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

One of the best books on what it really means to build community and help people find community. I actually bought multiple copies for my work.

The insights in this book are incredibly valuable. The writing is excellent. The author's novel approach to gatherings of all types should be adopted by everyone (business and non-business alike) planning a gathering. I sent copies to my corporate clients and suggested they read and implement it. I hope they follow my recommendation.

I throw a lot of parties. Most are successful but I’ve had a few misses. Then I read this book last fall. I gained so much insight about how we should approach the events we host. Since reading the book I have had some of the best gatherings ever. Just simply being able to keep asking yourself the “why” until you get your answer to the true crux of the reason you’re having the event helps to direct you down the path to something memorable and magical for your guests. So many people think gatherings are just calling friends and family together for food and libations. This book helps explain why there’s so much more work necessary to pull off a successful event. I’m so glad I bought the book. It has amazing insights and valuable suggestions.

I’ve read this book twice and will say that I love the intentionality Priya inspires me to incorporate into my event planning (for both personal and professional gatherings) to make them more meaningful, memorable, and enjoyable.

Such a good read for those that meet for any reason and want to make these meetings more meaningful.

I came across this book at exactly the right time! My fiancé and I have only just begun planning our wedding and having the wisdom of Priya Parker's book has made it so much easier to make decisions as we go into planning. Taking a step back to really think about the purpose behind our wedding and what we want to get out of this celebration has transformed the way we think about who we're inviting, what venue is appropriate, and which elements are truly worth spending our budget on. I highly recommend this book for engaged couples! (And really anyone who's planning any sort of event, big or small.)

I didn’t know I needed this coaching until I read it. The lessons taught have been game changing for me and my organization at large

You think you’re buying a book about hosting better parties/events, but if you really let Priya’s advice all the way in, she’ll change how you experience gatherings of every kind, and how you connect with other people. Really a very special book.

So many meetings or gatherings range from being a dire waste of time, to merely okay, with few standing out as valuable or enjoyable experiences. Parker describes some ways of increasing the effectiveness and meaningfulness of the gatherings you organise and run.The first, and possibly most important, point needs to be considered well before any people arrive: what is the purpose of the gathering? Why is it happening, and what is the desired outcome? Often we think we know the purpose, but we may just be going with the flow (we always have a standup meeting on Mondays), or confusing two conflicting purposes (the example of a funeral is memorable: is it to mourn a passing, or celebrate a life? The answer will change the whole form of the gathering.)Knowing the purpose helps you design the event. Design is less about the logistics (catering, etc) than the people, the setting, the structure of the event. So caterers and similar planners are not the right people to organise your meeting (although they may well be a necessary component). From starting with a powerful opening, through being an active host, to finishing strongly, the advice for a good gathering is somewhat like the advice for a good presentation, writ large.Parker illustrates the advice with many anecdotes. Not all our gatherings are as high power or as high consequence as some of the example here, but they certainly make for memorable advice. I will probably try some of the ideas for the next technical meeting I host, and see what difference they make.

I bought this having heard Priya Parker in a freakonomics podcast about awful business. This is a good book, though it focuses more holistically on gatherings than meetings per se - there's much good advice for hosting a good dinner party - but enough about business meetings to take out of it.Parker is inclined (in my view) to overemphasise the deeper astral meanings of her man gatherings - perhaps I'm a bit too British and cynical for that, but there's enough solid material in here - astral or otherwise - for that not to really matter.Olly Buxton

I really didn’t know what to expect with this book but I was very pleasantly surprised by what I found.As someone who loves to organise events - to “gather” people - this was a very interesting and eye-opening read on how to be very intentional about this act.Everything from the concept of the gathering to the naming, the opening and the closing is considered and discussed in detail with great examples from the many stories Parker has to tell from her own life.This is one of those books you put into practice straightaway and refer to time and time again.Highly recommended for anyone who has ever organised (or plans to organise) any kind of gathering.

The media could not be loaded.  Being intentional about why we meet (whether that be online or in person) makes the experience that much more worthwhile. This book offers actionable insights on how to do that both in our personal lives as well as our professional lives.Christine Brown-QuinnAuthor, Amazon #1 Best Seller Unlock Your Career Success

Live this book. It was recommended by a reading circle and at first I wondered why… as I began reading Priya Parker I realised just how important this book is now. As we begin to emerge from lockdowns with some more anxious than others Parker reveals the secrets to ensuring people feel seen and feel safe in the space we invite them in to. There are so many great stories to help you visualize the suggested ‘strategies’ (for want of a better word). I felt connected to humanity through her story telling. Loved this book.