HSU REPLIES: I agree with Morgan’s point. Storytelling clearly
encompasses more than the formal works of fiction that we
consume in books and on television. Studying the personal
stories told among friends and family is also important for
understanding storytelling. Nonfiction and fiction can both
prove compelling, as I mentioned in my article. I emphasized
fictional stories because they present perhaps the most
intriguing puzzle for scholars of the mind. Why should people
care at all about a prince in a land of dragons or the mythical
exploits of Greek warriors and gods of thousands of years ago?
The process of answering that question is bringing together
researchers across the humanities, social sciences and natural
sciences. Hsu’s article is strongly oriented toward
socialization and romance. As such, it neglects the “cautionary
tale” as an important reason—both practical and Darwinian—for
storytelling. Throughout my career in the fire service I was
exposed to (and told a few of my own) stories about “how