Storytelling and Collective Psychology : Ancient Wisdom, Modern Life and the Work of Derren Brown / [E-Book]

1. Introduction: Narrative Building Machines -- Mythmaking and Popular Culture -- Private Hallucinations -- A Conjuror's Story -- A Serendipitous Discovery -- Collective States of Mind -- The Analytical Approach of This Book -- The Structure of This Book -- Stories for a Better Future -- Bibliography -- 2. The Archetypal Magician -- Transformational Spaces -- The Stage Magician -- The Enlightened Magician -- The Shadow Magician -- Trust and Authenticity -- Stories, Memories and Experiences -- Our Chattering Selves -- Scepticism of Our Stories -- Bibliography -- 3. Street Philosophy and the Stoics -- Philosophy for Flourishing -- The Dichotomy of Control -- Purpose, Responsibility and Society -- Actions over Outcomes -- Learning and Growing -- Life Skills and Lessons -- Fate and Fortune -- Stillness, Egos and Obstacles -- Habitual Humans -- Perceptions and Stories -- Inner and Outer Worlds -- Emotions and Reactions -- Domesticate Your Emotions -- Taking Back Control -- The Unlived Lives of Our Parents -- Freedom to Flourish -- That Fraudster Feeling -- Hindsight and Reflection -- Bibliography -- 4. Self-Help and Popular Culture -- An Antidote to the Self-Help Industry -- Strategic Pessimism -- The Verb of Happiness -- Our Protestant Past -- The Law of Attraction -- Blame and Failure -- Kicking and Screaming -- Self-Help and Celebrity -- The Conor McGregor Story -- Narrative, Ego and Persona -- The Outer World of Fame and Fortune -- Paradoxical Mindsets -- Trials and Tribulations -- Bibliography -- 5. Angels and Demons -- We Want Heroes, Not Gods -- Welcome to the Dark Side -- Social Compliance -- Handing over Authorship -- Conforming in Cahoots -- Can We Push Back? -- Hero Mentality -- Hero's Journey -- If the World Ended Tomorrow -- Negative Visualisation -- Taking Responsibility -- Compassion, Empathy and Leadership -- Gratitude and Selflessness -- More Than Just a Dream -- Steven's Homecoming -- The Wizard of Oz -- Transcendence and Individuation -- Jung, Socrates and the Stoics -- Compassion, Love and Empathy -- Bibliography -- 6. Beyond Them-And-Us -- The Rise of Tribalism -- In These Divided Times -- The Politics of Fear -- Place and Belonging -- The Overview Effect -- Connection and Empathy -- Expanding Phil's Oikeiōsis -- A Hero's Calling -- Dialogue Between Sides -- Fate and Perspective -- Beyond Madness and Badness -- The Human Problem -- Ethical Cosmopolitanism -- The Quest for Complexity -- Bibliography -- 7. Reflections and Transformations -- Collective Reflections -- Getting to Know Our Shadows -- Introspection and Transformation -- One Team, Many Stories -- The Changing World of Work -- A Secular Void? -- Filling the Secular Void -- Transformative Philosophy -- Communal Connections -- Transformative Mythologies -- Towards a Modern Monomyth -- The Collective Journey -- Stories to Save the World -- Collective Weaving Machines -- Bibliography.

This book examines the work of psychological illusionist Derren Brown to understand the significance of storytelling and ancient philosophy in our society. Reflecting on the social disconnection and political polarisation of recent times, Darren Kelsey considers how we can rebuild a sense of collective cohesion and common good, weaving together contemporary psychology with ancient Stoicism to cut through the noise of modern life. Kelsey shows that Brown is more than a stage performer: he's an enlightened magician who offers us guidance for navigating the challenges life throws at us, using his skills and wisdom to help us better understand ourselves and enable human flourishing. In this rigorous examination of Brown's work, Kelsey makes a compelling case for paying closer attention to our personal, cultural and political stories and beliefs to help create a better future - for ourselves, our communities, and the planet. "Darren Kelsey takes us on a powerful and erudite exploration of the role of narrative, myth and collective psychology in helping us to make sense of the world, our place in it and above all our own sense of who we are. As Kelsey sets out, the work of the illusionist Derren Brown is a fascinating example of how popular culture has taken on some of the important roles traditionally played by storytellers, orators and performers." -Alex Evans, Founder of Larger Us and best-selling author of The Myth Gap "Storytelling and Collective Psychology seeks to build bridges across disciplines. Via a range of fascinating and stimulating examples and case studies - most prominently, the psychological illusionist Derren Brown - Kelsey connects Stoic philosophy and modern psychology, revealing astonishing connections between Stoicism and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)." -Paul Bowman, Professor of Cultural Studies, Cardiff University "Storytelling and Collective Psychology is an original and timely book which combines popular and academic elements. Using examples from Brown's shows and books, the book merges his philosophy with Jungian Analytical Psychology and delves into the nature of what it means to be human in today's world. " -Helena Bassil-Morozow, Lecturer in Media and Journalism, Glasgow School for Business and Society.