HBB: Dr. Leidy Klotz’s “In a Good Place”

In a Good Place considers how our physical environments affect our internal psyche and connection to others.

by Gregory Gavi

Journalist and author Maryn McKenna interviewed behavioral scientist and engineering professor Leidy Klotz, PhD about his new book, In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive (Little, Brown) on October 7th, 2026, for the Health Storytelling live Q&A from the Center for the Study of Human Health.

In his book, Klotz unravels how the layout of our buildings, homes, and cities affects our conscious experiences and decision-making. Ever since our early days as an agricultural species, humans have begun to come together into groups to build and shape the physical space around us. Yet little thought is put into how those spaces affect behavior. Klotz discusses the conscious and unconscious choices behind the features of our built spaces, and how readers can harness that knowledge to improve their psychological wellbeing. Layout, ownership context, and clutter can all have profound effects on our relationships, and social wellbeing.

He frames his analysis into “Self-Determination Theory,” a widely accepted framework that reveals three key psychological needs. Firstly, a space can provide agency. Humans feel more comfortable when they can choose how to settle in their space. Additionally, physical
spaces can also be outlets for creativity and self-expression. Individuals may personalize their rooms, offices, and classrooms in ways to align with their cultural practices or personal interests.

Secondly is competence: our “Home Turf” advantage. The longer we spend familiarizing with a space, we can divert more attention to connecting with the people and events. Conversely, unfamiliar spaces can also be used as a tool to emphasize a change in tone or
ideas. For example, one might relocate to have a serious conversation or for learning a new topic.

Lastly is connection. He explains many spaces may hold immense value to your life, simply due to the people who typically inhabit those spaces. Traveling to school, work, or home may trigger specific emotional responses, based on existing relationships we have held in those
environments.

Klotz illustrates how understanding the built structures’ influence on our behavior can be incredibly practical. Many psychological phenomena may also exist below the surface. He suggests focusing on engaging all five senses when considering the application or designing of a space. Additionally, removing distractions from a messy room can make human connections with those unfamiliar to the space easier to make.

Klotz’s book gives an engaging, practical, and deeply emotional look into the world around us. His questions link ideas that underpin our everyday lives. Some connections support and others challenge the assumptions we already make about our spaces. His stories are underlined by engaging anecdotes from his own life, conveying a deeply personal story, and is a must-read for anyone seeking to better understand themselves and the world around them.

In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive is available on Amazon and Bookshop.org. The Health Storytelling Author Q&A series is available on YouTube and continues at 6 pm on November 4, 2026 with Barry R. Davis, MD, PhD. Please RSVP here for Davis’s Q&A on his book The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries That Changed Our World.