The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Hosting a truly meaningful gathering—for work or pleasure—feels like an art form that only a special few can pull off.

But as Jonathan and I learned from Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters, there are steps we can each take to ensure our gatherings are memorable for all the right reasons.

How “pop-up rules” can replace traditional etiquette and avoid social awkwardness.

Hosting as a “generous authority” to protect, equalize and connect your guests (and the power of exclusion).

The value of a cold open.

How creating “good controversy” can lead to powerful experiences and decisions.

The importance of preparing people vs. preparing things.

Quotables

“The pop-up rules are so important because they tell us how to behave—what’s acceptable behavior just for that gathering.”—RM

“Having the rules of the road and being the host who calls party foul—that’s what allows people to get into the experience.”—JS

“We have the power to design these gatherings…to make them really meaningful.”—RM

“Exclusion is key to creating a good event…if the guest list isn’t really curated it creates a different dynamic.”—JS

“As the host of a gathering, your job is to be a generous authority.”—RM

“You give them something to stick around for, so that the end is a community experience.”—JS

Links + Resources

The Art of Gathering 
Priya’s Newsletter: Text GATHER to 66866
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