The Great Good Place II

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third place” to describe a wide range of familiar and precious spots that previously had no name. He wrote about many third places in his acclaimed 1989 The Great Good Place. The sequel, The Great Good Place II, written by Oldenburg’s long-time collaborator Karen Christensen and including more than 90% fresh material, will be published in 2026. Christensen shows how third places have a vital role to play in solving climate change, loneliness, and political polarization – and make us healthier to boot. 

Visit greatgoodplace.org for details

Karen spoke at the Third Place Summit in The Netherlands and at Placemaking México in January 2026 and writes and speaks about third places at Substack: The Way We Live Now posts and podcasts are available here.