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A review by vertellerpaul
On the Origin of Stories: Evolution, Cognition, and Fiction by Brian Boyd
5.0
I've rarely read a book during which I was continually nodding in agreement. In this broad, sweeping and all encompassing study Boyd answers the question asked by Jonathan Gottschall in The Storytelling Animal (another highly recommended work on the subject): why do we like stories so much? Why do we see a story in almost everything? Why do we live and think stories?
Boyd starts by explaining evolution and proves that art and specifically storytelling are evolutionary adaptations that contributed to our success as a species. He then expands his theory horizontally and vertically by showing how stories contribute to evolution, how they themselves and their writers are part of an evolutionary process and how important evolutionary values become condensed into stories. Art is primarily entertainment, it is highly personal and original but also lives in a space of shared attention. It evolves from play and always retains that playful, creative part.
Boyd implements his theory by analyzing two famous stories that are completely different: Homer's Odyssey and Dr. Seuss' Horton hears a Who. In both cases he clearly establishes an evolutionary perspective that contributes to a better understanding of the stories, the art, the universal, local, particular and individual problems they solve and values they discuss.
For a reader who is unfamiliar with American children's literature the final chapters contain many references to unknown works, but this doesn't make the points made any less clear or any less valid.
The book is highly recommended for storytellers, linguists and readers.
Boyd starts by explaining evolution and proves that art and specifically storytelling are evolutionary adaptations that contributed to our success as a species. He then expands his theory horizontally and vertically by showing how stories contribute to evolution, how they themselves and their writers are part of an evolutionary process and how important evolutionary values become condensed into stories. Art is primarily entertainment, it is highly personal and original but also lives in a space of shared attention. It evolves from play and always retains that playful, creative part.
Boyd implements his theory by analyzing two famous stories that are completely different: Homer's Odyssey and Dr. Seuss' Horton hears a Who. In both cases he clearly establishes an evolutionary perspective that contributes to a better understanding of the stories, the art, the universal, local, particular and individual problems they solve and values they discuss.
For a reader who is unfamiliar with American children's literature the final chapters contain many references to unknown works, but this doesn't make the points made any less clear or any less valid.
The book is highly recommended for storytellers, linguists and readers.