The Paradox of History. How the Love of Storytelling Builds Society and Destroys It

Stories are a powerful tool of influence that people use everywhere, from everyday communication to global marketing and propaganda campaigns. They shape our worldview, evoking empathy and understanding, but they can also sow discord and hatred. This book explores the all-encompassing role of narratives in our lives, showing how we are daily immersed in streams of stories and how this "nudging magic" of storytelling defines our interaction with the world.

You may be skeptical – and rightly so. After all, I claimed to be a scholar, but so far the only thing I have done is tell you a story. And if you take away just one lesson from this book, let it be this:
NEVER. TRUST. THE STORYTELLER.
Jonathan Gottschall (born September 20, 1972) is an American literary scholar specializing in literature and evolution. He is a distinguished research scholar in the Department of English at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania.