The Great Good Place
Havens and Hangouts at the Heart of Community
In the forthcoming The Great Good Place II, Karen Christensen and Ray Oldenburg show how third places have a vital role to play in solving climate change, loneliness, and political polarization – and make us healthier to boot!
Explore real-life examples from around the world: bars and bistros, taquerias and teahouses, stoops and saunas, and much more. The authors delve into practical design and economic issues, encouraging readers to create and nurture the special places where, as the song goes, everyone knows your name. This new book is a completely new version of the late Ray Oldenburg’s influential 1989 book that introduced the concept of the third place, written by his long-time correspondent and collaborator Karen Christensen, senior editor of the 4-volume SAGE Encyclopedia of Community.
The authors tackle questions like these:
Supported by a grant from Mass Cultural Council
What is the difference between third places and public spaces?
Does a third place have to be free or cheap?
Can third places require membership?
Do third places need public funding?
What design elements help third places thrive?
How do you find (or create) a third place?