Parker begins her book with a clear statement of her position, remarking that most gatherings of all kinds—from boardroom meetings to dinner parties—are unsuccessful and disappointing. Nevertheless, our habits and traditions spur us to continue repeating the same ineffective strategies for gathering. She argues that “[w]e reduce the question of what to do with people to a question of what to do about things: PowerPoints, invitations, AV equipment, cutlery, refreshments” (x). Parker sees a fundamental problem with this. Refusing to accept that gatherings will inevitably be dull and fruitless, she has written this book as a practical guide for readers. Parker asserts that we need to turn attention to the purpose and form of gatherings, writing that “the way a group is gathered […] determines what happens in it and how successful it is” (xiii).

Parker’s introduction also explains why she is an expert on the art of gathering. Having grown up in a multiracial, multicultural home and studied conflict resolution, she is poised to offer realistic, well-informed advice on productively bringing people together in shared settings. Finally, Parker outlines the structure of her book, which mirrors the sequence of planning, starting, and ending a gathering.