them to communicate effectively.
"...'s advice is bringing new life to the scriptures and new life to my ability to communicate, period!..." Read more
"...I think that ultimately it will provide good points in communication effectiveness, I'm already seeing the same tips mentioned by Dale Carnegie and..." Read more
"...It is well written and easy to follow." Read more
"This is exactly what I was looking for. Very creative and easy to read" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2020What an amazing tool for becoming a better storyteller! Truly captivating, inspiring, and easy to follow! It also has a wonderful YouTube video series to go with it!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2012Yes, Walsh's book is a real eye-opener! Very cool.
After just completing a couple of the exercises following Walsh's advice is bringing new life to the scriptures and new life to my ability to communicate, period!
My wife and I want to work through it together. It's just easier with her own copy, so we've ordered another.
We're also hoping to empower the kids to communicate instead of vegetate. Definitely better than T.V.!
- Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024It is an insightful and practical resource for anyone looking to enhance their storytelling skills. The book breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-follow steps, making it accessible for beginners. While it offers plenty of useful tips and examples, I wish it delved deeper into advanced storytelling techniques. Nonetheless, it's a valuable read for anyone wanting to captivate their audience with memorable stories.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2012A great book teaching how to tell the stories of the Bible, making them interesting as well as factual and exciting. This is a workshop in "how-to's." It is an opportunity to learn new ways of communicating God's Word to others. I would recommend it for pastors, teachers, and anyone in a place of influencing people to read and heed the Bible for themselves.
He does seem to, at times, embellish the stories a bit more than I am comfortable with. But the idea of practicing the stories and using interesting, exciting language is very good. So often, the stories become just "facts" to learn, rather than stories to "experience." And which, of course, is the most exciting? If one would experience the stories more, one would realize they are stories to be lived out, learned from, and retold to others. I recommend this book very highly.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2014I Loved the book! Perhaps I loved it more than some of these other people because I had the privilege of hearing John Walsh tell stories on more than one occasion. He captivated me and the rest of his audience. I wanted to learn anything and everything that I could about story telling from this great but very humble story teller.
Yes, he is a Christian. Many of the stories that he tells are from the Bible. Others are not. If you read the Bible, you will find out that Jesus, too, told many stories to convey his message to people. I was not offended by anything in this book. I feel that a Christian or non-Christian could learn so much from him concerning the art of story telling.
I read the book, applied what I learned, and believe that I am a better story teller because of it. I have also used this book to help other people become better story tellers.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2015As an Amazon customer since 2001, I have bought many items and barely decide to write a review and/or return products. I'm surprised this book has a 4 stars and I should've paid attention to the negative reviews but the title was promising. HUGE mistake.
I have more than 500 books in my library, more than 1,000 Ebooks and buy more books than what I can "literally" afford. I'm used to read boring history, scientific and psychology books.... But this book is beyond annoying- it's unacceptable-.
The author tells his personal anecdotes as a Christian and forces the reader into his close-minded structure. If you buy this book, be prepared to read how the author complains about his personal fears of public speaking and how he exposes his fears and beliefs from a Christian point of view. It's exasperating to non-Christian readers. I tried to return it, but I'd have to pay mail fees and I won't waste more money on this. Please, unless you're a christian(preferably a fanatic that explains everything from the church's/pastor's/god's perspective), DO NOT buy it.
I don't understand why the author had this book printed; it could have been posted on a journal online... May be on a section called "Christians struggling with public speaking fear" or "how to overcome public speaking fears?(only for Christians)."
- Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2011Yeah, I got suckered in too. Nowhere on the cover does it hint that the book focuses on preaching and spreading the gospel more effectively, which although is not the only benefit of the lesson (as the author is quick to point out) it is clearly the main direction. I haven't finished reading it yet, I just wanted to voice my unexpected surprise at the overtone. I think that ultimately it will provide good points in communication effectiveness, I'm already seeing the same tips mentioned by Dale Carnegie and other interpersonal skill educators.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2024What i wanted
Top reviews from other countries
- CharleeReviewed in Canada on July 3, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Great teaching about story telling
The contents of the book it is really great, but I didn't know it was so religious. Aside from that part the teachings about how to tell a story are great and I learned a lot!
- Abdus MondalReviewed in India on August 16, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book to become an impact-full speaker.
This is the book I was looking for. If you would like to be an impact-full speaker , you must read this book. This book is structured well to assist you to organize the speech, how to structure the speech , so that your audience can retain them after leaving the venue and never forget the core part of your speech.
- Steve BunyanReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Happy.
- Jim GimbelReviewed in Canada on May 26, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars Good..
Good ... not deeply insightful, beyond the first few chapters, for my course use. But worth it for that initial stuff.
- KaushalReviewed in India on June 17, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully penned
Sweet and subtly written, though inside most of the things were common sense yet loved the book in totality for the perception.