Throughout the world stories have been told and retold for millennia. In the fabric of culture, they act as vital threads in the weave. In any society they define the roots and significance of the peoples. World stories spread as the culture grows.

I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels throughout the world. I have also had the opportunity to learn a bit about each country. So the world stories I hear have substantial meaning to me. And one of the benefits is to see how world stories come directly from the cultures of origin. The more I experience a particular culture, the more I appreciate the value of their stories. My travels have taken me to Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and Europe. I find myself amazed at both the differences and similarities of the various countries. Nifty stories

Some world stories are downright funny. Other world stories are mysterious. Many world stories are full of insight. Often world stories are inscrutable. Generally world stories contain lessons. All world stories entertain.

Regardless of their intent, all world stories express deep bonds with the fabric of a country and culture. The experiences of people are drawn in world stories.

To enjoy the breadth of subject matter found in world stories, listen to my CD entitled “World Full of Stories. It is an award winning recording that will take you on a delightful trip around the world! At www.jaystetzer.com you will find a rich source of world stories! More Info.

The struggles of life have been with us for centuries as well. Wars. Pestilence. Relationship scuffles. All of which beg for some direction, some assistance. A resolution of some sort.

Needless to say, no one cares to listen to preaching. We desire to sweeten our bitter medicines. Enter laughter. It is the honey in the brew. Witty humor is priceless humor. A unique combination.

As you know, laughter lightens the heart. Laughter takes the sting out of life. And everyone loves to laugh at the foibles of our own species (as long as it happens at the expense of another). This is priceless humor.

Look around you at the great humorists. Art Buchwald. Mark Russell. Garrison Kiellor. Check out the humorists of history. Mark Twain Henry Fielding All of them were storytellers. Painting scenes with priceless humor.

What makes priceless humor? There is a simple answer to this question. Priceless humor revolves about common everyday experiences. The lost keys. The comic situation. The laughable consequences generally follow in quick succession.

You will find lots of priceless humor in urban folktales. My CD Parking in Manhattan illustrates many humorous circumstances. Folks can relate to and empathize with the characters involved in these hilarious comedies. Priceless situations create priceless humor.

You can also find many examples of priceless humor in world stories. These stories always bring gales of laughter when they are told. Two good examples from my CD Fables in Four Minutes are “Rock Soup” and “Herschel in the Woods” Listen to “The Egg Seller” or “Hickory Dock” from World Full of Stories. These are just a few examples of priceless humor. You will find yourself remembering these stories for a very long time. You can find priceless humor and more at www.jaystetzer.com.

I listen to lots of conversations. They are laden with disasters and catastrophes. The conversants generally cannot see the life lesson they offer. It is my job as a storyteller to sort out the meaning from all the information I hear. To make the tale palatable, I inject a bit of humor. Making the story priceless with priceless humor!

There is priceless humor in virtually every genre. Why? Simple answer number two. Laughter makes learning easier. There is often a lesson to be learned through a story with priceless humor. It just goes to show what a treasure priceless humor can be.

The word seemed allusively defined, yet attractively so. Still, I did not really define the word until I found myself using it to refer to the stories I tell to audiences and on recordings. Actually, I hit the books when a listener said my stories were nifty. The Merriam/Webster Dictionary definition states: “very good, very attractive,” etymology unknown, originally used in 1865. The standard reference Compact Oxford Dictionary states: “particularly good, effective, or stylish.”

So how do I define nifty stories? The stories I tell always have a message, a lesson, a bit of perspective, and they are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making their point. You could say that my idea of stories that are nifty are ones that entertain as well as enlighten. There needs to be a message beyond a witty punch line.

Nifty stories are stories that teach. Nifty stories appeal to a broad audience. Nifty stories travel beyond the culture from which they originate. Nifty stories are always in vogue. These stories are naturally very attractive. Nifty stories are worth their weight in gold! You can find great nifty stories on www.Jaystetzer.com

I am now a grandparent. And I am always on the lookout for a unique gift children would enjoy. Something that will last far beyond the moment of giving. One great gift I have found is a memorable story. And it is appropriate for all ages, children included. Think of all the pleasurable hours an entire CD of stories can provide. Think of the glimpse it can give into cultures and customs from countries around the world.

You can find three CDs listed on the “Recordings” page of my website. Fables in Four Minutes contains ten wonderful stories from ten different storytelling genres. For listeners who want to take a virtual trip around the world, World Full of Stories makes a unique present. My latest project is Parking in Manhattan, and it contains a compendium of urban folktales that will tickle the funny bone. If you wish to make a purchase of one or more CDs, the directions on the “Recordings” page will assist you.

Looking for a unique gift children will value and cherish? A unique gift children can grow with? A unique gift children can share with their parents and friends? A memorable gift is the gift of story. It is a unique gift children will cherish for the rest of their lives!

I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels around the world. And each time I visit another country I have the opportunity to learn a bit about it. Customs and rituals. Daily habits and geography. So the world stories I hear have substantial meaning to me. In the process, I have discovered how world stories arise out of the cultures from which they are born. My firsthand experience of a given culture heightens my appreciation of their stories. I have visited countries in Europe, Central and South America, throughout Canada, the United States, and Southeast Asia. I find myself amazed at both the differences and similarities of the various countries.

All cultures regard certain notions as sacred. The demonic can also be found. These notions appear regularly in their stories. Their stories grow out of this mythical soil. Myth forms the basis for many world stories. They include creation stories along with other stories that explain the world.

By contrast, folk tales spawn from daily village life. These stories rise out of a rural setting for obvious reasons. The world of folktales is also inhabited by fairy tales. The questioning minds of preliterate villagers found apt expression through stories of magic and mystery. Cautionary tales abound, all of them containing messages to avert disaster. Do not go into the deep, dark woods! Steer clear of wild beasts! Do not talk to strangers! Then again, many folktales tell of reward and happy endings. Good is eternally pitted against evil. The Golden Rule reigns supreme. No matter what the genre, a good world story brings meaning to the contemporary world as well. And that’s where modern day storytelling has a place. Contemporary society is far removed from rural villages of old, but the old stories still remain pertinent.

Some world stories are downright funny. Other world stories are filled with mystery. Many world stories are full of insight. Often world stories are enigmatic. Generally world stories contain lessons. All world stories entertain.

No matter what, all world stories maintain a deep bond with the fabric of their culture. The experiences of people are drawn in world stories. And they have merit in worlds far removed from their origin.

Listen to my CD entitled “World Full of Stories” to enjoy the variety found in world stories. It is an award winning journey that will take you around the globe!

You can find three CDs listed on the “Recordings” page of my website. Fables in Four Minutes contains ten wonderful stories from ten different storytelling genres. World Full of Stories has a dozen stories that will take the listeners on a trip around the world. Parking in Manhattan, my latest project, represents a compendium of hilarious urban folktales, all of them sounding as though they really happened! To purchase my CDs, just follow the directions on the “Recordings” page to place your order. Child stories

Looking for a unique gift children will value and cherish? A unique gift children will never get tired of? A unique gift children can enjoy sharing with their friends and family? A memorable gift is the gift of story. The kind of unique gift children will treasure for a long time to come. A page to read..

Even when I was growing up, I found myself deeply touched by inspirational stories. I heard similar stories from my mother and my grandfather. Once in a while, a teacher would tell a story that held profound meaning to me. I noticed that stories with a message stuck in my memory. To this day I still remember and follow those messages. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Honesty is the best policy. Slow down and notice the things around you. Community giving is part of community living. Messages that made me who I am today.

Today I tell many of the stories I heard as a child. They have an ageless quality. The messages are as relevant now as they were long ago.

Why seek out inspirational stories? First, consider the barrage of daily news and information. Second, the lives we live give us no breathing space to reflect. And without time to reflect, how can we develop insight into the affairs of the day? This is where inspirational stories serve us well. A listener can mull over inspirational stories. They offer something to think about. Something that helps us to find our personal “true north. Something that gives us perspective.

Care for some inspiration? At www.jaystetzer.com you can find memorable inspirational stories. On the “Listen” page of my website, click any one of the story samples and you are likely to find a message worth your time. “The Egg Seller” and “Herschel and the Wedding” from the World Full of Stories CD are good examples of inspirational stories. From the CD Parking in Manhattan, “Service with a Smile” brings a great message to the listener. Long after they are told, inspirational stories stay in the memory. In fact, the inspirational stories I tell even inspire me!

We live in a complex, fast moving world. As we head on down the highway of life, we can all use a little direction to guide us. Inspirational stories can help us in our travels. Like having your own spiritual GPS! There’s a wealth of inspirational stories available on all of my recordings. Listen for yourself!

Whenever I heard the word I assumed it meant something good, something attractive. However, it was only when I found myself using the word in my description of my own stories that I needed to define it. Actually, I hit the books when a listener said my stories were nifty. The Merriam/Webster Dictionary definition states: “very good, very attractive,” etymology unknown, originally used in 1865. The standard reference Compact Oxford Dictionary states: “particularly good, effective, or stylish.”

What makes nifty stories nifty? The stories I choose to tell are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making a point, a lesson, a message, a bit of perspective. To me, nifty stories are a blend of entertainment and education, or what some call “edutainment.” I look for stories with certain underlying values that help the listener to set their internal compass when sailing through life.

Any story with a moral at the end sends the listener a clear message. It teaches by example. However, the lessons in many other stories may not be as obvious. The meaning is hidden in the actions of the characters. Listeners are left to figure out the message for themselves. And different listeners will carry away different messages. Stories such as these are inclined to be more widely popular. The subtler lessons tend to come from longer tales. Epic stories have many layered lessons Just compare a tale from the Arabian Nights to a fable by Aesop to see the difference. Which one gives you more freedom to choose your own message? Personally, I like to find my own message when listening to a story. The stories I chose for my Fables in Four Minutes and World Full of Stories CDs are good examples of nifty stories with subtle messages.

Nifty stories edify. Nifty stories are memorable. Nifty stories travel beyond the culture from which they originate. Nifty stories are always in vogue. These stories are naturally very attractive. Any stories of worth are nifty stories.