Building Optimism: Why Our World Looks the Way it Does, and How to Make it Better

by Coby Lefkowitz

Building the world of our dreams has never been more attainable than it is today. Our society is the wealthiest, most knowledgeable, and most technically advanced in history. Yet, why does so much of the modern world around us feel dispiriting?

In this hopeful work, Coby Lefkowitz details how the design of cities and towns is shaped by a community’s beliefs, and the decisions made based on those beliefs. If we want to create a better world, we must first embrace the optimistic ideal that such a pursuit is both possible and worthwhile.


Tracing the history of the built environment in the United States from the rise of urbanization in the Industrial Revolution to the present day, Building Optimism explores why our communities look the way they do, and offers a series of concrete reforms to make them more beautiful, desirable, friendly, salubrious, and affordable. Drawing on the fields of urban planning, finance, architecture, governance, and real estate development, Lefkowitz provides a practical guide for developers, city officials, and design professionals on how to create a better future, and a peek behind the scenes for anyone who is curious about how our world is shaped. Several dozen vignettes of contemporary projects serve as inspiration for what is possible to build today, and reference for what may come tomorrow. The world of our dreams is only a dose of Optimism away.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Urbanism

542 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2024

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well-researched, precisely articulated, and passionate account of why our built environment is the way it is today and how it can always be improved. In a world that can feel increasingly bleak and homogenous, Lefkowitz provides a thrilling--and compelling--argument for optimism, emphasizing the power that individuals have to realize what would make our world better and pursue it. This book is packed with detail for readers with any level of familiarity with the subject matter, from top-level explanations of key concepts to case studies showing those concepts in practice to images of unique and joyful buildings and cities from all over. This is a perfect gift for any fans of architecture, urban planning, and history, or anyone looking for an informative, accessible, and engaging deep dive into a topic that is underrepresented in our media despite shaping everyone's lives, every day.

[Gabriel Freifeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Building Optimism: Why Our World Looks the Way It Does and How to Make It Better" by Coby Lefkowitz is a thought-provoking, insightful, and profoundly inspiring read. This book masterfully blends history, design, urban planning, and human psychology to present a compelling argument for why our built environment matters more than we realize — and, more importantly, how we can improve it.

Lefkowitz's writing is accessible yet profound, weaving together complex ideas in a way that feels both educational and motivating. His ability to highlight the intersection of architecture, human behavior, and social equity makes this book a must-read for anyone interested in creating more vibrant, inclusive, and livable communities.

What sets this book apart is its balance of realism and hope. Lefkowitz doesn't shy away from acknowledging the flaws in our current systems, but instead of focusing on doom and gloom, he presents tangible solutions. His optimism feels earned, not naive, and by the end of the book, you can't help but feel more empowered to play a role in building a better future.

Whether you're an architect, urban planner, community leader, or simply a citizen who cares about the places we call home, Building Optimism will shift your perspective. It left me with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of how our environments shape our lives. If you're looking for a book that will inspire you to think bigger, act smarter, and dream of a brighter future, this is it.

An absolute must-read for changemakers, dreamers, and doers alike. Coby Lefkowitz has gifted us with a roadmap to hope — and I, for one, am grateful for it.

[Noah Tang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coby Lefkowitz's Building Optimism is truly a necessary read for not only aspiring developers and urbanists, but anyone who inhabits our built environment. So many people today are caught in the doldrums thinking about how our cities are literally sucking the joy out of our lives. Instead of giving into the pessimism that often is pervasive amongst urbanists today, Lefkowitz charts a course forward to a better future using examples from current practitioners all across North America.
He grounds his work in an immense history of urban development that brings us to the mess that we've made as a society. What is inspiring though, is has how he uses three example communities and how they leveraged their situations to build more beautifully: Charleston's emphasis on historic preservation and a swarm of citizen-developers, Santa Barbara's civic pride and design guiderails, and Portland's incrementalism.
His volume is full of color images of projects that have been completed, with the hopes that this book will inspire more people to do the same. I surely am!

[Julien Denis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunate that I felt like I had to rate it a 3. I wanted to like it and I really hope the book does well because I want Colby to do well and spread his good work. For me, it was too long, didn’t feel like there was that extra thing that made it a great book. It wasn’t until the second to last chapter where I was like here’s some truly good content. And that can maybe come from my extensive reading in this subject recently. Maybe this book is more geared for someone not as shackled by urbanism as me. But out of all urbanism books and building books, I won’t be make this a must read recommendation. I really support the vision and message, I just didn’t get the X factor I was hoping for to be fair.

[Becca Tabor · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who does not have a background in urbanism or architecture, but feels inspired by beautiful places and wants to live in better designed cities, the book was highly educational. A lot of my frustrations felt validated and it was good to be challenged to maintain optimism in the face of ugly surroundings. I appreciated the thorough explanations and examples provided throughout the book. I also really admire Coby's inclusivity and acknowledgement of complex topics and societal issues.

Would highly recommend to anyone who wants to live in a more beautiful, intentional world! (And also to anyone who hasn't fully realized that's what they want yet...you will by the end of the book!)

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful look at the history of development and building. Great research and examples make it an easy read .
Must read for anyone with an interest in urban planning, development , and architecture

[Matthew Staubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing read generating a revitalizing attitude towards re-establishing the standards the built community once had in order to create a future we want to live in. Must read for anyone interested in Urban Planning!

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read - so fun to read a friend’s work and be so gripped by it. Compelling case for building more housing that is more beautiful and connected for the good of humanity. With exposes into different cities across America, Coby tells us how we can make higher quality places for folks of all backgrounds. Excited to see what else he publishes and how it has a positive impact on the world!

[Trent Lefkowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book with a compelling philosophy about why we are not building more beautiful cities, why that is a problem, what we can be doing to fix it. Lefkowitz artfully lays out the combination of financial incentives, burdensome regulations, and lack of imaginative thinking that have contributed to the malaise of our built environment. Crucially, he provides tangible, realistic, and above all Optimistic recommendations for how we can build beautifully. The sense of Optimism pervading in the work is necessary given our current climate, and makes this book a must read for anyone interesting in urban planning or the built environment.