One Story, Building

What do a sinking sailboat, a hidden time capsule, a captured squirrel, and a homemade raft have in common? Just this: stories led me to them all.

One Story, Building gives a comical and compelling look at how stories shape us and make us. Wes Young's memoir carries readers on a real and relatable journey through the turbulent coming-of-age years, proving how strong the power of narratives can be, and how drastically this power can direct a life's trajectory.

By filtering his life through the various lenses of the books and movies that made him, Wes retraces his journey of self-discovery. But are stories and narratives leading him to his sincere self, or tricking him into hollow imitations? Most of all, in a world echoing with endless stories, how can the narrative noise harmonize into a life well lived?

Read on to find the answers, and to discover the One Story that towered higher than all the rest.