In a Good Place - by Leidy Klotz (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

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; 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 regularly presents at leading organizations and universities. Before becoming a professor, Leidy designed and built schools in New Jersey. Prior to that, he played professional soccer.