One strategy discussed is transitioning from the dining area to the living room after dinner to create a natural break for guests who want to leave. Using square or round tables for dinners with 5 to 6 guests to ensure everyone is involved in the conversation and keeping the gathering intimate. The physical setup of the gathering, such as the table shape, plays a crucial role in the dynamics of conversation. Additionally, preparing for the gathering and engaging in activities like asking intimate questions can enhance the overall experience.
Why do so many book clubs fall apart? Do the best parties have rules? And does Angela’s husband want to date you?
- RESOURCES:
- "Do Conversations End When People Want Them to?" by Adam M. Mastroianni, Daniel Gilbert, Gus Cooney, and Timothy D. Wilson (PNAS, 2021).
- "3 Steps to Turn Everyday Get-Togethers Into Transformative Gatherings," by Priya Parker (TED Talk, 2019).
- The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, by Priya Parker (2018).
- Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, by Sebastian Junger (2016).
- Beartown, by Fredrik Backman (2016).
- “The 36 Questions That Lead to Love,” by Daniel Jones (The New York Times, 2015).
- A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman (2012).
- "Sense of Community: A Definition and Theory," by David McMillan and David Chavis (Journal of Community Psychology, 1986).