Stories also appeal to the narcissist in all of us. As a story unspools, with its cast of characters moving through time and making decisions, we inevitably put ourselves in their shoes. Yes, I would have done that too! or No no no, I never would have made that decision! Perhaps the best reason to tell stories is simply that they capture our attention and are therefore good at teaching. Let's say there's a theory or concept or set of rules you need to convey. While some people have the capacity to latch on directly to a complex message--we are talking to you, engineers and computer scientists--most of us quickly zone out if a message is too clinical or technical.