Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives Through the Power and Practice of Story

Author: Christina Baldwin
Type: Available in both hardcover and paperback
Published: 2007, New World Library
Price: Paperback US $15.95; Hardcover US $23.95

You can also purchase the Kindle Edition of this book through Amazon.com:

About Storycatcher

Storytelling - both oral tradition and written word - is the foundation of being human. In this powerful book, Christina Baldwin, one of the visionaries who started the personal writing movement, explores the vital necessity of re-creating a sacred common ground for each other's stories. Each chapter in Storycatcher is carried by a fascinating narrative - about people, family, or community - intertwined with practical instruction about the nature of story, how it works, and how we can practice it in our lives.

Whether exploring the personal stories revealed in our private journals, the stories of family legacy, the underlying stories that drive our organizations, or the stories that define our personal identity, Christina's book encourages us all to become storycatchers - and shows us how new stories lay the framework for a new world.

Reviews and Praise:

"Christina Baldwin is a masterful storyteller! In Storycatcher she weaves a tapestry of story that captures the dynamics of storytelling: its power to heal, to acknowledge our longing, and to articulate the hidden places within our being. Curl up with this book, and a new world will open to you." —Lauren Artress, author of Walking a Sacred Path

"As a television journalist, I know the incredible power of story to connect people and issues, and Storycatcher reminds us how essential it is to speak our truth in the world. Christina's book travels the world on the page and helps us put feelings and experiences into words. Her work is a great gift."
—Lisa Ling, host of National Geographic Ultimate Explorer and special contributor to The Oprah Show

"Powerful stories inspire us to act. They help us imagine the kind of world we want to bring into being. With this book, Christina Baldwin invites a community of storytellers to gather around this task."
—Paul Rogat Loeb, author of Soul of a Citizen and The Impossible Will Take a Little While

"I am absolutely entranced by this book. I felt woven into its stories and honored by its sincere invitation and guidance to recall my own stories. Christina has created a masterful work, one that reconnects us to the joy of being human and the goodness we create when we tell our stories and listen to those of others. This book brings more goodness into the world."
—Margaret J. Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science

"Storycatcher is an invaluable resource and guide that highlights the oldest healing-teaching practice found in all cultures throughout time — the art of storytelling. Christina Baldwin demonstrates how memory and the imagination braid together to heal ourselves and change the world around us. A timely and important contribution that can be used by anyone, anywhere in the world!"
—Angeles Arrien, author of The Four-Fold Way and The Second Half of Life

“This book has helped me open up stories of my own. The language and tone touches my heart and leaves a bold mark.”
—Meredith Shepard (writing group participant)

"Thank you Christina for opening my eyes to the stories all around me. After reading Storycatcher, I found myself thinking about every conversation in terms of a short story to the book of my life. Your words have transformed my writing."
—Erin Donnelly (writing group participant)

back to top

 

Awards

• Winner, Books for a Better Life Award, 2005
• Spirituality & Health best spiritual book of 2005
• One Spirit Book Club alternate selection
• Writer's Digest Book Club selection
• Top 100 Best Sellers, Quality Paperback Book Club, 2006

 

back to top

 

Multimedia:

ON THE STORYCATCHER BLOG
Visit the Storycatcher blog to join the conversation.

READ
Download a Storycatcher flyer for more on story and storycatching (PDF file)

LISTEN
This podcast of Michael Margolis (of Get Storied) interviewing Christina on May 25, 2010, is part of The New Storytellers series. In this segment, Michael and Christina discuss self-reflection as a leadership and storytelling practice, and explore the role of narrative as the basis for life transformation. Those who already know Christina know this is a rich and wonderful delving into her body of wisdom. Listen Now >>

(click to listen; right-click or option-click to download)

LISTEN
Listen in as Christina talks with Jennifer Louden as a guest on Jennifer's "Teach Now" series. Christina speaks about her introduction to teaching, how to open the teaching space to what wants to emerge, preparing to enter and leave teaching space, self-care, addressing self-doubt and how to get out of your own way. Christina describes teachers as "profound pebbles in the pond"...learn why by listening now >>

(click to listen; right-click or option-click to download)

WATCH
On this video, Christina Baldwin talks about journal writing and her books on writing and story--including some writing prompts to get you going and keep you going page by page

 

 

back to top

Reading Group Guidelines

We have created Storycatcher reading group guidelines in order to provide a framework for people to get together and experience a meaningful conversation about their own stories using the book as a chapter-by-chapter conversation starter.

Potential settings include: Book groups, writing groups, neighborhood groups, church groups, work teams, conversation cafes, libraries, neighborhoods, potluck suppers and living-room circles with friends and families.

Download the reading group guidelines for Storycatcher (PDF file).

 

back to top

 

About the Author, Christina Baldwin

Christina Baldwin is a writer and seminar presenter of 30+ years experience. She has contributed two classic books to the exploration of journal writing, including the well-known classic, Life's Companion, Journal Writing as a Spiritual Practice, revised and reissued in 2007 after 100,000 original sales. This work led her to a long study of personal growth and group dynamics and as a result of that experience she wrote Calling the Circle, the First and Future Culture to explore how social container releases needed wisdom. In recognition of the requirement for increased spirituality, she wrote, The Seven Whispers, A Spiritual Practice for Times Like These. Her legacy book, Storycatcher, Making Sense of our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story, reminds readers of the necessity of story to communicate in all areas of professional and personal life. Continuing the exploration of collaborative dialogue, Christina and Ann Linnea wrote a new classic, The Circle Way, A Leader in Every Chair, which documents applications of PeerSpirit Circle Process as a foundational tool for local to global change.
[ MORE ]

 

back to top

 

Related Classes and Workshops

Christina Baldwin offers classes and workshops related to Storycatcher and the power of story through PeerSpirit. Writing workshops include:

• The Self as the Source of the Story
• Self as Source Alumni Group
• Writing Nature's Wisdom

...and others. Visit her writing workshops schedule for more information.

In addition to her highly regarded writing seminars, Christina offers keynotes on the power of story within organizational settings, followed by workshops that help participants create a narrative context that supports wise decisions and clear actions. Visit the PeerSpirit conference page to learn more.

 

back to top