u003cbu003eThe landmark survey that celebrates all the places where people hang out--and is helping to spawn their revivalu003c/bu003eu003cbu003eu003cbru003eu003c/bu003eu003ciu003eA u003c/iu003eNew York Times Book Reviewu003ciu003e Editor's Choiceu003c/iu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003e"Third places," or "great good places," are the many public places where people can gather, put aside the concerns of home and work (their first and second places), and hang out simply for the pleasures of good company and lively conversation. They are the heart of a community's social vitality and the grassroots of a democracy. Author Ray Oldenburg portrays, probes, and promotes th4ese great good places--coffee houses, cafes, bookstores, hair salons, bars, bistros, and many others both past and present--and offers a vision for their revitalization.u003cbru003eEloquent and visionary, this is a compelling argument for these settings of informal public life as essential for the health both of our communities and ourselves. And its message is being heard: Today, entrepreneurs from Seattle to Florida are heeding the call of u003ciu003eThe Great Good Placeu003c/iu003e--opening coffee houses, bookstores, community centers, bars, and other establishments and proudly acknowledging their indebtedness to this book.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003e