Library
A curated set of research, articles and reading on why stories work and how to use them — from neuroscience to the boardroom.
Blog
Humanstory
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Pete on the Create Something Better Podcast
Podcast
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Pete at the Chief Story Officer Conference — Projecting Purpose with Story
Conference talk
- Articles to come — each will be a page on the site
Strategic storytelling
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Why Most Transformations Fail – And How to Get Change Right
(opens in a new tab)
The Grossman Group & Harris Poll, July 2025
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The CEO’s Role as Chief Storyteller
(opens in a new tab)
McKinsey Insights
Personal storytelling
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What’s Your Leadership Origin Story?
(opens in a new tab)
Harvard Business Review, 2020
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Storytelling is your best weapon for convincing people
(opens in a new tab)
The Psychologist, British Psychological Society
Creative storytelling
Neuroscience
- Why Inspiring Stories Make us React — The Neuroscience of Narrative (opens in a new tab)
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The psychological and evolutionary basis of storytelling: How narratives shape human culture and behaviour
(opens in a new tab)
Social Studies Journal, 2024
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The Science of Storytelling: How Fiction Shapes the Mind
(opens in a new tab)
Psychology Today, 2025
Reading list
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Trip to the Moon
John Yorke
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Into the Woods
John Yorke
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Narrative Economics
Robert Shiller
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The Science of Storytelling
Will Storr
Why stories work
Stories aren’t decoration — they’re how the brain makes sense of information. A good story moves us through a neurochemical arc: identification (oxytocin), tension (cortisol) and reward (dopamine).
Character
Oxytocin
Challenge
Cortisol
Resolution
Dopamine
Questions & answers
- What is the Library for?
- A curated set of research, articles and reading on why stories work and how to use them.
- Is this based on evidence?
- Everything here is grounded in neuroscience, psychology and communications research.
- Do you publish your own writing?
- Yes — see the Blog for talks and articles from the HumanStory team.
- Can I suggest something?
- Yes — if you’ve found research or writing we should feature, get in touch.
