Summary Of Bruce Feiler's 'The Stories That Bind Us'

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The article, “The Stories That Bind Us,” by Bruce Feiler, centers on the problem of families falling apart and proposes a way to fix it. Feiler’s primary assertion is that “the single most important thing you can do for your family may be the simplest of all: develop a strong family narrative” (Feiler). The idea is that sharing a family story will strengthen relationships within a family. As a result, the problem Feiler characterizes will be prevented. In my initial reading, I began to believe that Feiler’s proposed solution could actually solve the problem of families falling apart. This was because he including personal anecdotes, evidence of studies, and quoted experts on the matter. All of these factors led me to be persuaded that cohesive families are held together by strong family narratives. However, after reading comments posted by other …show more content…

One comment in particular, made by a user named Ellen, had a significant impact on my initial reading. This reader shared that her life was full of misfortune and made a rather good point. Ellen revealed how her adversity made her want a better life for herself and her children. After, she made a point that challenged Feiler’s ideas claiming, “They could handle the hideous truths at this point, but I don't for a minute believe that they would have benefited from hearing about the rotten wood in the family tree as children” (Ellen). Her belief is that she has achieved a better life for herself and her children. Ellen uses the fact that she has not told her children about the terrible things in her life to reveal flaws in Feiler’s

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