Nancy Duarte opens by arguing that genuinely persuasive presentations follow narrative story structure — establishing tension between current reality and a better possible future — rather than simply delivering data and information in sequence.

Why story structure produces more persuasive presentations:

• Pure data delivery, without narrative structure, often fails to create the emotional engagement necessary for genuinely persuading an audience toward action
• Story structure, establishing clear tension between 'what is' and 'what could be,' provides a more compelling framework for audience engagement and eventual persuasion
• This narrative approach, drawn from Duarte's extensive presentation design experience, distinguishes genuinely persuasive presentations from merely informative ones

This opening establishes the book's core narrative framework, distinguishing persuasive presentation design from purely informational data delivery.