The Narrative Gym Introducing the AB..., Randy Olson
The Narrative Gym Introducing the AB..., Randy Olson
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The Narrative Gym: Introducing the ABT Framework For Messaging and Communication

Author: Randy Olson

Narrator: Randy Olson

Unabridged: 1 hr 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/13/2020


Synopsis

The Narrative Gym by Dr. Randy Olson presents a new model for messaging and communication. It's a short, practical guide to the ABT Framework (And, But, Therefore) which needs to be on the desk of everyone crafting a message, essay, strategy, novel, campaign, proposal, presentation, screenplay, argument, joke, ballad, report … pretty much all communication.

There is no other book on the ABT Framework. There is no other analytical model for narrative structure like the ABT Framework. This is a new and unique resource. The ABT seems like something from elementary school and at its core is as old as the ancient Greeks, but the formulation only began less than a decade ago.

The original insights for this communication model come from Hollywood screenwriting. The importance of the three words (And, But, Therefore) began with legendary screenwriting instructor Frank Daniel of the U.S.C. School of Cinematic Arts who in a 1986 speech first talked of replacing the word “and” with either “but” or “therefore” to strengthen the narrative content of a text. This was propagated by his students, then articulated by the co-creators of the animated series, “South Park,” in a 2011 documentary. Randy Olson formulated the ABT Narrative Template (“___ AND ___ BUT ___ THEREFORE ___”) in his 2013 TEDMED Talk, and his 2015 book, “Houston, We Have A Narrative.” It is at the heart of how humans have communicated for thousands of years. You can see it in the Gettysburg Address, nursery rhymes, argumentation, comic structure, myths, the billion-viewed “Call Me Maybe” song from Carlie Rae Jepsen, the 1600’s poem “To His Coy Mistress,” blockbuster movies — on and on. It's at the core of everything memorable because it is narrative itself. The bottom line is: You’ve got something to say AND you know it’s important, BUT you’re having trouble boiling it down to its powerful and essential core, THEREFORE you need the ABT Framework.


About Randy Olson

Randy Olson was a tenured professor of marine biology at the University of New Hampshire before moving to Hollywood and entering film school at the University of Southern California. He has written and directed a number of films, including the acclaimed Flock of Dodos and he is the author of numerous successful books, including Don't Be Such A Scientist.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Fabio on December 04, 2022

There are many resources about writing and communicating well AND they exhaustively cover it. BUT none of them provides such an simple and effective framework. THEREFORE, read this book. Pros: extremely succint Cons: could be even shorter......more

Goodreads review by Dan on January 24, 2022

Science writing, financial writing, and writing on climate change all fail to communicate key information. Much of this writing cannot hold our attention, much less move us to act. But, Randy Olson has written a book that teaches how to structure complex ideas into memorable story fragments to drive......more

Goodreads review by Ayon on November 13, 2024

It has some good messaged about framing narrative structures and making your story more understandable and interesting, especially to those outside your field. However, the book - though short as it is - has a somewhat repetitive cadence that had me feeling frustrated and impatient. There was also a......more

Goodreads review by Jason on September 27, 2021

The quickest communication book I’ve read, and one of the most impactful If you want to communicate effectively and have more of an impact with your words, but you don’t have a proven format, this book is for you. If you get the Narrative Gym and apply it’s principles, then you will probably notice y......more

Goodreads review by Tim on August 25, 2021

Great Business tool What a wonderful way to learn how to deliver your message to your audience. Short, concise, yet very powerful, Story On!......more