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Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

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Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Harper Perennial Modern Classics) Paperback – July 1, 2008

by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Author)

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“Csikszentmihalyi arrives at an insight that many of us can intuitively grasp, despite our insistent (and culturally supported) denial of this truth. That is, it is not what happens to us that determines our happiness, but the manner in which we make sense of that reality. . . . The manner in which Csikszentmihalyi integrates research on consciousness, personal psychology and spirituality is illuminating.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review

The bestselling classic that holds the key to unlocking meaning, creativity, peak performance, and true happiness.

Legendary psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi ("the leading researcher into ‘flow states’" —Newsweek) demonstrates the ways this positive state can be controlled, not just left to chance. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness, unlock our potential, and greatly improve the quality of our lives.

Print length

336 pages
Language

English
Publication date

July 1, 2008
Dimensions

0.9 x 5.3 x 7.9 inches
ISBN-10

0061339202
ISBN-13

978-0061339202
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Popular Highlights in this book

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The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. Optimal experience is thus something that we make happen.
9,792 Kindle readers highlighted this
The problem arises when people are so fixated on what they want to achieve that they cease to derive pleasure from the present. When that happens, they forfeit their chance of contentment.
8,796 Kindle readers highlighted this
Enjoyment appears at the boundary between boredom and anxiety, when the challenges are just balanced with the person’s capacity to act.
7,760 Kindle readers highlighted this

Editorial Reviews

Review

"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

“Flow is important....The way to happiness lies not in mindless hedonism, but in mindful challenge.” -- New York Times Book Review

“Rethinks what motivates people.” -- Newsweek

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

“[A] passionate and eloquent defense...[of] intellectual as well as emotional commitment to pleasure, for society’s sake as well as our own.” -- Booklist

“Csikszentmihalyi arrives at an insight that many of us can intuitively grasp, despite our insistent (and culturally supported) denial of this truth. That is, it is not what happens to us that determines our happiness, but the manner in which we make sense of that reality. . . . a deep cultural critique . . . the manner in which Csikszentmihalyi integrates research on consciousness, personal psychology and spirituality is illuminating.” -- Los Angeles Times Book Review

“Explore[s] a happy state of mind called flow, the feeling of complete engagement in a creative or playful activity” -- Time magazine

“The insightful analyst Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi argues that the key to gratification is completely absorbing work—he calls it ‘flow.’” -- Salon.com

From the Back Cover

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates the ways this positive state can be controlled, not just left to chance. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness and greatly improve the quality of our lives.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial Modern Classics; 1st edition (July 1, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061339202
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061339202
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.9 x 5.3 x 7.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #13 in Popular Psychology Creativity & Genius
- #14 in Popular Applied Psychology
- #19 in Popular Psychology Personality Study

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5 star		73%
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3 star		7%
2 star		3%
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Top reviews from the United States

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yyzbethy

This book saved my life.

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

After the deaths of my mother, my sister, my godfather, my aunt and my dog, and a paralyzing bike accident of one of my closest friends within a 2 year span, my world was almost completely sideways. My family of origin was gone. Life seemed terrifying. And yet I had a wife and a son who I had to survive for. I wanted to be happy but I had no clue how to feel happy.

A close friend who saw me spiraling recommended FLOW. He is a doctor and no big advocate of self help books. So I knew Flow might be special. To say Flow has empowered me is a gross understatement. I now fully understand what causes happiness and how to engage in happiness producing action. I know the difference between pleasure and enjoyment. I am proactively creating FLOW activity every day, and living a much happier life for it. I am closer to my wife and son, more optimistic about the future and healing from all of the loss. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

308 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Overexplained and lacks foundation

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2018

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Csikszentmihalyi describes -- perhaps in too many words -- the realities that tend to govern enjoyment in life and the lack thereof. The early chapters that set a foundation of enjoyment in life are helpful, although every chapter is overfilled with examples, quotes, and over-explanations that clutter the focus of the chapter. There is a good amount of social history/social psychology in this book, but if you are looking for encouragement and direction in this arena of life -- and some solid brain science research -- Angela Duckworth's book Grit is the way to go (she referenced this book in hers, so I thought I'd read this one next). Most troubling to me, however, is that Mihaly seems committed to a viewpoint that there is no inherent meaning in life, and when there is no foundation for meaning and one has to make meaning . . . well, I'm not sure how Optimal Experience or enjoyment is ever possible in that realm. I finally became un-enamored enough to stop reading, but I did make all the way to page 223, so you can't fault me for not trying . . .

157 people found this helpful

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Jacquie

My Son Read This Book For A High School Assignment and This Is His Review

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2019

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I read the book, FLOW - The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as a part of a high school assignment. The book choice was mine and with my interest in psychology and bio-hacking, it was a perfect selection. Csikszentmihalyi thoroughly explains his study of what he calls “flow,” – basically an effortless, zen- state of concentration in which you no longer perceive time, allowing you to fully express your skill level all the while remaining calm, focused and oftentimes creating a feeling of happiness. Through many examples he shows the qualities that are a big part of what makes people happy and successful in whatever they choose to pursue. It was surprisingly easy to understand, considering the relative complexity of the subject matter. One of my favorite ideas from the book, is that free time is usually more difficult to enjoy than work because it takes more energy to structure it in a meaningful way. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to fill their existential vacuum. I normally would have simply given this book 4/5 stars, but this review is part of my assignment and I had to make it longer. Good book! Worth reading!

124 people found this helpful

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Dawson Hale

The Idea is There But...

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2019

Verified Purchase

Flow is real. You will not find it in this book though. It's hidden, yet visible, throughout most, if not all, ancient and modern texts. I ended up thumbing through this book in a night as I didn't agree with the presentation early on in the chapters that the writer created a chaotic world to tear the mind apart from the uncontrollable part of your world. Entering those flow states where time stands still is an incredible feeling. Facing your fears is a good way to start. Fear of judgment, failure, pain, suffering, etc... Meditate to learn to stay in the moment, then go out and live the moment. Every day wake up with a purpose and improve your house, your life, you, you, you. If you are so pre-occupied with the people around you and it seems chaotic, it's likely because your own life is out of order, as why else would you be putting yourself in those chaotic situations?

53 people found this helpful

Helpful

katarinaism

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

Reviewed in the United States on 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.

111 people found this helpful

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DC

Tema muito interessante, texto prolixo, leitura não é fluida

Reviewed in Brazil on April 8, 2018

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O tema é muito interessante. O estado de fluxo é aquele estado concentrado, relaxado e prazeroso ao fazer uma atividade muito interessante, tal como ler um bom livro, jogar um jogo envolvente, uma boa música. É aquela sensação de envolvimento completo, que nos faz perder a noção do tempo. Ao longo da leitura foi ficando claro para mim que esse estado de fluxo estava bem relacionado à dopamina.Tanto que em um ponto do livro o autor diz que pessoas com déficit de atenção tem dificuldade de entrar em estado de fluxo. No entanto, o olhar do autor é da psicologia, e não da psiquiatria, dessa forma parece que ele busca entender como as pessoas alcançam o estado de fluxo sem uso de nenhuma substância, como a cafeína nem remédios para deficit de atenção.

Resolvi ler depois de ver que o livro era muito bem avaliado, mas me decepcionou em alguns aspectos:

1) O objetivo do livro NÃO é te ensinar a entrar em estado de fluxo. O autor fez diversos estudos sobre pessoas que alcançavam fluxo, ou seja, é mais descritivo. É interessante que ele traz a importância de como a forma como interpretamos os fatos da vida muda nossa relação com o mundo, mas, nesse aspecto, livros sobre Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental valem mais a leitura.

2) O livro é prolixo, muito longo em relação à quantidade de conteúdo que apresenta, o que torna a leitura pesada e nada fluida. De fato, não consegui entrar em estado de fluxo na leitura. Poderia em menos de 100 páginas ter apresentado todo o conteúdo.

3) Sinto que o livro falha ao não buscar ensinar caminhos para alcançar o estado de fluxo. Entendo que entrar em fluxo fazendo coisas que gostamos, como ouvir uma boa música, ler um livro interessante ou jogar um jogo envolvente é simples e natural.

4) O desafio para mim é conseguir ter prazer e entrar em fluxo naqueles livros árduos e de tema chato que tenho que ler para uma prova. Fazer atividades que não são prazerosas, mas necessárias, como cuidar da saúde, ter persistência para malhar diariamente. Se o livro buscasse ensinar como fazer essas coisas com mais naturalidade e prazer, seria para mim muito mais interessante.

82 people found this helpful

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Simonetta Marini

Pericoloso. Maneggiare con cura.

Reviewed in Italy on September 22, 2019

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Pericoloso. Maneggiare con cura.
Potreste trovare veramente la strada della felicità.
Uno dei libri più interessanti che abbia letto. Spiega perché ci sono momenti in cui stiamo benissimo e momenti proprio neri. Fa vedere quanto dipenda da noi la felicità e quanto poco dal mondo che ci circonda.
Non ci sono ricette preconfezionate su come vincere nello sport o guadagnare di più, ma un’acuta riflessione su come migliorare la nostra vita. Uno stimolo a rivedere i nostri valori e le nostre scelte.
Testo piacevole e scorrevole, limitato solo da un carattere di stampa molto piccolo. Se la vista non è più perfetta, meglio orientarsi sulla versione digitale.
Non è tradotto in italiano: richiede una conoscenza almeno scolastica della lingua inglese (e l’aiuto di WordReference).
Se avete superato il giovanile periodo delle grandi certezze e la saggezza del dubbio affiora nelle vostre menti, è il libro per voi.
Ovviamente 5 stelle.
Leonardo
P.S. Libro difficilmente utilizzabile per citazioni in pubblico: il nome dell’autore è impronunciabile.

25 people found this helpful

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LegallyBrunette

Hard to follow. Lacks foundation. Described in too many words.

Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2019

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The book talks about the state of "flow", or optimal experience. It is basically a state of mind where one is so involved in activity "that nothing else matters."

I studies psychology in my undergrad, graduating with high Bs and As. So I was surprised that I had a hard time following this book. One much thinner than my textbooks.

Why I did not like the book:
- Have you hear about point-first writing style? It's basically a method to keep the reader engaged by revealing the point/conclusion of a written piece in the early sentences (of the chapter/paragraph) so that the reader would not have to go on a SCAVENGER HUNT for what the writer is trying to say! Seems like Mihaly is not very interested in this method... Why? Because every chapter is overfilled with examples, quotations, and scientific experiments. The over-explanation takes away what the author was trying to get to. There is just so much clutter that it it makes it hard for the reader to understand what the conclusion of the chapter or even the paragraph is!
- Be aware that this book does not give a specific, step-by-step plan for achieving a state of flow
- I don't agree that happiness = flow. There is more life to that to be honest. I don't mind being in "flow" when studying or working on tasks that I find boring, to have the time past faster per se. But the reality is, the concept does not work like that! So if you are purchasing the book to make your boring chores or student/work life easier, you may want to re-think your purchase.

I hope this was helpful! ¯\(ツ)/¯

29 people found this helpful

chloe

Must-read manual four our times

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2019

Verified Purchase

Loved this book. Thorough and well explained arguments backed up by research. Could not put it down. I also found the authors' outlook comforting and yet reassuringly positive, an excellent manual to live by in a world currently undergoing a great deal of transition.

Arunas Bitvinskas

Great book highly recommend

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2021

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Great book highly recommend

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