A need to tell and hear stories is essential to the species Homo sapiens--second in necessity apparently after nourishment and before love and shelter. Millions survive without love or home, almost none in silence; the opposite of silence leads quickly to narrative, and the sound of story is the dominant sound of our lives, from the small accounts of our day's events to the vast incommunicable constructs of psychopaths.
"A need to tell and hear stories is essential to the species Homo sapiens," highlighting that storytelling ranks just after nourishment in importance and surpasses love and shelter. Even those lacking love or a home typically do not live in silence, as human voices naturally turn to narrative to make sense of their world. The sound of stories pervades daily life, from simple recountings to complex, indecipherable constructs created by psychopaths."
This underscores the fundamental role stories play in human existence, serving as a vital means of communication and understanding. Our innate drive to create and share stories shapes individual identities and cultural heritage, reinforcing that storytelling is intrinsic to the human experience and a key to connecting with others."