Coming 4/28/2026
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.
> In a Good Place was selected as a Next Big Idea Club Must Read!
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“Leidy Klotz provides a fascinating exploration of an overlooked idea: The spaces in which you live and work really matter! I came away bursting with new ideas about improving the spaces in my own life.”
—Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and Slow Productivity
“In a Good Place changes how you see the rooms, streets, and shared spaces of your life, and what they make possible. Blending rigorous science with lived experience, Leidy Klotz creates a clear, generous guide to shaping spaces that support us in living well.
—Ingrid Fetell Lee, Author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness; founder of The Aesthetics of Joy
“Our ancestors read landscapes for survival. Now we scroll through phones in climate-controlled rooms and wonder why we’re anxious. In a Good Place gives us the tools to reconnect with our physical world. With science, clarity, and practical wisdom, Leidy Klotz reveals territory no one else has explored. This is a genuinely original and important book.”
—Michael Easter, New York Times bestselling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain; author of the Two Percent newsletter
“I loved this book from the very first page. Its powerful insights into how the spaces we inhabit shape our well-being and sense of belonging offer a fresh new perspective for leaders and educators alike. Combining research with practical advice, Leidy Klotz makes the invisible influence of our environments accessible and actionable. For anyone who wants to create spaces where people can truly thrive, In a Good Place is the perfect guide.”
—Amy C. Edmondson, author of Right Kind of Wrong and The Fearless Organization; Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School
16 Tips from In a Good Place
The playlist below contains the 16-tips from In a Good Place. You can also subscribe for more updates at Leidy’s Substack.
The Latest from Leidy's Substack:
Tips from In a Good Place: Match Place to Purpose
In which the Lego room is never quite the same
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