A review by eowyns_helmet
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel by Lisa Cron

Excellent book on what makes a good story (SparkNotes version -- emotion, emotion, emotion). For anyone trying to engage readers, this is an excellent explanation of why stories work and step-by-step primer on what to do as you are constructing a story. It isn't fool proof (too many fools in the world) but really worth it if you are a story-teller.