Written by AMA's own founders, this is where theory becomes practice. After learning the principles in class, this book shows you exactly how to apply them to the meetings you already run. A practical workbook offering 100+ upgrades for 40 common "default" meeting practices, written as the direct companion to put Meeting Design principles into action.

Widely considered the founding text of Meeting Design as a profession. It pairs a theoretical framework with extensive practical tools drawn from the authors' decades of meeting-design practice. Written by the very people teaching the AMA curriculum, this book's framework maps almost one-to-one onto MD1, MD2 and MD3. Reading it before class means walking in already fluent in the vocabulary.

Challenges the default assumption that a meeting is just a meeting. Parker brings a sociological and almost anthropological lens to why we gather, arguing that purposeful design — not logistics — is what makes a gathering work. Every meeting designer's first question should be "why are we gathering at all?" Parker spends an entire book answering exactly that — making this the foundational text behind every MD-series course.

Drawing on a large body of organizational-psychology research, Rogelberg explains exactly why most meetings fail and backs every recommendation with empirical data rather than opinion. Meeting design can't run on intuition alone. This book hands you the data to make the case — invaluable when pitching organizational change to skeptical stakeholders.

Drawing on decades of groundbreaking psychological research, Kahneman exposes the two systems that drive our judgment — System 1 (fast and intuitive) and System 2 (slow and logical) — proving how cognitive biases secretly sabotage human decision-making. This book hands you the behavioral science to understand why brainstorming fails, how groupthink takes over, and how to design processes that bypass cognitive traps.

Written from the dual perspective of host and facilitator, showing how to create real purpose and connection at any gathering — from boardrooms to community events. A great facilitator is also a great meeting designer. Parker's framework is a constant reminder that every facilitation choice you make is shaping the participant's experience.

A pocket-sized facilitation handbook that condenses the core skills, tools, and processes a facilitator needs into a fast, in-the-room reference. After F1, you'll want a quick-reference guide you can check mid-session — this is exactly that. Compact, practical, and easy to keep in your bag.

A systems-thinking and organizational-behavior take on what facilitation really is, introducing the "mutual learning model" as a framework for shifting a facilitator's underlying mindset. Growing as a facilitator isn't just about technique — it's a fundamental shift in how you show up in the room. Schwarz's framework is the best theoretical grounding for the deeper mindset work explored in F2.

A collection of over 80 game-like formats for creative meetings, blending visual thinking with group-process design. Translated into 16 languages worldwide. F3 and F4 explore a wide range of meeting formats — this book is the richest source of inspiration, with formats you can apply directly or remix. An essential field manual for any facilitator.

A practical, step-by-step guide for navigating group energy and structuring dialogue, focusing on the core mechanics of intervention, workshop flow, and collaborative problem-solving. An excellent roadmap for session planning, mastering facilitator posture, and managing challenging group behaviors.

A revolutionary framework for parallel thinking that untangles group discussion by isolating different modes of thought: White (Facts), Red (Feelings), Black (Risks), Yellow (Benefits), Green (Creativity), and Blue (Process). The ultimate tool for cutting through endless discussions and ego clashes. By getting everyone to think in the same direction at the same time, it makes decision-making incredibly fast and structured.

Systematically compares working styles across cultures along eight dimensions — communicating, evaluating, persuading, leading, deciding, trusting, disagreeing, and scheduling. The best pre-reading for S1. Meyer's dimensional model makes abstract cultural differences visible and actionable, with direct application to designing cross-border meetings.

The foundational text of cross-cultural research, using large-scale empirical data to establish classic dimensions like power distance, individualism, and uncertainty avoidance. To understand cultural difference at its root rather than just its surface, you need to know Hofstede. Reading this first will give S1's content a much deeper layer of meaning.

A deep dive into some of the world's most effective teams, revealing three core ingredients of high-performing culture: safety, vulnerability, and shared purpose. The ultimate goal of cross-cultural collaboration is building an effective shared culture. This book reframes every meeting design as an opportunity to shape that organizational culture.

A deep dive into cross-cultural management that outlines 7 key dimensions of culture — such as rules vs. relationships or individual vs. group. Explains why a workshop format that works flawlessly in New York might completely bomb in Tokyo. The ultimate guide to structuring cross-cultural sessions and adjusting your facilitation style.

A pioneering text on intercultural communication introducing the groundbreaking concepts of High-Context vs. Low-Context communication. Explains why some participants need explicit written agendas (Low-Context) while others rely entirely on unwritten social cues (High-Context). A crucial read for understanding the invisible cultural forces shaping team behavior.

A seminal study in cultural psychology showing that Westerners and East Asians literally see the world differently. It contrasts Western linear, individualistic logic with East Asian holistic, relationship-based thinking. A foundational guide for adjusting your facilitation prompts to match how different minds naturally process information.

Analyzes hundreds of TED talks to distill nine rules for being memorable, covering storytelling, emotional connection, and visual delivery on stage. A moderator needs to understand what makes a moment memorable in order to help the audience absorb a speaker's message. Gallo's framework is the most usable stage-language toolkit available.

A veteran speaker's honest, often funny account of what really happens on stage, including how to handle surprises, difficult audiences, and technical failures. Nothing tests a moderator more than handling the unexpected. Berkun's real-world stories mentally prepare you before you ever step on stage.

Backed by scientific research, this book shows charisma is a learnable skill built on three dimensions — presence, warmth, and power — with concrete exercises to develop each. A great moderator needs the whole room to feel their presence and energy. Cabane's techniques apply directly to managing your state and staying connected to the room in real time on stage.