The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

A life-changing investigation of the significance, use, and advantages of social meetings at work, school, home, and elsewhere.

According to Priya Parker in The Art of Gathering, we find ourselves in gatherings every day. We can reframe and reroute these events to the mutual advantage of host and guest if we can figure out what makes them successful and memorable. Parker describes a gathering as any three or more individuals coming together for a common goal. According to her, we can plan events that are meaningful and unforgettable by knowing why we get together—to recognise, to learn, to challenge, and to change. Examples of such occasions include successful business meetings, thought-provoking conferences, happy weddings, and cohesive family dinners. Parker demonstrates how common people can create extraordinary occurrences, big or small, by drawing on her expertise as a strategic facilitator who has worked with organisations like the World Economic Forum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the retail firm Fresh. She dissects the chemistry of these encounters in hundreds of engrossing instances, illuminating what makes for the best ones and showing us how to apply those components to every gathering. The end product is a book that functions as a guidebook and a voyage, packed with thought-provoking concepts that have practical applications that will alter your perspective on things like backyard barbecues, parent-teacher conferences, and business meetings.