The Art of Community

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 meansInitiation — how new members are welcomed and integratedRituals — the repeated practices that build shared meaningTemple — physical or virtual spaces that anchor community identityStories — how shared narratives reinforce valuesSymbols — the objects and images that signal belongingInner 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.