Books are one of my favorite things, so I’m super excited to announce the launch a monthly book giveaway! At the beginning of each month, I’ll feature a recommended read and invite discussion around the topic of the featured book. Of those who join the discussion, three winners will be selected at random and announced during the last week of the month.
Featured book for the month of August 2019

The first selection is The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, by Priya Parker. At a time when coming together is more important than ever, she argues that most gatherings are lackluster and unproductive. This is in large part because we rely too heavily on routine and the conventions of gatherings when we should focus on distinctiveness and the people involved. In this book, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to help us create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for both work and play.
This was one of my top books picks in 2018 and I’m in the process of re-reading it now. Stay tuned for a follow-up blog post—hopefully next week!–sharing favorite quotes, tips, and takeaways.
How to enter the giveaway
Entry is pretty simple! By August 24, send me a note—or post a comment at the bottom of this blog post OR on the Facebook announcement–sharing any of the following:
- A favorite tip or practice you’ve used to make a gathering more enjoyable, welcoming, or productive.
- A specific struggle you’ve encountered in planning or hosting an important convening.
- An example of something an event host did that made you excited to RSVP, compelled you to actively participate, or simply made the event more memorable or meaningful.
I’m looking forward to hearing (+ learning) from you!
Thoughts? Share them here: