I picked up this book out of a genuine desire to become a better host, but also a better guest. There are some nuggets of domain expertise in the book, but the point is lost on me when the case study is a socialite doing fundraising gala. So much of the book is bourgeoisie thinking - I don't need to give my friends the night of their lives, not all my memories need to be unforgettable. Sometimes I want dinner to be as pleasant as having comfort food in pyjamas, an uneventful night to wash away "excessively interesting" times.