The Art of Gathering
2018 • 320 pages
Ratings22
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings22
Average rating3.8
"A bold new approach to how we gather that will transform the ways we spend our time together--at work, at home, 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"--
Reviews with the most likes.
If you had told 20-year-old-me that a book on social gatherings was in my future, I would've raised a skeptical eyebrow; if you'd told me that 55-year-old me would already know and practice much of that advice, I might've laughed nervously while backing away slowly, looking for nearby assistance. How little we know of who we are to become.
This is a lovely book, entirely human-centered. Parker focuses entirely on connection and meaning: she eschews the shallow bullshit of which-paper-stock and what-font engraved invitations, concentrating purely on planning, preparation, communication. Understanding purpose. Paying attention to the reason behind a gathering — whether it be a book club or a meeting between heads of state — and to the needs of the people involved. She lays out ground rules and guidelines for helping you understand the event beforehand, then make it a success. Recommended reading even if you don't often entertain world leaders.
My usual quibble: poor editing. Parker is fond of pronouns; many of her sentences include ambiguous antecedents, forcing the reader to halt and back up. Caveat lector.
P.S. should you decide to time-travel to 1985 to double-check my assertion above, would you mind passing along a stock tip to 20-year-old me? “Buy low; sell high.” would be perfect.
Some great ideas but much stronger for professional gatherings – I don't feel like every personal gathering needs a deep, disputable purpose. For all that Parker disdains the term, sometimes people DO just want to hang out.
I wanted this to be a book about how to improve gatherings and make the most of time with people but most of the book read like a college professor droning on about her achievements in gathering important people. If I could cut out half the pages of this book, it'd be a short book about being a better host. Unfortunately, you have to dig through the ramblings of someone who often breaks her own rules of name and title dropping to get the good parts out of the story.
