Publisher's Synopsis
Why Listen: The Value of Intergenerational Storytelling in Today's Changing World is a unique look at the value of sharing stories across generations to bridge gaps that can stifle conversations and cause unintentional strife. Inspired by a vacation visiting with his grandfather, a former NYPD cop, author Andy Kelleher uses his grandfather's stories to explore why we as humans tell stories, listen to them, and carry them with us the way we do. If you love sitting around listening and telling stories or want to understand the place storytelling holds in today's digital modern world, Why Listen is the perfect read. Along with Grandpa Kelleher's personal stories (including a harrowing tale of him climbing the Triborough Bridge to save a suicidal man), you'll also hear a dramatic story from NYPD Bomb Squad member Terry McTigue and a touching story from Joseph Washington, a DC barista starting his life over. More so, you'll see psychological studies explaining the value of storytelling and legacy building. Andy Kelleher does a beautiful job of intermingling these stories and studies to show how oral history can bring people closer and transform the way we look at the legacies we inevitably leave behind.
