THE MOTH: THIS IS A TRUE STORY

Truth is not always stranger than fiction. But after reading these 50 extraordinary stories, you wouldn''t want to bet on it.

The Moth is an American phenomenon - a live storytelling event that takes place in cities across the US. Anyone with a true, first-hand story to tell can pitch to take part, and if your story''s goof, the Moth directors help you to tell it better. The 50 stories in this book are the very best of the best.

Meet George Lombardi, the doctor summoned on a Saturday morning to fly to Delhi to save Mother Teresa''s life. Listen spellbound to Annie Duke, playing her first World Series poker hand. Float with astronaut Michael Massimino, playing Gravity for real, repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. Hear Sebastian Junger talk about going to war. Or rock a rhyme with Darryl ''DMC'' McDaniels of Run DMC.

Oh - and why''s it all called The Moth? That''s a homage to the days before TV, before video games, when storytellers held court with the moths, out on the porch, and reigned supreme.