Storytelling allows us to take events that are exceptional, unforeseen or out of the ordinary and convert them into meaningful, manageable chapters in our lives. Author Bruce Feiler shares three tips to help you tell a more effective life story:

Many of the best TED Talks are built around stories, with speakers’ personal anecdotes helping them bring their ideas to life. Here, TED head curator Chris Anderson provides us with some storytelling dos and don’ts. Plus: news about the TED Masterclass app.

Family stories are a treasure. But when you hear the same ones over and over, they can get tarnished. Facilitator Priya Parker shares the simple trick that led to an unforgettable evening for her and her loved ones.

Enjoy these insights from elders on the key ingredients for a good life, and get inspired to do your own interview with an older relative.

We’ve all created our own personal histories, marked by highs and lows, that we share with the world — and we can shape them to live with more meaning and purpose.

Between them, Dave Isay of StoryCorps and Brandon Stanton of the photography website, Humans of New York, have collected more than 75,000 stories from regular folks around the world. They share their thoughts on how to get the best out of people.

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From Hula to Griot, Calypso to Zajal, here are just some of the storytelling traditions used across the globe.