Trip to the Moon

In this invaluable book, John Yorke uncovers the narratives that help us make sense of the world – and offers an antidote to paint-by-numbers screenwriting manuals. You'll learn something new on every page

Helen Lewis author of <i> The Genius Myth </i>

A masterpiece . . . genius - funny and wise and occasionally profound

Billy Ivory, writer, <i> Made in Dagenham </i>

It’s a dazzling rocket of a book that launches you on a headlong journey through time and space in pursuit of incredible, surprising truths showing how story shapes our worlds and our lives

Rob Williams, screenwriter for Killing Eve & The Man in the High Castle

Brilliant and Illuminating! The idea that mass communication through history has relied on story-telling techniques described in detail by the ancient Greeks, and quite possibly central to our way of thinking. John Yorke examines the construction of political speeches, advertising slogans, religious texts and popular entertainment to reveal how empires of thought can rise and fall on the back of a good story. John Yorke's Into the Woods is the second best book I know on theories of narrative structure. The best is John Yorke’s latest Trip to the Moon

John Collee, screenwriter of <i> Master and Commander </i>

I loved this... an endlessly fascinating exploration of how story and structure shape not only the television and films we consume, but also our lives - everything from religion to politics to our innate sense of self. I feel immeasurably more intelligent having read it!

Matthew Barry, screenwriter of <i> The Guest </i>

As a fellow story geek, I was captivated, and I’ve never read an exploration and analysis of story in the political and religious sphere laid out so thoroughly and persuasively. All the analysis and references are so brilliantly wide-ranging and thought-provoking, I hope it gains a very wide readership in addition to the screenwriting nuts who I’m sure will devour it. It’s a properly impressive piece of scholarship, and above all, a highly compelling read. A real page turner

Anna Symon, showrunner on <i> Joan </i>

Genuinely dazzling. Yorke’s panoptic understanding of narrative is peerless, and his ability to corral his breadth of knowledge into such a cohesive and readable whole is little short of a magic trick. Mischievous, profound, and thought provoking, it’s both a remarkable achievement and - as you’d expect for a master of storytelling - an incredibly enjoyable read

Justin Young, Head writer of <i> Sanditon </i>

A triumph... in this brilliant sequel to Into the Woods, John Yorke digs deeper than ever, unearthing how stories shape the way we think, feel and act in the world. Few writers think about narrative with such courage, curiosity, compassion and dazzling clarity

Simon Lancaster, speechwriter and author of <i> Connect </i>

Just when you thought John Yorke had said everything there could to be said about storytelling, he produces Trip To The Moon. A riveting and prescient account of how stories work, and why that matters now more than ever. It gripped me like a thriller. And left me desperate to sit down and write - no mean feat

Peter McKenna, writer and creator of <i> Kin </i>