Our capacity to tell stories is one of the ways in which our species is unique, but most of us don't appreciate their true power. The Story of Your Life will uncover scientific findings from the fields of linguistics, psychology and neuroscience which demonstrate that we are hardwired to understand the world in terms not of facts and figures, but of narratives.

Consequently, as demonstrated by the rise of populism around the world, global history is written not by those who are the smartest, or who have the deepest command of the issues, but by those who tell the most compelling stories. And whether you're applying for a job or promotion, fighting for a political cause, buying or selling something, or simply trying to find your way through the world, the best way to do so is to understand the issue at hand in terms of one of the familiar and memorable narrative structures that have framed human thinking for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Because these stories have been instilled into us from birth, they resonate with us, even if we don't understand why. But, for this very reason, we must also be on our guard. Stories have a dark side, in the compelling but false narratives that are continually spun at as by politicians, preachers and pedlars; and it is only by truly understanding these narratives and the power that they have over us that we can begin to counter them.