Customer Reviews

The Evolving Self: A Psychology for the Third Millennium

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While "everyperson" might not find this entertaining reading, I think this book is the first one I would/will give my children as they try to become adults. It ought to be required reading for every adult in every culture, especially those who think they're "right." Csikszentmihalyi's insight and ability to weave a powerful story from myriad perspectives is simply awesome. We may think we are "people" but until we understand the interconnection of our genetic heritage and our mimetic heritage, and develop our own sense of flow in the world, we are little more than reproductions of other (dead) people's thinking. The concepts of memes and complexity and the invitation to become a transcender ranks Csikszentmihalyi right along side Carl Rogers as the most informed about how we can become truly individual, contributing human beings. Don't miss this book!

Oh, I don't know. I think C. has some important points to make about the role that genetic and cultural influences have in shaping our unconscious, and, hence, our decisions about our lives. But I think he needs to go back to the drawing board on some of his analysis of "self." Many of the features that he attributes to the self, are, in my opinion, also generated at the genetic/cultural, and more importantly, familial (i.e. early childhood) levels, not the absolutes that he claims. (Although I really liked his idea of the self as both a manifestation of our awareness, and its director.) I also liked the "flow" stuff. I think he is on to something there, the need for involvement and challenge and discovery. But I was not nuts about his semi-proselytizing tone, and the idea of directed evolution. I'm not sorry I read it, but it does feel to me like he is only half way to where he thinks he is, and where he wants to be. Which is a pretty cool place.

"The Evolving Self" is not a typical general interest psychology book. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi puts on the philosopher hat for this book. The book takes the position that everyone needs to take responsibility for directing our future for the better. Mihaly warns that we cannot assume our civilization will always improve. He argues that the third millennium could prove to be a turning point where societal improvement will stop becoming automatic and may require we consciously direct bringing greater order to the world.

"The Evolving Self" is a heavily researched book. The book will take your mind across the span of history and cultures. In that sense, it is a joy to be exposed to all these aspects from the perspective of a psychologist (but wearing a philosopher's hat mind you).

My main criticism of "The Evolving Self" is the language used. This term meme is used through out. Meme was introduced by Richard Dawkins in 1976 and is not considered part of mainstream social science thinking. Memes are hard to wrap your head around because they treat cultural ideas almost like evolving life forms. It's a little weird and just a theory at this point, but Mihaly uses it as the foundation to how we can direct our own evolution. Other language that is a bit weird is "entropy" and "complexity". We want our actions to not increase entropy and increase complexity. This is kind of abstract and not as inspiring as it could be when we are really just talking about trying to make the world a better place.

The part of the book I was really looking forward to is the early part of the book. Mihaly teased of covering the new field of evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary psychology attempts to explain our current day psychological traits as the output of evolutionary natural selection over thousands of years. This stuff I dig, but the coverage on evolutionary psychology is quite limited.

I still highly recommend "The Evolving Self". When I finished the book, I paused to think about how I could do my part to "increase complexity". I was glad for all the things Mihaly exposed me to in his book and for making me feel the importance of making a difference.

"The Evolving Self" was published in 1993. I would love to hear what Mihaly thinks of the direction we have gone from 1993 to 2009. This book was written before ubiquitous video game playing, excessive multitasking, email overload, anxiety from 9/11, and collapse of the financial system from completely legal parasitic behavior. Does Mihaly think in the last 16 years we have allowed better opportunity for flow? Are we going in the direction he would desire? Or is society making distraction and unchecked parasitic behavior an easier choice and meaningful flow a harder choice? Flow is central to his arguments. Flow is necessary for this self evolution. I think reading "The Evolving Self" is even more important than it was in 1993. On the whole, I recommend this book.

What is most signficant about this work is its exploration of the veils that our culture and its members live with, and what could be beyond them. It summarizes the concept of Flow and then takes us beyond into what we can actually do in communities to make a difference in the evolutionary epic. I find this book to be very practical.

I enjoy Csikszentmihalyi's work. His name is pronounced chick-ZENT-me-high. He is a good writer, a brilliant and original researcher at the University of Chicago, and his work has great practical value. I love his examples of how leaders at certain times and places have given order to a chaotic world, and how he translates that into how WE can bring order into OUR chaotic world.

Csikszentmihalyi's work is about work itself: How to make it enjoyable. And beyond that, how can we bring a sense of meaning into our lives? How can our work become more meaningful and more enjoyable? He explores it well.

I am the author of the book, Self-Help Stuff That Works, and I am an expert on practical self-help. Csikszentmihalyi's work is practical. I recommend this book.

I read a lot, and never post reviews. This book is special though.

A very well researched and articulated book, the author throws light on the most important subject - you. It will teach you about your evolutionary past and what drives and motivates you (in more detail than I have read in most other books). He tells you everything you need to know about "flow." This book will take your thoughts (however they are) and make them more positive, productive, and happy. In doing so, you will become all of these.

The basis for the book is essentially that we are evolutionarily programmed to enjoy challenges. Absence of challenges = boredom. Challenges far beyond our reach = Stress. But challenges just above our skill level are what makes us grow and become more complex individuals. This book also throws light on morality and how that should (and can easily) guide your every move.

It is heavy reading, so be prepared for that. I read it when I was 19 and I think it is perfect for young people. A person of any age, however, will find this book of great value as it will challenge you to become a better and more complete person. If you don't need this, then don't buy the book. But, most of us do.

Don't Delay - READ THIS BOOK TODAY!

I have a personal discipline. For every 5 books I read, one of those books MUST be at least five years old. Once again, I have been immensely blessed by this discipline.

What honestly startled me about this book, published in 1993, the unfinished business that remains to be realized is both profound and poignant. It's simply that prescient.

The following are a few tidbit excerpts. As you read them, please consider their pertinence today:

"At this point in our history it should be possible for an individual to build a self that is not simply the outcome of biological drives and cultural habits, but a conscious, personal creation. That self will be aware of its freedom and not fear it." P. 4.

The point is not to be browbeaten into the belief that you are powerless. It is in the interest of those who control our energy to make it seem that the status quo is natural, right, and impossible to change. It is in our interest to figure out that this is not always true. P. 105.

Having learned that boredom and worry are the norm in the family, in the school, and in the community at large, children give up curiosity, interest, the desire to explore new possibilities, and become used to passive entertainment. P.203.

Most novel ideas or behaviors are generated by people who try out new things because they are bored by old routines, or because they are confounded by chaos. P. 255.

If you're bored by old routines and/or curious or concerned about chaos in this world, this book is for you.

One of my favorites YTD in 2011 --- even though it was published in 1993.

I wish I could say this book really represented an evolution in psychology or how we conceive of the self, but the truth is, it really doesn't. If you read this author's other works, then this work can be thought of as half a step beyond those works. At times the author is judgmental, condescending, and whiny, and he doesn't offer much in the way of a concrete definition of self. The final few chapters predictably focus on flow, but don't provide anything significantly new to the theory that he hasn't offered anywhere else.

I found this book interesting, thought provoking, and at times disturbing and even depressing. C. has a lot of good ideas and he synthesizes them effectively. The only gripe I have is with his comments about television.I feel he overstates his case. Sure, there's plenty of garbage on TV, but there's also worthy and serious fare as well- ever heard of PBS? I highly recommend this book, though at times it is a little self serious and even pompous.

A truly fantastic book for important worldly wisdom and a reliable guide for living. My favorite book of all time thus far and for the last two years I have been on a mission reading/learning/seeking the truth and have read many books in that time by many of the big authors/figures. This comes out number one. Its a challenging read mind you so if you are looking for a simple book or a book that says"do this, do that" or "10 steps to enlightenment/happiness", etc (which are not always too bad) then look elsewhere. He lays out many facts and wants the reader/each individual to reflect upon wht is laid out to them.

As he said himself in some interview:

".... I don't like top-down pronouncements like "Everyone should do this" or "Everyone should do that." I think we each should reflect on what we can do individually, what our responsibility may be for our community, for our family, or just for ourselves personally--all the way from personal responsibility to what we can do for the nation or the planet. There are so many levels on which one could make a choice that would either enhance or derail evolution. And so my attempt is just to make people aware that they are responsible--they are at the cutting edge of evolution. We all are at the cutting edge of evolution. By our actions we are going to implement the future."