The Art of Community, Second Edition

Second edition of this bestselling book on creating robust, thriving, positive communities using seven ancient principles any organization can follow.

Now with 25% new content, including a chapter on building virtual communities.

A proven 7-principle framework for building communities where people genuinely belong, used by leaders at Google, Airbnb, the US Army, and beyond.

Now in a fully updated second edition with 25 percent new content, this Nautilus Award-winning guide gives leaders a practical and historically grounded system for creating communities that last, whether they're in person, virtual, or somewhere in between.

Drawing on three thousand years of human tradition and the author's own work across tech, nonprofit, government, and religious organizations, The Art of Community maps the 7 structural principles every thriving community shares-

Boundary - who belongs and what that means Initiation - how new members are welcomed and integrated Rituals - the repeated practices that build shared meaning Temple - physical or virtual spaces that anchor community identity Stories - how shared narratives reinforce values Symbols - the objects and images that signal belonging Inner Rings - how members grow and deepen their participation over time

This edition includes a brand-new chapter on virtual community building, making it as relevant for remote teams and online groups as for in-person organizations.

Ideal for managers, community builders, HR leaders, pastors, and nonprofit directors who want to move beyond surface-level engagement and create a culture where people genuinely support one another.