Flow [Paperback]

Mihaly Csikszentmihaly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2002

What really makes people glad to be alive? What are the inner experiences that make life worthwhile? For more than two decades Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi studied those states in which people report feelings of concentration and deep enjoyment. His studies revealed that what makes experience genuinely satisfying is 'flow' - a state of concentration so focused that it amounts to complete absorption in an activity and results in the achievement of a perfect state of happiness. Flow has become the classic work on happiness and a major contribution to contemporary psychology. It examines such timeless issues as the challenge of lifelong learning; family relationships; art, sport and sex as 'flow'; the pain of loneliness; optimal use of free time; and how to make our lives meaningful.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You have heard about how a musician loses herself in her music, how a painter becomes one with the process of painting. In work, sport, conversation or hobby, you have experienced, yourself, the suspension of time, the freedom of complete absorption in activity. This is "flow," an experience that is at once demanding and rewarding--an experience that Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates is one of the most enjoyable and valuable experiences a person can have. The exhaustive case studies, controlled experiments and innumerable references to historical figures, philosophers and scientists through the ages prove Csikszentmihalyi's point that flow is a singularly productive and desirable state. But the implications for its application to society are what make the book revolutionary. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Aristotle observed 2300 years ago that more than anything men and women seek happiness. Csikszentmihalyi (psychology, Univ. of Chicago) has for 25 years made similar observations regarding "flow," a field of behavioral science examining connections between satisfaction and daily activities. A flow state ensues when one is engaged in self-controlled, goal-related, meaningful actions. Data regarding flow were collected on thousands of individuals, from mountain climbers to chess players. This thoroughly researched study is an intriguing look at the age-old problem of the pursuit of happiness and how, through conscious effort, we may more easily attain it. Recommended for general readers.
- Terry McMaster, Utica Coll. of Syracuse Univ. Lib., N.Y .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Random House (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0712657592
• ISBN-13: 978-0712657594
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buddhism for the rational mind - An inquiry into the pursuit of happiness., April 26, 2011

By 

Doug "El Guapo" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flow (Paperback)

Stop. Take a moment and think about your life. When was the last time you felt happy, satisfied, content or fulfilled? What were you doing? Chances are, there's something about the nature and structure of that particular activity that makes it pleasant and enjoyable. Flow is Csikszentmihalyi's inquiry into the pursuit of happiness.

The process takes him far and wide, from the major world religions, to cultural anthropology; philosophical systems to sociological studies. The objective is to identify how to be happy in life and in respect of the formal academic process, the book is rife with footnotes and citations. This would be a great choice for the rational, left-hemisphere dominant personality. You know the type, they're the ones with the intellectual curiosity, who don't take things at face value and check the references out for themselves.

The first edition is over 20 years old now, and the last couple decades have witnessed a dramatic culture-wide slide from the positive, or happiness side of the scale (the autotelic), to the negative, or unhappiness (entropy). Factors identified as negative - meaning they increase unhappiness, are expanding, and becoming ingrained. There's a story in the news today about a paper written by University of Kentucky Psychology professor Nathan DeWall titled "Narcissism and implicit attention seeking", which finds narcissism has increased exponentially over the past 30 years. As factors increasing unhappiness become normalized, than the argument in favor of deviation (following Mihaly's recommendations) becomes increasingly compelling.

"We are in the process of creating what deserves to be called the idiot culture. Not an idiot sub-culture, which every society has bubbling beneath the surface and which can provide harmless fun; but the culture itself. For the first time, the weird and the stupid and the coarse are becoming our cultural norm, even our cultural ideal."
Carl Bernstein, U.S. journalist. Guardian (London, June 3, 1992)

It's all too easy to become imbalanced in life, and lose sight of what's really important. Therein lies the value of Flow. It's a guide back to a sensible core. Highly recommended.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Falls Flat, February 28, 2009

By 

Nathan Beauchamp "ConsumerAdvocate" (Oak Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Flow (Paperback)

The main issue I have with this book is that it is a fairly boring read. The second is that it is filled with vague generalities that don't fit into any recognizable scientific or psychological norms. It is essentially one man's take on what it means to be happy. As a definition of happiness, it sort of works, but there isn't really any substance to the book. Filled with oblique metaphor, anecdotal evidence, and a loosely defined spiritualism that is most similar to Zen Buddhism, the book does nothing to provide any answers on how one can truly be happy. The pursuit of 'flow,' admirable as it may be, is in no way definable as making one happy any more than any other esoteric personal philosophy. If you're interested in the nature of happiness or in invigorating your own creative spirit, there are much better resources available.

2/5 Stars. Turbid, unscientific, and lacking any philosophical base aside from its own claims. Give Aristotle a read instead.

5.0 out of 5 stars Flow: The Classic Work on How to Achieve happiness, June 17, 2009

By 

Gary B. Cohen "Leadership Coach" (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Flow (Paperback)

If you have ever played sports and time just stood still you have experienced FLOW. When you are at work and have the right amount of challenges and it takes a high degree of skill you have experienced FLOW. Flow is found when there is a focus on goals that are clear and compatible; when the heart, will and mind are all in alignment all the while you must also be getting immediate feedback on the actions.

Csikszentmihalyi, does a fabulous job of helping the reader understand flow but more importantly show the reader how to obtain it. There are many areas in our environment that prevent us from obtaining FLOW and Csikszentmihalyi also provides the reader an understanding of what they are and how to navigate around them.

This is a short read - pick it up in NY and have it finished by the time you hit LAX if not sooner. Flow: The Classic Work on How to Achieve Happiness