"Clear-eyed yet exuberant, wide-ranging yet intimate, this is an inspiring call for imagining a better future."

Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“Utopia is back! And it ought to be taken seriously, as history is made by the dreamers. If you want to open up new futures for our private lives, please have a look at this refreshing book. A must-read.”

— THOMAS PIKETTYNew York Times bestselling author of A Brief History of Equality

“A fascinating read.”

— Wall Street Journal

“Spirited and inspiring.”

— Jacobin

“Refreshingly optimistic and accessible.”

—The Nation

“More could be possible than we imagine—that’s the liberating and inspirational message of Kristen Ghodsee’s sweeping feminist history of society at its most creative. What a gift she’s given us with this mind-broadening investigation into how for millennia our fellow human beings have reckoned with the toughest questions of fidelity, family, and love.” 

— ADA CALHOUN, New York Times bestselling author of Why We Can't Sleep 

“My god, this book is what I need right now! Exhilarating, good humored, and forward looking, it’s blown open my brain. What a powerful reminder that dreaming of better worlds is not just some fantastical project, but also a very serious political one.”  

— REBECCA TRAISTER, New York Times bestselling author of Good and Mad

“Kristen Ghodsee has boldly gone where few would dare to tread. In this warm, intelligent, and lucid book, she takes us on a deep dive into how people have created better systems for living – systems that actually work. With clear-eyed views of how utopian communities can promote human thriving, she offers hope in a time when we desperately need new ways of imagining the future.” 

 — ROBERT WALDINGER, author of The Good Life and Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development

“Invigorating writing for a cheerless era. Having explained to us Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism, Kristen Ghodsee is back with another splendid insight: utopia can, and ought to, be an everyday thing, in every home.” 

— YANIS VAROUFAKIS, former Greek Minister of Finance and author of Talking to My Daughter About the Economy

“If you're looking for a better way to live, look no further: this book is inspiration, guide and proof of what is possible.” 

— MONA CHALABIdata journalist and winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Illustrated Reporting and Commentary

“Though Ghodsee’s proposals are decidedly utopian, readers who think deeper about them may agree that reshaping society is not such an unworkable thing after all…a well-written book whose premises and prescriptions bear consideration.”

Kirkus 

“Perfect for readers interested in utopian societies, history, and sociology and for those looking for an uplifting look at what the future may hold.”

Booklist