New book opens window to the psychology behind storytelling

‘The 90-Minute Effect’ Fuses Cognitive Psychology with a Comprehensive Analysis of Movies, Novels, Plays, and Video Games

SAN DIEGO—Ever wonder what makes a good story so good? Why the characters feel so real and intimate? And why it’s so difficult to arrive at the same ‘Hollywood endings’ that we’re accustomed to seeing on screen and reading in novels?

In the new book, ‘The 90-Minute Effect: How We Shape Our Lives by the Hollywood Formula and Rarely Reach Our Own Happy Endings’ (204 pp., Amelior Books, $11), seasoned essayist and author of the acclaimed historical novel, ‘Monaco,’ Eric Robert Morse delves into the techniques of all good stories and shows us just how they make such a great impression on their audiences.

Amelior has touted ‘The 90-Minute Effect’ as an entirely new theory of poetics that will change movie watching and novel reading forever. “By looking at the mechanics of good stories as well as the sociological effects they bear, we can really begin to see storytelling and poetics in an entirely new light,” Morse said. “We can also appreciate good stories on a deeper, more meaningful level.”

“The goal of this book is to give audiences a new way to enjoy movies and a new language to evaluate and discuss the stories they love,” he said.

‘The 90-Minute Effect’ is the first book of its kind to integrate a detailed look at the inner-workings of stories with science-backed social analysis. While a number of books examine the story as an art form and explain the formula, and others examine the sociological effects of entertainment, none combine them into a single, cohesive package as ‘The 90-Minute Effect’ does.

Included with the text are several diagrams that chart the ‘Hollywood Formula’ from the opening (setting) through the various stages of the plot to the close (aftermath), as well as an appendix that charts the plots of some sixty novels and movies.

“Anyone who loves a good story like I do will find a great number of valuable resources in this study,” Morse said. “Whether you’re interested in writing your own screenplay or novel, or just want a glimpse at the fascinating art of storytelling, ‘The 90-Minute Effect’ will be a welcome addition on your bookshelf.”