Communication Center Journal Vol. 6, No. 1, 2020

Book Review

Box, H. & Mocine-McQueen, J. (2019). How Your Story Sets You Free. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. (112 pp., hardcover $12.95).

Sarah Kennedy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

In early June 2020, as Black Lives the right story toward those that will benefit Matter protests against police brutality took most from hearing it, the Public Narrative place across the U.S. and worldwide, NBC’s method, and emotional management and Late Night with Seth Meyers opened four best practices for public speaking. While consecutive shows with segments from Box and Mocine-McQueen include practical writer Amber Ruffin. Ruffin, a black advice, much of the text consists of woman, shared stories of being accosted by assurance the reader’s story should be told, police on her own porch, while skipping will affect others, and has the power to down an alleyway, and in cars. The ethos inspire positive change. For communication she has built as a regular, likable presence center professionals, this book is a great on the show made her stories particularly resource to use with writers reluctant to resonant with Late Night’s audience and delve into the personal, activist writers, others who came across the segments on public speaking students, and writers of YouTube. Personalized through this college application essays or graduate relatable central character, the stories Ruffin school personal statements. lays out are powerful evidence of the Box and Mocine-McQueen begin by widespread mistreatment of black people by introducing their background as consultants police. Ruffin’s June 2020 segments with the Million Person Project, “a demonstrate the persuasive potential stories storytelling company for change makers,” hold. Storytelling coaches Heather Box and through which they help clients utilize Julian Mocine-McQueen argue, “Personal stories for a range of personal, professional, storytelling—the kind that reveals who we and activist purposes (p. 8). The authors are and what we care about—is the most assure readers, “Right now there is someone potent and effective way to connect with the out there—it may be a friend, a cousin, or a world around us. Personal storytelling is at stranger across the world—who needs to the heart of creating and nurturing a more hear your specific story” (p. 25). The empathetic world” (p. 23). Their short book authors then shift toward technical How Your Story Sets You Free offers storytelling advice, covering basic story encouragement and guidance for presenting elements, choosing a personal story, and personal stories with activist impact. identifying the appropriate audience. While Box and Mocine-McQueen’s these topics are not new to communication mission for How Your Story Sets You Free is center professionals, Box and Mocine- to “serve as your pep talk and as a loving McQueen’s concise overview is helpful for reminder that, with courage and willingness, working with writers learning to shape your story will set us all free” (p. 107). The stories for public rather than academic text explores basic story elements, orienting audiences.

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About halfway through the book, experience into a readable, well-designed Box and Mocine-McQueen introduce book. Box and Mocine-McQueen’s “Story- Marshall Ganz’s Public Narrative technique, Sharing Rules” stand out as a polished list of which “is organized around three parts: tips that can aid both tutors learning to Story of Self, Story of Us, and Story of consult on presentations and students with Now” (p. 67). The authors utilize this public speaking assignments. method in their consulting work and Box and Mocine-McQueen’s recommend it as a straightforward practice-oriented perspectives based on their organizational strategy that begins with a work with the Million Person Project is a personal story, relates to and draws in the major strength, as examples from clients audience, and calls listeners to action with a directly illustrate real-world applications of message of hope. Their overview of this storytelling concepts. Unlike textbook- technique includes a particularly strong format writing and speaking resources, this example from Mocine-McQueen and can book’s advice is not tailored to academic provide direct guidance for writers presentations, and the writing style is struggling to transition from the personal to accessible and encouraging. Box clarifies their wider point, connect with their the book’s orientation is not toward audience, or organize their piece. narrative therapy or writing for well-being Following their discussion of Public but rather public writing. Telling a personal Narrative, Box and Mocine-McQueen offer story in this context is not “a confession or a strategies for emotional management when ‘coming clean,’” but an impetus for the preparing to share, presenting, and audience to understand the issue at hand and responding to feedback about a story. This is take action (p. 29). an especially worthwhile section going This is a text designed for an beyond usual public speaking advice and introductory audience not already focusing on often-overlooked aspects of accustomed to or comfortable with publicly presentation, like managing feedback. The sharing personal narratives. For a authors acknowledge, “Lots of people who communication center professional, much of hear your story will say things to you that the advice, though concisely and engagingly you probably won’t expect” and they presented, will be familiar. However, for provide short scripts for responding to such activist groups on campus and students comments (p. 81). This advice is particularly reluctant to delve into writing about the relevant for today’s public presentation personal or doing so for the first time, this is contexts, which often involve Internet an empowering resource and thus a circulation and the potential for ongoing worthwhile addition to communication feedback. Box and Mocine-McQueen also center shelves. This book offers positivity offer specific ways to find an audience, alongside best practices for public speaking which is especially helpful for activist and includes examples that make writers. In the final pages of How Your Story applications for each piece of advice clear. Sets You Free, Box and Mocine-McQueen As social media makes platforms for public compile practical public speaking advice activism increasingly accessible, How Your into two pages of “Story-Sharing Rules to Story Sets You Free can enable more writers Live By” (pp. 101-102). These tips are a to utilize their personal stories in calling for strong close to a text that condenses the social change. authors’ years of speaking and consulting

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