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Into the Woods A Five Act Journey into Story 9781846146435 Books

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Into the Woods A Five Act Journey into Story 9781846146435 Books

In the acknowledgements section at the end of his book, John Yorke says a few kind words to Jospeh Campbell, Laos Egri, and other prominent narrative theorists. "I have attempted to acknowledge my debt to them all wherever possible," Yorke says. Kind words, but in my view the author attempts to take far more credit for many of the ideas throughout the book than the small, humble acknowledgement in the postscript admits.

In chapter after chapter, Yorke presents stunning revelations about story as if they were his own, starting with the introduction: "In stories throughout the ages there is one motif that continually recurs--the journey into the woods to find the dark but life-giving secret within." So, the entire premise of the book is based on the initiatory pattern of the hero's journey, recognized by Jospeh Campbell 65 years ago. Yorke doesn't bother to mention this.

Yorke dismisses Vogler as too simplistic (though he doesn't really say how), and yet pages later he uses Vogler's analysis of Pulp Fiction, without citation, as a paradigmatic hero's journey.

Borrowing ideas liberally is somewhat expected in a popular book, but for a reader who is well-versed in narrative theory, the heavy borrowing without citation and casual criticism of those you're stealing from is deeply irritating.

No, John Yorke, you did not invent the wheel, it has been "a-round" a long time.

That's my gripe, and it's a serious one, and that's why I dock the author a star. Only a star for something as serious as misleading claims of originality?

Yes, I can't give this book anything less than four stars. Regardless of its originality, Yorke has clearly done a massive amount of research, and he has a thorough knowledge of and an infectious enthusiasm for his subject. He synthesizes a vast amount of story wisdom into a dense and compelling digest. Make no mistake, it is primarily a digest--a summary of existing story insights--but it's one of the best and deserves to be read and re-read and used in classrooms and purchased by amateur narratologists and other desperate pilgrims seeking holy knowledge from the story temple.


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Into the Woods A Five Act Journey into Story 9781846146435 Books Reviews

Very useful. Great insight.
An excellent book about storytelling in general, not just a how-to guide.
One of the best of a kind.
A great insight into the story structure that made me contemplate long after I read it
Have finished reading Christopher Booker's "The Seven Basic Plots" as part of a course on storytelling in branding. It is one of the most important books I've ever read. John Yorke's "Into the Woods" is complements it very well. These are not books about storytelling, only. They give incredible insights into life, and how it can be lived in an abundant and flourishing way.
Thought it was a book about inspiration but instead it was a book about classic story structure near identical to what I learned in literature class in school with added parallels of other writers like Joseph Campbell to emphasize it. Details analysis of stories into building suspense, climax, resolution type ride and fall storytelling.
This book is excellent. Completely accessible, and explains how stories work, and we humans are so inclined to telling them and to listening to them. First book that I felt helped me to understand how all its components fit together. Highly recommended.
In the acknowledgements section at the end of his book, John Yorke says a few kind words to Jospeh Campbell, Laos Egri, and other prominent narrative theorists. "I have attempted to acknowledge my debt to them all wherever possible," Yorke says. Kind words, but in my view the author attempts to take far more credit for many of the ideas throughout the book than the small, humble acknowledgement in the postscript admits.

In chapter after chapter, Yorke presents stunning revelations about story as if they were his own, starting with the introduction "In stories throughout the ages there is one motif that continually recurs--the journey into the woods to find the dark but life-giving secret within." So, the entire premise of the book is based on the initiatory pattern of the hero's journey, recognized by Jospeh Campbell 65 years ago. Yorke doesn't bother to mention this.

Yorke dismisses Vogler as too simplistic (though he doesn't really say how), and yet pages later he uses Vogler's analysis of Pulp Fiction, without citation, as a paradigmatic hero's journey.

Borrowing ideas liberally is somewhat expected in a popular book, but for a reader who is well-versed in narrative theory, the heavy borrowing without citation and casual criticism of those you're stealing from is deeply irritating.

No, John Yorke, you did not invent the wheel, it has been "a-round" a long time.

That's my gripe, and it's a serious one, and that's why I dock the author a star. Only a star for something as serious as misleading claims of originality?

Yes, I can't give this book anything less than four stars. Regardless of its originality, Yorke has clearly done a massive amount of research, and he has a thorough knowledge of and an infectious enthusiasm for his subject. He synthesizes a vast amount of story wisdom into a dense and compelling digest. Make no mistake, it is primarily a digest--a summary of existing story insights--but it's one of the best and deserves to be read and re-read and used in classrooms and purchased by amateur narratologists and other desperate pilgrims seeking holy knowledge from the story temple.