When Randy Olson first described his life-changing encounter with an acting teacher in Don’t Be Such a Scientist, it seemed like the world of science was on the cusp of gaining new respect in the public eye. Through his writing, speaking, and films, Olson challenged scientists to toss out jargon in favor of a more human approach, bringing Hollywood lessons to the scientific community. Yet today, in everything from government funding cuts to climate change denial, science is under ...

Communicate more effectively about science—by taking a page from Hollywood and improving your storytelling skills.Ask a scientist about Hollywood, and you'll probably get eye rolls. But ask someone in Hollywood about science, and they'll see dollar signs: Moviemakers know that science can be the source of great stories, with all the drama and action that blockbusters require.That's a huge mistake, says Randy Olson: Hollywood has a lot to teach scientists abou...

The ABT Framework (And, But, Therefore) is a new model for business communication that brings focus to our information-overloaded world. The book is a collaboration between the creator of the ABT Framework, Dr. Randy Olson, and the #1 voice for the power of story in the business world, Park Howell.The applications of the ABT to business communication are limitless. It is THE tool needed to craft compelling sales pitches, marketing campaigns, business presentations, brand strategy…a...

Lawyers have always known that "story" is at the heart of persuasive advocacy AND this awareness continues to grow, BUT there's been a need for a simple, analytical way to teach "story," which the ABT Framework now provides, THEREFORE it's time for us to open your mind with this new and powerful technique.The ABT Framework (And, But, Therefore) is a revelation. It brings the power of simplicity to a world that is glutted with too much information. The business community has already...

How do you craft your campaign's central message? What does a Christmas tree have to do with it? How do you provide leadership through narrative? And how do you simply not bore or confuse voters?Introducing the ABT (And, But, Therefore) narrative framework; a simple three-word tool for political communications and messaging that cuts through the noise of today's information-saturated society. It is powerful AND may seem obvious, BUT most of your opponents don't know how to use it, ...

The Narrative Gym by Dr. Randy Olson presents a new model for messaging and communication. It's a short, practical guide to the ABT Framework (And, But, Therefore) which needs to be on the desk of everyone crafting a message, essay, strategy, novel, campaign, proposal, presentation, screenplay, argument, joke, ballad, report … pretty much all communication.There is no other book on the ABT Framework. There is no other analytical model for narrative structure like the ABT Framework....

Communication is central to medicine, yet the COVID-19 pandemic revealed major shortcomings in the communication skills of medical professionals. As the world continues to drown in excess amounts of information (communicated ever more rapidly by social media), the ability to maintain focus becomes increasingly difficult.Enter the ABT.For more than a decade we have been developing the ABT Framework as both a model for narrative structure and a tool for strengthening what we ...

Acclaimed historians Randy Roberts and James Olson use a wealth of archival sources—including the diary of José Enrique de la Peña—to retell the story of the Alamo for a new generation of Americans.In late February and early March of 1836, the Mexican Army—commanded by General Antonio López de Santa Anna—besieged a small force of Anglo and Tejano rebels at a mission known as the Alamo. The defenders faced a dire predicament, lacking vital information about the even...

THE NARRATIVE DIAGNOSIS: I have some bad news for you — your AF (AND Frequency) is a bloated 3.8%, your N.I. (Narrative Index, BUT/AND ratio) is an anemic 4. There's a real risk of you boring an audience to death.The ABT Narrative Template, already famous for its use in "Cat Herding" and "silo busting," now has two very powerful metrics — the AF and the NI.In this ground-breaking and original book, Lincoln But Trump, Randy Olson introduces a whole ...

"Narrative Is Everything" is the culmination of scientist-turned-filmmaker Randy Olson's 40 year journey into Hollywood AND it may seem like just another "joy of storytelling" diatribe, BUT the book plays on two levels, THEREFORE you can take your pick — use it to improve your communication, or allow it to give you a new perspective on cultural evolution. On the practical side, it presents the ABT Framework (And, But, Therefore), showing its power and application in fields as diverse as bu...

Ask a scientist about Hollywood, and you'll probably get eye rolls. But ask someone in Hollywood about science, and they'll see dollar signs: moviemakers know that science can be the source of great stories, with all the drama and action that blockbusters require.That's a huge mistake, says Randy Olson: Hollywood has a lot to teach scientists about how to tell a story—and, ultimately, how to do science better. With Houston, We Have a Narrative, he lays out a stunningly sim...

Based on over five years of interview and archival research, John Wayne: American explains the appeal of Wayne's abiding "Americanness" and how he became such a revered icon.**No American has been more identified with his country than John Wayne. For millions of people from the heartland to the furthest corners of the earth, he simply is America. Wayne virtually defined the role of the cowboy and the soldier, unswervingly playing the gruff man of...