Will Storr

And as I say in the book, the device didn't exist. The device was worth nothing. But the story was worth $9 billion. That's what Theranos was valued at at their peak, $9 billion. So that's the power of storytelling to kind of bedazzle the minds of even our greatest, smartest, wealthiest people.

Yeah, we do. There's something in the brain that tells us that we are, something very powerful that tells us that we are not under the influence of story, that we are under the influence of rationality. It's actually quite easy to figure out why that is. You have to believe in the story of your group in order for that group to function. Obviously you do.

Yeah, we do. There's something in the brain that tells us that we are, something very powerful that tells us that we are not under the influence of story, that we are under the influence of rationality. It's actually quite easy to figure out why that is. You have to believe in the story of your group in order for that group to function. Obviously you do.

Yeah, we do. There's something in the brain that tells us that we are, something very powerful that tells us that we are not under the influence of story, that we are under the influence of rationality. It's actually quite easy to figure out why that is. You have to believe in the story of your group in order for that group to function. Obviously you do.

Yeah, because you're not part of that group's mission. You're de-identified with the group. And also, you know, one of the fundamental things that you want from that group is, well, the two fundamental things that you want is connection and status. So you only really connect with the group if you believe in their story.

Yeah, because you're not part of that group's mission. You're de-identified with the group. And also, you know, one of the fundamental things that you want from that group is, well, the two fundamental things that you want is connection and status. So you only really connect with the group if you believe in their story.

Yeah, because you're not part of that group's mission. You're de-identified with the group. And also, you know, one of the fundamental things that you want from that group is, well, the two fundamental things that you want is connection and status. So you only really connect with the group if you believe in their story.

So if you believe that Jesus was a real guy and that he died and resurrected on the third day, you're a Christian now. That's what you are. You know, you're a Christian. It's as simple as that, Jordan, by the way. And so now you're connected into that Christian world. But in order to earn status in that Christian world, you have to allow that belief to kind of fill you up.

So if you believe that Jesus was a real guy and that he died and resurrected on the third day, you're a Christian now. That's what you are. You know, you're a Christian. It's as simple as that, Jordan, by the way. And so now you're connected into that Christian world. But in order to earn status in that Christian world, you have to allow that belief to kind of fill you up.

So if you believe that Jesus was a real guy and that he died and resurrected on the third day, you're a Christian now. That's what you are. You know, you're a Christian. It's as simple as that, Jordan, by the way. And so now you're connected into that Christian world. But in order to earn status in that Christian world, you have to allow that belief to kind of fill you up.

I call it, this is active belief. You have to... That belief has to act on you like a parasite controlling your behavior. So you go out in the world and you start acting out the values and the story of the Christian set of beliefs. You can't do that if you don't believe in Christianity. It won't make any sense to you. And also, you can't earn the status.

I call it, this is active belief. You have to... That belief has to act on you like a parasite controlling your behavior. So you go out in the world and you start acting out the values and the story of the Christian set of beliefs. You can't do that if you don't believe in Christianity. It won't make any sense to you. And also, you can't earn the status.

I call it, this is active belief. You have to... That belief has to act on you like a parasite controlling your behavior. So you go out in the world and you start acting out the values and the story of the Christian set of beliefs. You can't do that if you don't believe in Christianity. It won't make any sense to you. And also, you can't earn the status.

One of the things that Muslims do, they call it the Hafiz. where some Muslims will earn the Quran by heart. So every word of the Quran takes sometimes two to three years. It's a massive thing. And if you manage to pull this stunt off, you get a huge amount of status. I think it's called Hafiz. But you get a certain title and a certain status.

One of the things that Muslims do, they call it the Hafiz. where some Muslims will earn the Quran by heart. So every word of the Quran takes sometimes two to three years. It's a massive thing. And if you manage to pull this stunt off, you get a huge amount of status. I think it's called Hafiz. But you get a certain title and a certain status.

One of the things that Muslims do, they call it the Hafiz. where some Muslims will earn the Quran by heart. So every word of the Quran takes sometimes two to three years. It's a massive thing. And if you manage to pull this stunt off, you get a huge amount of status. I think it's called Hafiz. But you get a certain title and a certain status.

Now, you have to believe in the story of Islam to go through that trial of two to three years of earning it by heart. Because otherwise, you're not going to be motivated to do it. And also, more importantly, the status will mean nothing. It doesn't mean anything. So if you don't believe in the story, To you and me, it's a waste of time learning that book word for word. Why would you bother?

Now, you have to believe in the story of Islam to go through that trial of two to three years of earning it by heart. Because otherwise, you're not going to be motivated to do it. And also, more importantly, the status will mean nothing. It doesn't mean anything. So if you don't believe in the story, To you and me, it's a waste of time learning that book word for word. Why would you bother?

Now, you have to believe in the story of Islam to go through that trial of two to three years of earning it by heart. Because otherwise, you're not going to be motivated to do it. And also, more importantly, the status will mean nothing. It doesn't mean anything. So if you don't believe in the story, To you and me, it's a waste of time learning that book word for word. Why would you bother?

But if you believe in the story, it has massive meaning. So yeah, we have to believe that the stories aren't just stories, that they're actual truth, they're reality. And we believe it so much. Look at through human history, people all the time fight and die on behalf of the beliefs of their groups.