I asked my wife, “Do you know how much of our DNA we share with chimpanzees?” She shrugged and guessed, “Maybe 50%?” I smiled and said, “Guess again—it’s shockingly high.” “80%?” she tried again. The truth is far higher. Geneticists estimate we share up to 98.7% of our DNA with chimps. That leaves just 1.3% of our DNA that makes us distinctly human.
But what does that 1.3% truly give us? Besides less hair and the ability to walk upright, it’s this small difference that sparks our ability to dream, create, and shape the world. Perhaps the greatest gift this variance imparts is the ability to communicate and pass on knowledge. Storytelling—whether it’s about something funny that happened when I walked into a bar or the principles of quantum physics—allows us to exchange ideas and experiences in a way that sets us apart. This shared imagination is our most profound achievement, enabling us to connect, learn from one another, and build on collective knowledge. Through storytelling, entire civilizations have risen, shaped by the stories and ideas passed down through generations.
A Small Difference with Big Implications
As a lifelong lover of stories, I often reflect on how much this 1.3% shapes who we are. Since elementary school, I’ve devoured stories of all kinds—science fiction, fantasy, philosophy, history—you name it. My grandmother, who shared my love for reading, took me on trips to historic places like Monticello. While I climbed statues, she sat reading on a bench. She even gave me a copy of The Three Musketeers at age 11, and I’ve read it more than a dozen times since.
Today, I have over 500 audiobooks in my collection, many of which I listen to on repeat. My love of stories shaped not just my personal life but my professional life as well, where I’ve come to believe that storytelling is the most profound expression of that 1.3% difference.
Unlike my ancestors, who passed down stories by firelight, chimpanzees—our closest genetic relatives—live entirely in the moment. They don’t carry the weight—or gift—of imagination. While they can learn from each other, they aren’t sharing tales of their ancestors or contemplating their place in the universe. Humans, on the other hand, have developed languages, philosophies, religions, and literature—all driven by our need to connect and make sense of our experiences.
Storytelling lets us share more than just facts. It’s how we preserve meaning and shape the future, passing on wisdom and knowledge across generations.
Imagination as the Driver of Progress
Imagination drives all major human advancements. Think about it: every great achievement, from the arts to science, starts with someone imagining something beyond what currently exists. We don’t just solve problems—we create new ways of living, thinking, and connecting.
Whether it’s composing music, discovering new medicines, or designing cities, it all begins with that same spark of imagination. We see this in popular media every day, from YouTube channels sharing personal stories to podcasts revealing deeply personal narratives. It’s in the sharing where true power lies. You might have an amazing idea for a product or service that could benefit many, but you can only take it so far alone. Once you communicate that idea in a way that inspires others to get involved—that’s when real growth and development happen.
Imagination drives innovation, but storytelling builds the connections that enable that innovation to thrive.
Imagination: A Double-Edged Sword
Remember, the power of imagination is a double-edged sword. While chimpanzees are capable of volatile emotions and violent acts—like ripping off the faces of human caretakers or killing their own young—these aberrant displays of savagery pale in comparison to what humans can do. Their actions are raw and immediate, driven by instinct and emotion. Humans, however, can harness that same ferocity and amplify it with imagination. We don’t just lash out in rage; we plot, strategize, and extend our capacity for harm far beyond the present moment.
Like The Count of Monte Cristo, who meticulously plots his elaborate revenge over many years, humans possess the unique ability to plan long-term and imagine how their actions will reverberate across time—sometimes with dark outcomes. History is filled with examples of imagination gone wrong—war, conflict, enslavement, and terror—where creativity and intelligence have been twisted for harm or personal gain. Where chimps may lash out in a moment, humans can plan and execute complex destruction.
But just as imagination can destroy, it can also heal and connect. We can dream of peace, build bridges of empathy, and inspire change through the sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and stories. Whether it’s art, music, or even the everyday posts we share on social media, imagination allows us to connect on a deeper level, fostering understanding and unity. In the end, as satisfying as Edmond Dantès’ revenge may be, The Count of Monte Cristo truly resonates when he finds love, forgiveness, and redemption—when he chooses to use his imagination for good rather than vengeance.
The 1.3% That Makes Us Special
While chimpanzees and other animals often live within rigid social hierarchies, humans have evolved to engage in much deeper connections. Our ability to empathize and share in one another’s burdens allows us to build strong, interconnected communities, supporting each other with love, laughter, and genuine care. As described in the Wikipedia article on intimacy, this capacity to connect on an intimate level is fundamental to human nature.
Intimacy, as I see it, is not limited to romantic relationships—it’s the open-hearted exchange of meaningful ideas and feelings, a cornerstone of human connection. Alfred Adler, in Understanding Human Nature, discusses how we begin life seeking approval from our families and communities, much like chimpanzees navigating a social hierarchy. But as we grow, we move beyond the need for approval, evolving into relationships based on equality, mutual respect, and the free exchange of ideas.
This non-hierarchical, empathetic approach to relationships allows us to build social systems that meet our emotional and social needs without placing undue burdens on others. It’s this shared understanding—this ability to build non-transactional, deeply connected relationships—that has given rise to human civilizations, successful startups, and artistic collaborations. It’s through empathy and intimacy that we thrive, not just survive.
This approach also helps us search within and find our own story. Setbacks, reversals of fortune, peril, loss, failure, triumph, transformation—these are the elements of a successful story and a successful life. Remember, the most gripping part of any great story is when the hero is in the deepest trouble. The transformational moment when success seems impossible, and yet, through perseverance and creativity, the hero triumphs—that’s the stuff of legends. When we look within to find what’s worth sharing, we see that we all share struggles and growth. Sharing your story bonds you deeply to the rest of us: the crazy, messed-up, lovable, difficult, interesting, despicable, charming, beautiful humans.
Conclusion: The Power of a Story
Storytelling is what connects us. The happiest people are those who feel most connected, and it’s our stories that bring us together. We may be 98.7% chimpanzee, but it’s the 1.3% that makes us human. Within that small difference lies both our potential for destruction and our capacity for hope, creativity, and connection.
What story will you create with your life? A chimpanzee’s story isn’t very interesting: wake up; scratch; forage; mate; play; fight; sleep; repeat. Contrast that with your story: you dream, plan, care, create, fall down, get back up, help, love—and repeat these steps every day. Your story began the day you used your imagination to create the life you’ve dreamed of. You are the hero of your story and can choose the path that you write. Will it be one of destruction, like the Count of Monte Cristo, or one where you use your powers of imagination to create, explore, and grow?
I, for one, can’t wait to hear all about your adventures. What will your story be?
