Overstory

Just read The Overstory. While I am still unsure if I should italicize or bold book titles, after reading this there are much bigger worries than that.  I won't give anything away, but the book has a few lines that reverberated with me. One of these might seem obvious, but its something I have to fight with daily.  The best arguments in the world won't change a person's mind, but a good story will. While it sounds like something a writing professor would say on the first day of class, its also a huge truth about us. And a common thread I see with the coronavirus pandemic. So many times I see scientists, sharing statistics and saying numbers and most people don't respond. Then the scientists keep responding with more numbers, and wonder why don't these people get it. The people then write their own story of whats going on, from events happening close to them, or from another story being told to them.  Stories people create about themselves and their lives are more than just words or chronological facts and events, its who they are. People are their stories, and to attack this is threatening. From this perspective it does seem silly to ever expect someone to change with any argument factual or not. But its inspiring to hear other stories, and think about whats behind your own story.