Lonely Ape that Told Himself Stories : The Necessity of Stories for Human Survival

The Lonely Ape that Told Himself Stories is a book that tries to explore the fact that humans are the only animals on this planet that tell stories. Its main argument is that people need to tell stories as a basic need and that without stories, we could not survive as a species. The author explores the origins dating back to the times of cavemen and, through myths, legends and fairytales, touches upon issues such as grief and bereavement, hope and pessimism, male and female dominance, and equality. A significant part is dedicated to the use of stories and narratives in the healing of trauma, as well as how stories act as a modern treatment for PTSD. Lastly, the book explores the future of stories, the flourishing of social media, the issue of internet shaming, the movement towards e-books, and the need for meaning in the post-humanism era. Each chapter ends with experiential activities using stories, story making and other creative methods, including relaxation methods and a collection of stories. The author has been using these methods with clients for over three decades. These activities and processes can be used by an individual or by people in multiple professions to explore and reflect on the topics that are raised in these chapters. The book is a combination of scientific research in psychology, archeology, arts, mythology, culture, neurology, neuroimaging and the modern media, and includes practical psychotherapeutic methods to work in many "impossible situations".