The Art of Gathering
How We Meet and Why It Matters
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4.2 • 72 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
"Hosts of all kinds, this is a must-read!" --Chris Anderson, owner and curator of TED
From the host of the New York Times podcast Together Apart, an exciting new approach to how we gather that will transform the ways we spend our time together—at home, at work, in our communities, and beyond.
In The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive--which they don't have to be. We rely too much on routine and the conventions of gatherings when we should focus on distinctiveness and the people involved. At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play.
Drawing on her expertise as a facilitator of high-powered gatherings around the world, Parker takes us inside events of all kinds to show what works, what doesn't, and why. She investigates a wide array of gatherings--conferences, meetings, a courtroom, a flash-mob party, an Arab-Israeli summer camp--and explains how simple, specific changes can invigorate any group experience.
The result is a book that's both journey and guide, full of exciting ideas with real-world applications. The Art of Gathering will forever alter the way you look at your next meeting, industry conference, dinner party, and backyard barbecue--and how you host and attend them.
Customer Reviews
Very Insightful
This book was such a great mirror for me to better view my life and the way I interact with others. I was truly inspired to better think about the way I prepare, execute, and close my business meetings and social gatherings. As we work to come out of social isolation due to the COVID pandemic and as we navigate more and more digital interactions, I think this book has become even more of an essential read.
Together with purpose
Our family has hosted parties since as early as I can remember. I was confident in believing that we were experts at the practice of bringing people together. Priya Parker’s book let me know how wrong I was. Moreover, how much opportunity is missed at every social or work gathering when we just follow the same script again and again. Parker guides us expertly through the Who, What, Why, When, and Where of having meaningful gatherings in every facet of life.
Parker’s pedigree and associations in the event planning space are a foundation she quickly points out but then skillfully weaves into the sections to show practical examples of how to level up gatherings. I appreciate her no nonsense, rip the band aid off style when it comes to addressing the most sensitive of decisions around gatherings. It is the attention to the human experience of why we gather and not the logistics that makes this book special. The emotionally touching selections from past gatherings really highlight how at are most vulnerable we are most connected.
My copy is littered with dogeared pages that tie to the practical techniques that gave me perspective shifting insights on what can happen when you put people in a room together for a shared purpose and goal. The practical and pragmatic tools and strategies for better and more meaningful gatherings of every size are even more important after a taxing pandemic and during turbulent political times. A call to intentional and meaningful planning into our social interactions is needed more than ever.
Must read if you plan or host events
This book has come recommended several times but I just got around to reading it. What has become abundantly clear to me is the lack of intentionality around planning events. This book is very practical with a plethora of examples that reinforce several of the authors points. I will be using this book for many years to come.