Will Storr

Will Storr is a British author, journalist, and former photographer who has contributed to publications like Esquire and GQ Australia. He has authored six books, delving into diverse subjects ranging from supernatural beliefs and scientific skepticism to the nature of the self and the dynamics of social status.

His journalistic career has seen him cover significant global events and social issues, including conflicts in South Sudan and Uganda, and human rights abuses. Storr's work has been recognized with awards from One World Media and Amnesty International. Beyond writing, he has also exhibited his photography and worked as a public speaker and ghostwriter.

Storr's literary output includes several works that explore the nature of belief and the human mind. His first book, 'Will Storr versus The Supernatural,' investigated individuals who believe in paranormal phenomena, featuring behind-the-scenes accounts of television shows like 'Most Haunted' and interviews with figures such as the Vatican's chief exorcist, Gabriele Amorth. He also explored the Enfield Poltergeist case by tracking down a claimant. 'The Heretics: Adventures with the Enemies of Science' (published in the US as 'The Unpersuadables') examined irrational beliefs, with Storr encountering creationists, climate change deniers, and Holocaust deniers. These books position Storr as an investigator of fringe beliefs and the psychology behind them.

Further delving into the human condition, Storr's book 'Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed and What It's Doing to Us' examines the historical evolution of the Western self, connecting it to the rise of social media and the pressures of perfectionism. The New Yorker adapted a short film from this work. His novel, 'The Hunger and the Howling of Killian Lone,' is a work of horror fiction. More recently, 'The Science of Storytelling' became a Sunday Times Bestseller, and 'The Status Game' presents Storr's theory on the fundamental role of social status in structuring human interaction and societal dynamics.

Storr's extensive journalism career has taken him to volatile regions, reporting on the South Sudanese Civil War and the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, where he was once abducted. He has also covered issues such as illegal street racing, male suicide, and human rights abuses in El Salvador and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, earning him awards for his investigative work. His writing has appeared in major publications like The Guardian, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. Storr's family background includes journalism, with his great-great uncle being the author Samuel Smiles.