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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Art of Gathering summary
Priya Parker
How We Meet and Why It Matters
24 mins
Brief summary
"The Art of Gathering" by Priya Parker is a guidebook on how to create meaningful and transformative gatherings. Through personal anecdotes and practical tips, it inspires readers to rethink the purpose and design of their get-togethers.
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The Art of Gathering
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Key idea 1 of 8
Gatherings are important to the human experience, but too often we don’t give them much thought.
We spend our lives gathering – first in our families, with friends, in playgroups and at schools. Then, with adult life, come weddings, business meetings, class reunions and dinner parties. And as our lives end, our families and loved ones gather at our funerals.
Gatherings are a huge part of life, and they’re a part of the human experience. But the time we spend in them is often underwhelming and uninspiring.
At work, we moan about conferences and meetings. Duncan Green, a specialist in international development, spoke for many of us when he wrote in his 2016 article in the Guardian about his views on conferences. With some few exceptions, he said, his usual mood at conferences ranges from boredom, to despair and all the way to rage. And a 2015 survey presented in the State of Enterprise Work Report found that employees cited wasteful meetings as their top barrier to getting work done.
Non-professional gatherings are also increasingly disappointing. As traditional religion holds less and less appeal to younger people, gatherings built around church communities are in decline. But we also don’t even seem to be particularly happy with the time we are spending with friends. A 2013 study into the state of friendship in America found that 75 percent of people were dissatisfied with their platonic relationships.
Given this state of affairs, you might think more people would take the time to think about how to change things. But instead, we keep taking the same approach.
It’s rare to go to a conference, or a drinks party, and find that the event organizers have given serious thought to how guests will connect with each other and get something meaningful from the gathering. That’s perhaps because when we do seek out advice for hosting, we tend to focus on the mechanics. What is fundamentally a human challenge – how to bring people together in a way that is meaningful, interesting or thought-provoking – becomes a logistical one. We focus on Powerpoints, AV equipment, table decorations and menu choices, more than we think about people and human connection.
But the good news is there are steps you can follow to ensure that your gatherings really work. And anyone can follow them. You don’t need to be an extrovert or have a fancy house or location for hosting your event. You just need to read on.
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Key ideas in The Art of Gathering
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What is The Art of Gathering about?
In The Art of Gathering (2018), Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives – from business meetings to dinner parties – are lackluster, routine and lacking in purpose. Parker sets out a bold new approach to gathering that focuses on distinctiveness, purpose and real human connection, and shows how simple steps can invigorate any gathering of people.
The Art of Gathering Review
The Art of Gathering (2018) is a thought-provoking exploration of how to create meaningful experiences and gatherings that bring people together. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers practical strategies and frameworks to design gatherings that leave a lasting impact.
- Provides insights from diverse settings like corporations, conferences, and family gatherings, making it applicable to various contexts
- With its engaging storytelling and relatable examples, it transforms the way we approach gatherings, ensuring that they are never boring.
Best quote from The Art of Gathering
Gathering – the conscious bringing together of people for a reason – shapes the way we think, feel, and make sense of our world.
—Priya Parker
Who should read The Art of Gathering?
- Anyone who’d like to create better, more impactful parties or events
- People interested in how to use gatherings to make real human connections.
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The Art of Gathering FAQs
What is the main message of The Art of Gathering?
The main message of The Art of Gathering is the importance of creating meaningful and transformative experiences through intentional gatherings.
How long does it take to read The Art of Gathering?
The reading time for The Art of Gathering will vary depending on your reading speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Art of Gathering a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Art of Gathering is a must-read for anyone who wants to make their gatherings more purposeful and impactful. It provides valuable insights and practical advice for creating memorable events.
Who is the author of The Art of Gathering?
The author of The Art of Gathering is Priya Parker.
What to read after The Art of Gathering?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Art of Gathering, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
- Together by Vivek H. Murthy
- The Relationship Cure by John M. Gottman and Joan DeClaire
- Mastermind Dinners by Jayson Gaignard
- Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
- How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job by Dale Carnegie
- The End of Alzheimer's Program by Dale Bredesen
- Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma