The Art of Gathering
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.
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About the Author
A conflict-resolution mediator by training, PRIYA PARKER has worked on peace processes in India, South Africa, Zambia and the Middle East. She is the founder of Thrive Labs and co-founder of the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, which works to improve inter-group relations at colleges and universities. She has worked at the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, the Dalai Lama's Foundation for Universal Responsibility, and at PRS Legislative Research in India. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she holds dual master's degrees in business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in government from the Harvard Kennedy School. She lives in New York City with her family.