IGGPPC : Iggle BookWorms discussion

This month we read The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. Priya Parker is an experienced facilitator and organizer. This book contained her lessons for having a meaningful and impactful gathering.

Here are some discussion questions to get us started, but please feel free to share any of your impressions or thoughts on the book!

What are some ways that Parker's lessons for a meaningful gathering could help improve how we gather virtually during a pandemic?

Do you feel you make a better host or a better guest? What makes you believe that? What qualities do you think make for an excellent host or guest?

Parker recounts many remarkable gatherings and events as examples for what to do and what not to do when gathering meaningfully. What is the most memorable gathering you have attended? What made it memorable?

If you were to throw a 15 Toasts dinner of your own, what topic would you propose for the toasts?

Happy reading! I am excited to hear everyone's thoughts.

I really want to read this one, but it has been a crazy busy month for me and I'm drained. Reading non-fiction probably won't happen in the next weeks. I did find myself a copy at the library though, so I'll join in on the chat whenever I get to it.

The Art of Gathering definitely gave me a whole new perspective on how I will view gatherings in the future. I really had not put much thought into any gathering I had attended previously and didn't necessarily think into the purpose of the gathering very much. I would be interested to hear Priya Parker's take on the virtual gatherings that have taken place throughout the pandemic. I do feel like her take on gatherings would add a little extra to any of the virtual gatherings I have taken part in though, it is definitely a lot harder to make social connections when we are meeting virtually. A lot of the larger work gatherings I have taken part in virtually I end up not having to speak in, whereas if they were in person there would be some time for introductions and typically small group discussions would take place throughout.
I feel as though I probably make a better guest than host. I don't think I am necessarily social enough to overly enjoy hosting an event (depending on what it is). As a guest I would be willing to take part in whatever the host had planned for the event! I think to be a good guest you should participate in what the host has planned, as long as it's something you're comfortable with, and to always be attentive and listening to whoever is speaking. I feel that for both good hosts and good guests the most important thing to be is to be present at the event.
Although this is not a one time gathering, it made me think about the 15 Toasts dinners. When I was in high school I took a Family Studies course and every second Friday we would have a discussion called Failure Fridays. It was one of the more memorable parts of a class for me. Everyone would take a turn going around and talking about one thing they had failed at that week, it could be school related or maybe someone had failed to be a good friend or had let themselves down in some way. It really made our entire class build a strong and supportive relationship with one another. I'm not sure I would choose the topic of Failure for one of my own dinners as I would probably prefer to focus on something more positive so maybe what you view as your biggest achievement or a story that changed your life. I do fully believe that vulnerability can really bring about the best connections that we can have with others and doing a 15 toasts would help build that connection.
This was an interesting read and has changed how I will view any future gatherings that I attend and if I am hosting any will cause me to put a little more thought behind the purpose of my gathering. Thanks for the read!