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How Stories Last | Neil Gaiman

Long Now Foundation・57 minutes read

Stories, like trees, can live for thousands of years, containing valuable information passed down through generations, shaping human understanding and behavior. They offer escape, knowledge, and tools to navigate life's challenges, underscoring the significance of storytelling in human existence and evolution.

Insights

  • Stories, akin to trees, have the capacity to endure for millennia, carrying invaluable knowledge across generations and evolving over time to adapt to changing contexts while maintaining their core essence.
  • The act of storytelling is deeply intertwined with human existence, offering a blend of escapism, knowledge dissemination, and a framework for understanding life's complexities, with narratives acting as a bridge that connects individuals across time and space, shaping collective understanding and behavior.

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Recent questions

  • Why are stories important?

    Stories are crucial for transmitting information and making sense of life. They offer escape, knowledge, and tools to navigate challenges, shaping human understanding and behavior.

  • What is the significance of storytelling in human existence?

    Storytelling plays a significant role in human existence by preserving knowledge and passing it on through generations. It shapes understanding and behavior, offering a means to transcend individuality and communicate vital information over time.

  • How do stories evolve and adapt?

    Stories evolve and adapt across different mediums, intertwining oral and written traditions. Creators imagine and pass on stories, with details changing as they are shared, showcasing the longevity and evolution of narratives.

  • What tools aid in storytelling?

    Similes and metaphors are essential tools in storytelling, helping in understanding and appreciating narratives. They enhance the storytelling experience by creating vivid imagery and emotional connections for the audience.

  • How do stories offer truth despite being lies?

    Stories are inherently lies, but they offer a truth that allows individuals to immerse themselves in different realities. Despite knowing they are being lied to, the act of reading or listening to a story provides a genuine escape and imparts valuable knowledge.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Stories: Timeless Tales of Evolution and Immortality"

  • Stuart Brand from the Long Now Foundation discusses the importance of stories in understanding the world.
  • The Long Now Foundation is physically building a 10,000-year clock in Texas.
  • Neil Gaiman, a prolific writer, grew up in libraries and is transparent about his writing process.
  • The first emperor of China, obsessed with immortality, died and his tomb became the subject of legendary stories.
  • The oldest living organisms are trees, with the oldest known tree being a Great Basin Bristlecone pine in California at 5,064 years old.
  • Stories, like trees, can live for thousands of years and contain valuable information passed down through generations.
  • The tale of two brothers, dating back to 2,000 BC, involves betrayal, sacrifice, and resurrection, showcasing the longevity and evolution of stories.
  • Cinderella's story, possibly originating in China, evolved over time, with the glass slippers possibly originating from a homonymic shift from fur slippers.
  • Sleeping Beauty's story has undergone changes over time, with Disney altering the original tale to fit a more modern narrative.
  • Stories have creators who imagine and pass them on, with details evolving and changing as they are shared from person to person.

28:20

Powerful Stories: Transmitting Truth and Knowledge

  • Stories play a significant role in human existence, serving as a means of transmitting information and providing a way to make sense of life.
  • Similes and metaphors are essential tools in storytelling, aiding in understanding and appreciating narratives.
  • Stories are inherently lies, but they offer a truth that allows individuals to immerse themselves in different realities.
  • The act of reading or listening to a story involves knowing one is being lied to, yet it provides a genuine escape and imparts valuable knowledge.
  • Oral and written storytelling traditions intertwine, with stories evolving and adapting across different mediums.
  • A powerful example of the impact of storytelling is shared about a Holocaust survivor risking her life to teach young girls through a forbidden book.
  • The essence of stories lies in their ability to offer escape, knowledge, and tools to navigate life's challenges.
  • The significance of physical books is highlighted, emphasizing their unique role in preserving stories compared to digital formats.
  • Stories are crucial in preserving knowledge and passing it on through generations, shaping human understanding and behavior.
  • The importance of creating compelling stories that endure for generations is underscored, as narratives are fundamental to human existence and evolution.

57:11

"Adapting to Change: Evolving Communication Methods"

  • The current narrative is defined by rapid change, with people struggling to keep up, especially evident in communication methods like phone use.
  • The speaker reflects on generational shifts in phone usage, highlighting the evolution from voice calls to multifunctional devices.
  • The narrative of constant change is contrasted with the speaker's belief in taking a step back and viewing things in the long term.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering consequences and long-term effects, referencing the depletion of resources like whales.
  • The shift from a scarcity-based information economy to a surplus is noted, leading to challenges in finding quality content amidst the abundance.
  • The speaker acknowledges the increase in writing due to the internet but highlights the difficulty in finding quality storytelling amidst the vast amount of content.
  • The speaker discusses the proliferation of fanfiction based on their work, showcasing the expansive nature of storytelling in the digital age.
  • The speaker expresses uncertainty about the future of storytelling and publishing, acknowledging the unpredictable changes in the industry.
  • The speaker shares their approach to writing about strong AI, preferring a personal and intimate perspective rather than a grand narrative.
  • The importance of fiction in fostering empathy and expanding the circle of empathy is highlighted, with examples from literature like Uncle Tom's Cabin and Dickens' social novels.

01:18:44

Dickens to Gaiman: Storytelling Evolution and Impact

  • Dickens intended to create a mythic level story with a ghost, focusing on past, present, and future, which he honed through performances.
  • Dickens performed a version of "A Christmas Carol" at the New York Public Library, cutting out unnecessary parts and emphasizing crowd-pleasing scenes.
  • Dickens' public readings were a way to monetize his work due to copyright issues, gaining instant feedback and a solid American audience.
  • Neil Gaiman adapted Dickens' structure for his book "Books of Magic," realizing the effectiveness of the storytelling format.
  • Gaiman's fear of death early in his career was heightened during a flight carrying crucial work, but his perspective shifted as he accomplished more.
  • Terry Pratchett's battle with Alzheimer's and advocacy for assisted dying impacted Gaiman, highlighting the lack of research funding for the disease.
  • Pratchett's comfort in having the option of assisted dying gave him peace in facing his death, similar to Gaiman's experience with quitting smoking.
  • Gaiman's two-and-a-half-year preparation for his talk on storytelling's longevity led to valuable insights and feedback from audiences, enhancing his understanding of the topic.

01:39:28

Power of Stories in Human Advancement

  • Stories are portrayed as symbiotic organisms that have existed for thousands of years, serving as a crucial element in human advancement by allowing individuals to transcend their individuality and communicate important information through the ages.
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