The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story
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, GoodreadsWhat  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 GalleyPeople 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, 2013In 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