Welcome back to the Tranquility du Jour book club! From one bibliophile to another, let’s read stories that move us, make us think, and open up important conversations.

Together we’ll read and discuss in our TDJ Insider’s Facebook group and hopefully in person someday soon. You in? Hope so!

Introducing Our July Book

Description

“Hosts of all kinds, this is a must-read!” —Chris Anderson, owner and curator of TED

From the host of the New York Times podcast Together Apart, an exciting new approach to how we gather that will transform the ways we spend our time together—at home, at work, 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.

Why I Chose It

I wanted to choose another book that will help us navigate the world as it reopens and we start gathering again. May we create meaningful, transformative, and memorable experiences. I hope you’ll join me!

How to Join

Hop over to theTDJ Insider’s Facebook group and look for the pinned post. I’ll share a few thoughts and prompts mid-month and welcome you to share favorite quotes and takeaways throughout the month.

Want a physical copy of the book? Here’s a list of Black-owned bookstores. Or download the book via an e-reader or Audible (use this link for a free 30-day trial and first book).