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The Call of Stories: Teaching and the Moral Imagination
by
Robert Coles
The Call of Stories presents a study of how listening to stories promotes learning and self-discovery.
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
January 5th 1990
by Mariner Books
(first published 1989)
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Robert Coles's parents programmed him, in a sense, to be a lover and teller of stories, not necessarily of his own, as in a writer of fiction, but of others. They did not attempt any particular brand of brainwashing; they simply, to he and his brother's consternation and embarrassment, sat there in the middle of the living room each evening reading the classics to one another. As a consequence, Coles has spent his life not only reading short stories and novels, but in teaching their stories to s...more
Coles reminds us of the importance of story -- and how it shapes and reflects our lives as much as entertains us. He uses his own experience, both as a teacher and medical student (and eventually a doctor) to show the power of story -- how it can be used with someone struggling with issues in their own lives to understand and put their trials into context, and to connect with the larger world.
He writes:
“…so it has been for many of us – going back, way back, to the earliest of times, when men and...more
He writes:
“…so it has been for many of us – going back, way back, to the earliest of times, when men and...more
Feb 01, 2012
Ryan
added it
More than anything, a love letter to books and literature, but more specifically, a book about the ways in which literature ("stories") can be its own teacher in our life. Robert Coles is a doctor and a therapist, and has taught literature courses to med students at Harvard for decades. He implores future doctors, and mental health practitioners, to take their patients' stories seriously, and to view them less as medical or mental health riddles to be "figured out" and analyzed, and more as uniq...more
Incredibly interesting take on story telling and literature through the lens of a teacher/psychiatrist. Coles creates a homage of sorts to powerful writers of past and present and explores the intersections where story, healing, and place-sharing intersect. In numerous candid conversations with medical students and patients alike, Coles demonstrates how our ability to imagine and place ourselves in a story besides our own greatly aides our ability to engage and help others (medically, spirituall...more
Are you a teacher? Do you love to read? Then this book is for you.
As an English teacher, I always give my students one chapter to read at the end of the year (sophomores in high school) and I think they're surprised to find out how much of what they've read has actually changed who they are today.
As an English teacher, I always give my students one chapter to read at the end of the year (sophomores in high school) and I think they're surprised to find out how much of what they've read has actually changed who they are today.
The author is a child psychiatrist and had for years taught in the different schools at Harvard. He talks of the "nourishing moral insights that come from the narrative". This book is full of ideas for your reading list. I loved it and the doors it opened for me while expanding my interests.
Read this based a quote someone posted on twitter (can't remember who or what the quote was), but didn't recognize any quotes while reading and kept reading, hoping I'd get to something worthwhile. The book gave me a couple of ideas for teaching, but overall, disappointing. What bugged me most were the conversations the author recalled with various patients and student -- no one actually speaks the way he recalls these dialogues. Was hoping it'd be inspiring but wasn't.
Nov 17, 2012
Aldo
added it
This was an interesting book. The stories in it touched me in a unique way. He is very honest and has a way to use stories to bring across what he is trying to say.
Non-fiction about how stories influence us psychologically and morally; and also about our own stories (i.e. our lives). It's not too bad, although I think Coles told a few too many Personal and Relevant Anecdotes. Also, he referenced a looooot of books I (the Literature Major) have never read. I think he could have told us the same thing in like one chapter, but maybe that's just me.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in how stories affect readers. Coles is a psychiatrist and teacher, and he writes from his experiences in using stories to connect with patients and students. There is a lot to think about here; I expect I will return to this book at some point.
This book has detailed interviews and journal entries from Robert Coles and his patients and students. Each chapter is an essay on his work as a teacher, doctor, or activist. An engaging overview of his fascinating life's work.
How exactly do stories get into our heads and what do they do there? Coles' research sheds light on these questions.
Anecdotes revolving around literature, morality, and illness. Interesting stuff.
I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Robert Coles at his best.
awesome
May 20, 2013
Danielle Atkins
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
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May 13, 2013
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Apr 14, 2013
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Child psychiatrist, author, Harvard professor.
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“Be a good listener in the special way a story requires: note the manner of presentation; the development of plot, character; the addition of new dramatic sequences; the emphasis accorded to one figure or another in the recital; and the degree of enthusiam, of coherence, the narrator gives to his or her account.”
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3 people liked it
“Where you read a book and when and with whom can make a big difference.”
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2 people liked it
More quotes…
Apr 18, 2011 05:06am