Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4644 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 314 pages

From the Publisher
This classic popular psychology title explains how, by altering our perspective, we can achieve happiness, dispel disharmony and enter a state of perfect equilibrium – a state of ‘flow’.

About the Author
Mihaly Csikszentimihalyi lives in California, where he holds a post at the Peter Drucker Graduate School of Management, Claremont Graduate University

Customer Reviews

One of the best examples of an unreliable genre
The self-help genre rightly attracts a lot of criticism; there are a lot of charlatans out there. 'Flow', however is a book which clearly stands out. Csikszentmihalyi speaks with tremendous authority, and his education clearly extends well beyond psychology. But most importantly the book isn't about providing false hope by offering miraculous quick fixes which don't work. The book is just about educating the reader, so they they may make their own informed decisions about how to improve their lives.

The author speaks to you with a very sympathetic tone. He presents a secular, liberal acccount, but what may come as a surprise is that there is quite a lot of moralising in the book. He seems to mention on what seems like every page how much of a waste of time it is to watch television. What he arrives at is hence an unapalogetic, scientifically proven 'elitism'. Studies show that people who spend their time contructively really do find more enjoyment in their lives than people who just drink and watch soap operas.

If you disagree with this sentiment, you would be advised to stay away from this book. Otherwise, this is a must read. The main theme of the book is the paradox of the increasing difficulty finding enjoyment and meaning in an increasingly wealthy and liberated society. As we go further and further in this direction, it's a book which will only get more and more relevant.

Why is the one and two star reviews for this item not available?
I want this book. I am going to by it, because I have heard a lot positive about it. But I would also like to read what the people who didn't like it have to say.

Why isn't the one and two star reviews for this item available?

Is it just a coindidence?

A 'fluid' read
Reading this book itself has been a 'flow' experience, which is a testament to Mr Csikszentmihalyi's (if that is not a mouthful, what is!) writing and his choice of the topic itself.

The book celebrates the cardinal importance of the quality of experience over conventional success metrics/ outcome norms that people pursue.

My key takeaways from the book are:
1) The 'flow zone' definition on the skills-challenges 2x2
2) The role of complexity and the modeling of 'dissipative structures' in creating order out of chaos (read psychic entropy)
3) The principle of the 'autotelic' self, and mindful challenge as the ultimate source of contentment

Written in a easy paced, intuitive style, this is a highly effective read.

PS: The 4 pronged classification of all the world's 'games': agon, alea, ilinx and mimicry is quite novel