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Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Paperback – February 1, 1991

by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Author)

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Editorial Reviews

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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.

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"An intriguing look at the age-old problem of human happiness." -- --Library Journal

"Documents a set of scientific discoveries about human nature that actually illuminates the life experiences of all persons." -- --Howard Gardner, author of Frames of Mind

"It rethinks what motivates people." -- --Newsweek

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Product details

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial; First Edition edition (March 13, 1991)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060920432
ISBN-13: 978-0060920432
Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.7 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 589 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2015 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Happiness
- #10840 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling
- #20926 in Books > Self-Help

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Vladimir Prus

Controversial approach to happiness

May 6, 2013

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The concept of flow is widely known these days, but on a superficial level. So what can the original book teach us? Flow is defined here as a state when you're "so involved in activity that nothing else matters", no surprises, but it is presented in a greater context, as a way to achieve happiness.

We're told that "psychic entropy" (or lack of control over conciseness, or simply random thoughts), is the thing that prevents happiness. Flow, on the other hand, is "optimal experience", the reverse of psychic entropy. Actually, this scale from psychic entropy to flow *is* the measure of happiness. Then, the book gives some conditions for achieving flow -- basically finding tasks that are challenging enough, but not too much, together with unambiguous and fast feedback (I found that part somewhat vague). And there's a lot of examples of flow experiences. Everything can become flow, if challenges are sought and overcome. Every chapter fits into a solid book structure.

But it's not clear the structure makes sense. Yes, being engaged in activity at proper challenge level can be very rewarding. Is it an answer for everything? Is unhappiness indeed the same as psychic entropy? Maybe if one cannot concentrate on anything at all, yes, but hardly in all cases. Is suppressing distressing thoughts by finding a random engaging experience the best approach? No matter what that experience is? True, the book does mention that some flow experiences are not necessary good, but then goes on giving a lot of examples of flow, regardless of their value. If I'm constantly bothered by a bunch of unresolved problems, would it be wise to go and find some flow experience, to suppress the thoughts about these problems? Maybe find flow in washing dishes? Even if I manage to get very very engaged in that, will I feel a slightest bit better afterwards?

The book was originally published in 1990, and it shows. I found no mention of Daniel Kahneman' concept of experiencing self and remembering self, which means that no matter how pleasurable flow might be in the moment, it is only one part of the story (see "Thinking, Fast and Slow"). There's no mention of Daniel Gilbert, who claims that people mostly stay at their baseline happiness level, and so expending great effort to become happier is probably a mistake (see "Stumbling on Happiness"). Instead, we find some favorable mentions of Mr. Freud, for the first time in all the books I read.

Flow is probably an important part of good life experience, and this book is important in giving examples of flow. But equating flow with happiness is very controversial, and too much of the book is based on that equality.

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katarinaism

Probably the best self-help type book I've read this year

May 29, 2017

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Probably the best self-help type book I've read this year, although it is not written like a conventional self-help book. This book talks about the state of "flow", or optimal experience - a state that is hard to describe but basically encompasses measured, precise concentration on an intellectually or physically satisfying task. It's the feeling I've had playing a Beethoven sonata on the piano, or when running, or when focusing on a procedure. It's a sense of time almost standing still, and feeling completely engrossed in whatever you are doing. It is not so much the action as the feeling of focus - i.e., flow can occur at work or at home, but it is not being in a yoga class and thinking about what you need from the grocery store.

The book focuses on ways that we can encourage flow in our lives, and also talks about the perils of overreliance on a particular flow activity - ie., the chess prodigy who is not competent in social gatherings, or the artist who only enjoys their life when painting but not outside of that activity. It is about trying to see the potential for flow in our daily lives, using it and harnessing it to achieve worthwhile goals, and encouraging flow in a multitude of mundane and transcendental activities. This book made a lot of sense to me - it explained the sense of control as being perhaps more important than conventional notions of 'happiness' and that satisfaction depends on feeling that one has some control over their circumstances and actions. This is true even in the most controlled of circumstances, i.e., individuals who were political prisoners was given as one example.

I think the lessons and principles in this book were very useful and inspiring - it doesn't give a specific, step-by-step plan for making your life flow, but it does provide a useful background and guideline on ways to give life more meaning.

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Venkatesh Prasad Ranganath

Strongly recommend it if you are looking for some reflective content.

June 15, 2017

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I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up the book -- scientific exposition about flow or another shallow read about flow? Having finished it, I am glad that I picked it. As the title suggests, the book talks about flow: what it means, why is it relevant, places and activities it can be found, how it differs due to people and environment, how to cultivate/enable it, and how it affects life. It also talks about topics such as pleasure vs enjoyment, consciousness, self, ego, life goals, and such. It does so by using a diverse collection of real life examples from scientific exercise. One of the best aspect of the book is that it lays down the pros and cons of most aspects it presents.

That said, I really liked the book as it is an odd book cos' it will make the reader feel uncomfortable but will still draw the reader to read thru it as it gets the wheels spinning.

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