In a Good Place

How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive

Contributors

By Leidy Klotz, PhD

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Apr 28, 2026
Page Count
304 pages
Publisher
Little Brown Spark
ISBN-13
9780316567381

Price

$15.99

Price

$20.99 CAD

Format

Format:

  1. ebook $15.99 $20.99 CAD
  2. Hardcover $29.00 $39.00 CAD

So many books address how to live a good life. This one is about where.

 Weaving together lessons ranging from ancient monuments to modern office layouts, from the neighborhood streets where we learned to ride a bike to the college dorm where we forged lifelong bonds, Leidy Klotz illuminates how small shifts in our physical environment can transform our habits, our relationships, and even who we are.

Readers learn why we perform better on our "home turf" vs in neutral territory, why we thrive in some work environments but not others, why our love of home improvement is an impulse rooted in our evolutionary past, and more.  When we understand how our surroundings can either support or thwart our psychological needs, we can create spaces that foster genuine belonging, spark exploration and learning, and connect us – including to our past and to the legacy we leave behind.

​At a time when so much of our life is spent in the virtual world, In a Good Place is an invitation to reengage with the physical one. Whether you're picking a venue for your next birthday party, renovating your kitchen, or deciding which neighborhood to move to, Klotz provides the scientific grounding and practical wisdom for getting the most out of your spaces, and yourself. 
 

Leidy Klotz, PhD

About the Author

Leidy Klotz is a behavioral scientist and engineering professor at the University of Virginia who studies how and why humans design. He has written for the Washington Post, Fast Company, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review; has published his work in top journals like Nature and Science; and has been interviewed on Hidden Brain, Freakonomics, Mindscape, and The Atlantic’s How to Build a Happy Life. Klotz has advised clients ranging from the Departments of Energy and Homeland Security to CapitalOne and Amazon, and he regularly presents at leading organizations and universities. Before becoming a professor, Klotz designed and built schools in New Jersey. Prior to that, he played professional soccer.

Learn more about this author