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The History of Literature

807 The Story of Stories (with Kevin Ashton) | My Last Book with Ilya Vinitsky and James H McGavran III

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson

Arts, History, Books

4.61.3K Ratings

🗓️ 4 June 2026

⏱️ 73 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When we first started this podcast in 2015, we began with a simple premise: "We are human beings, and human beings tell stories." But how has that happened? What has that meant for humanity? And to what extent has technology transformed our relationship with stories? In today's episode, Jacke talks to MIT technology pioneer Kevin Ashton about his new book, The Story of Stories: The Million-Year History of a Uniquely Human Art, which traces the history of human storytelling through eight great revolutions, helping us to see the power of stories and their importance to humankind. PLUS Ilya Vinitsky and James H. MacGavran III (The Graphomaniac: A Literary Historical Discussion of Dmitry Khvostov as a Reprieve from Teaching, the Vanity of Worldly Affairs, and Melancholy Reflections Brought On by the Loss of a Front Tooth, Together with the Current Cultural and Political Situation) stop by to discuss their choices for the last books they will ever read. The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gabrielruizbernal.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Help support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/literature⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyofliterature.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

The History of Literature Podcast is a member of the Podglomerate Network and Lit Hub Radio.

0:10.8

Attention all passengers.

0:13.2

The Uber ride for Mark and Jamal's romantic weekend will depart in four minutes from Platform 6.

0:19.6

Your ride comes with a rolling countryside sunset view

0:22.7

and a table seat ideal for playing footsie beneath. Thank you for booking your tickets on Uber.

0:30.8

Trains on Uber. Listen up. Huh? That means you. Yes, you. We know you're pointing at yourself.

0:36.4

When it comes to Paddy Power Games, we've got a place made for all sorts. From the experts to the Drama Queen's. It's made, the GC. The finance bros. Look at those stocks, lads. We'll stick with slots. It's what we're good at. And not forgetting you. Yes, you, the one listening. Because at Paddy Power Games, we've got all sorts of games for all sorts of treacles.

0:58.6

Eligibility rules in terms and conditions apply.

1:00.3

Please gamble responsibly.

1:01.3

Aiton plus, gambleware.org.

1:03.0

Hello, when I started this podcast 11 years ago, I used a phrase in the marketing materials

1:08.6

and even in the very first episode, I think. The phrase was this,

1:13.5

we are human beings and human beings tell stories. It was the credo of this podcast, emphasized

1:21.6

by many guests over the years, but we have not had a guest who has emphasized it with such deep and penetrating

1:29.7

insight as the man who joins us today. I've long noted that we humans continue to tell

1:36.9

stories, even as the world changes, even as technology gives us new paths of communication.

1:43.7

But those are vague thoughts, stray observations.

1:48.4

Kevin Ashton, himself a technology pioneer from MIT, has given us something different,

1:54.0

a narrative rooted in history and technology and psychology. In short, the previously untold story of storytelling.

2:04.4

We'll talk to him about his book, The Story of Stories,

2:07.9

The Million Year History of a Uniquely Human Art,

2:11.4

today on the History of Literature.

...

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