Customer Reviews
Essential, if slightly flawed, reading for aspiring writers - By: Stuart Neville, 16 Nov 2008 
While McKee's book is primarily pitched at screenwriters, it is also essential reading for novelists. If you don't have a decent idea or a healthy dose of talent then no book can help you. If you have the basic building blocks then this book is invaluable. If it can be considered a recommendation, I read STORY as I was starting out on my last novel. That novel is now available for pre-order on Amazon following a two-book deal with Random House. Is that a direct result of reading STORY? Of course not, but McKee's advice did help me keep my novel tightly structured & plotted, as well as bring depth to my characters.
STORY is not perfect, however. It might have benefited from some judicious editing here & there, & McKee can be overly verbose & prone to repetition. These are tiny niggles, though, & I can't recommend STORY enough. To get the most from it, I would suggest reading it while actually working on a project so that you can absorb the ideas through practical application. Reading itin isolation may not be as useful.
it's my Bible - By: Aunty Pog, 10 Nov 2008 The first chapter is rather densely written but don't let this put you off. Skip it, if need be, & come back to it later. The information this book contains is of phenomenal value. Don't bother with any other books on screenwriting that aren't this one. It's my Bible.
He ate a dictionary for breakfast! - By: Big Bry, 10 Oct 2008 
I have little to add to what has already been said by other reviewers about the value of this book. I don't think anyone can reasonably argue that it has plenty to offer the aspiring scriptwriter.
My only gripe is that he appears to feel impelled to use the most obscure words he can find when a much simpler word or term would have sufficed. I don't consider myself to be particulary uneducated, but I found myself having to reach for the dictionary on more than one occasion. He is clearly a very clever chap, so surely he must know the advantages of keeping the language simple?!
Worth every penny - By: Mark Meynell, 17 May 2008 Whether you are an aspiring scriptwriter or not, this is quite simply one of the most perceptive introductions to the dynamics of narrative & storytelling. Am a novicein all this - but it is full of perceptive & helpful guidance, illustrations & worked examples. I couldn't put it down, which is not necessarily what one would expect from a book that is essentially a primer textbook. My guess is that it would be of use to anyone involvedin creative writing - not least because McKee carefully articulates the differences between filmscripts & other forms like novels & even plays - thus providing insights to them all.
Hmmm... a case of the blind leading the blind? - By: Scottishnutjob, 21 Oct 2007 
Don't forget this guy has never had a big film made. One TV movie & that was it. Otherwise I dare anyone to find a decent film he wrote. If his advice is sooo great why doesn't he take it & write a world-beater screenplay. Because he can't.
Knowing everythingin this book did not help him.
Reading this book & knowing everythingin it will not help you.
