Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 Our brain is constantly sifting through and interpreting all the information that comes its way, and it does so by creating stories about it. It knows us well, and uses that knowledge to create stories that will help us survive.

#2 The brain is looking for two key concepts in every story: neuroscientists believe the reason we spend so much time and space getting lost in a story is because without stories, we'd be toast. Stories allow us to simulate intense experiences without actually having to live through them.

#3 A story is not just something that happens. It is how what happens affects someone who is trying to achieve a difficult goal, and how they change as a result. The plot, the protagonist, and the story question are all part of a story.

#4 A story is not about the plot or what happens in it. It's about how we, rather than the world around us, change. We become enthralled with a story only when it allows us to experience how it would feel to navigate the plot.