Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash

How to explain it through the story

or why Nancy Duarte’s new book might be a disappointment

In September “Data Story” from Nancy Duarte became available for pre-order. Data storytelling book from the guru of slides and presentations!!!

I couldn’t wait.

In December it arrived to me from Amazon. New. With the paper smell of the unread pages. I jumped right into it.

Disappointment was waiting for me at the very first page.

“Facts aren’t as memorable as stories” – says Nancy and explains why – “Stories trigger Broca’s area (language processing) and Wernicke’s area (language comprehension).  The trigger travels until it has made its way through the motor cortex, auditory cortex, olfactory cortex…”

What?

I stopped.

I read the whole paragraph again.

Where is the story? – I asked Nancy. She was too far away to reply.

How can you possibly explain that stories are more memorable than facts using facts?

Eventually, I’ve finished the book. Many ideas are valuable. I still recommend it.

But if you want to learn about science behind the memorability of stories, watch this guy

Presentations expert David JP Phillips shares key neurological findings on storytelling and with the help of his own stories! Not facts!

Is storytelling indeed the most powerful tool of all?

It is certainly, powerful enough to explain itself.