On its surface, The Tragedy is a story we all know well—a sad and dark string of events that ultimately lead to a hero’s doom. (Debbie downer, I know).

But for Christopher Booker’s book 7 Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, it follows another clear plot pattern that is well worth studying. From Romeo and Juliet to Bonnie and Clyde, tragedies tell us about a hero/heroine’s run with temptations, greed, lust and hubris.

Does a brush with death ALWAYS resolve a plot? And how could they serve as cautionary tales in our presentations?

Welcome to Presentation Book Club. Let’s talk about tragedies.