Flow: The Psychology of Happiness by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (PDF)

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What really makes us feel glad to be alive? This classic work of psychology from world-renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is your essential guide to unlocking a happier, more fulfilling state of being.'[He] has done more than anyone else to study this state of effortless attending’ ? Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow’Mr Csikszentmihalyi illuminates the accuracy of what philosophers have been saying for centuries: that the way to happiness lies not in mindless hedonism but in mindful challenge’ ? The New York Times’Elegantly written … it is more relevant than ever’ The Times’Enlightening, thought-provoking, relevant’ — ***** Reader review’I actually struggled to put it down’ — ***** Reader review’It will definitely help me structure and control my mind better’ — ***** Reader review’If you are searching to add meaning to your life, or to gain more enjoyment from the life that you have, reading this book is a must’ — ***** Reader review**********************************************************************************************Control of consciousness determines the quality of lifeCombining over 40 years of ground-breaking research with practical advice, world-renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi reveals the key to optimal experience: flow.Arguing that the human brain is most happy when engaged in the meaningful pursuit of a goal – anything from sport to learning a language, from enjoyable work to practising music – he demonstrates that the need to concentrate and lose yourself in the moment is the key to finding inner peace, happiness and order in the midst of our chaotic lives.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Recently, I read and reviewed Steven Kotler’s “The Rise of Superman”, which is about how extreme athletes use a mental state called “the flow” to pull off some miraculous feats (e.g. “hanging righteous air” to use an appropriate term of art.) That book got me intrigued about the flow, and wanting to learn more. The logical next read was the book by the man considered the godfather of flow, the man who coined the term, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Csikszentmihalyi is a Professor of Psychology at the Claremont Graduate University and formerly of the University of Chicago.A Note on Editions: The book I read is the 2013 edition of a book that was first published in 1990. The two editions have different subtitles. The 1990 edition was entitled “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” and the 2013 edition is “Flow: The Psychology of Happiness.” It’s not hard to imagine what happened. The 1990 version was titled to appeal to scholars, and the former title both has more syllables and suggests that one might be able to use LaGrangian Methods (the calculus of constrained optimization) to maximize bliss—which would be double bliss for an academic. As Csikszentmihalyi’s work attracted widespread attention, there was a need for a title that didn’t sound painfully dull. To be fair, the word “happiness” has gained some purchase in scholarly literature in recent years, but in 1990 saying one was studying “happiness” would be akin to saying one would study the “cuddliness quotient” of kittens (actually the latter, having the word “quotient” in it, would test better with department chairs and funders.)Flow is a state in which one’s entire mind and body is devoted to overcoming a challenge that is intrinsically rewarding. There’s a lot packed into that definition. First, the task must be difficult but within the skill-level of the individual. If it’s too easy, it’s too boring for flow. If it’s far too challenging relative to one’s skill, it may become frustrating before one can build enough skill to achieve it. Flow states can be achieved via many different kinds of tasks, and the middle chapters of the book are devoted to different types of flow-inducing events. Chapters 5 through 8 address, respectively: physical activities like yoga and the martial arts, mental activities like poetry, word play, and chess, work activities, and solitude and social activities.Second, tasks must usually be autotelic, or intrinsically rewarding. If the only reason that one is doing an activity is for a paycheck, to stave off nagging, or to attract attention, one will be unlikely to find the flow. That doesn’t mean that one can’t receive external rewards, but the activity has to have something intrinsic that keeps one at it. Csikszentmihalyi’s approach was to interview people to access how happy they were, and what activities allowed them to achieve said happiness. He shares many anecdotes about individuals who were blissful, including people who derived happiness from work activities such as factory work, work that most people would find unpleasant and only tolerable to earn a living. Of course, these happy individuals didn’t just do the job in the manner of the poor schlubs who hated their work-life. Instead, they found ways to make the work challenging and, in doing so, they often made themselves indispensable and gained not only job security but also the respect and admiration of others. What is key is that one’s mindset determines all of this, and the book focuses on the notion of controlling one’s inner life to achieve happiness via the flow.Third, flow is not achieved in a distracted state; all of one’s being has to be surrendered to the act at hand. Multi-tasking is not conducive to the flow.The ability to override one’s evolutionarily-programmed instincts is key to being able to obtain a flow state. One must be able to stay on task and devote one’s consciousness to the action at hand. This is the central theme in chapter 2, entitled “The Anatomy of Consciousness.” The book also speaks to a subject that I’m currently interested in, which is how states of mind and body that have been known since ancient times, but whose mechanism of action weren’t well-understood, are explained in the world of modern science. Csikszentmihalyi refers to yogis and Taoist masters as he describes the flow. Flow state isn’t new; it’s just newly put in the context of science, rather than mythology.I enjoyed this book and found the chapter on the flow in movement and bodily activities particularly relevant. Csikszentmihalyi has written a few related books on creativity and the flow applied specifically to sport. I would like to learn more about the neuro-anatomy and neurochemistry of the flow, as this book doesn’t delve into the hard science of the flow, and much of this science has occurred since the time this book was first published anyway.

⭐A really insightful book highlighting how our egos and self image can play in important role in how we process events which take place in our respective lives. I highly recommend to individuals who are keen to gain a different perspective on how we give meaning to our daily actions and the lives we lead.

⭐This is an excellent resource for understanding how the mind works and how people experience happiness and a state of flow from work. It is a must-read if you enjoy psychology books.

⭐It is clear why this book is referenced in so many other works. These works however does not get close to the richness of the concept as unpacked here. With such a deep topic doing it justiceOften result in a body of work that is unapproachable by the general public, but here the author’s style and command of language makes Flow a joy to read and reread

⭐I liked the breakdown of the multiple factors of how flow is created. By explaining it many things fall in place and it gives more reality to what flow actually is. For me personally I experienced true flow sometimes and now better understand why this happens how this ties into my personal beliefs. On the other hand I sometimes find the book takes too much time to explain.

⭐This is a great book for anyone who has been wondering a conscious life. All the life based examples are relevant in some cases however he keeps on explaining even when the point was made.Overall very enjoyable book and easy to follow.

⭐Not super impressed by the book. If you are looking for how to get into flow, two paragraphs of the book should be more than enough the remaining part of the book is fluff for those with the intention of getting into flow. However if you want to understand the benefits of flow and how it impacts everyday life, the rest of the book can seem interesting however how it will affect everyday is pretty obvious. I had better expectations of this book, did not meet my expectation.

⭐Lots of valuable insights here but it’s not a quick or easy read! Prepare to take each chapter slowly. If you’re not keen on academic language or concepts this might not be the book for you.

⭐Consider it the official “Handbook on Happiness.” Part science and part philosophy, it essentially defines happiness itself, then proceeds to explain in detail how we can attain it every waking moment of our lives (hypothetically at least). Although far from a “light read,” I found the intense mental concentration the book demanded to be almost physically pleasurable (yes, I am in fact the very definition of a nerd). When I closed the book, I immediately begged my dad for his extra copy–just so I could go back through and underline the passages I will need to revisit from now until the day I die.If you are unhappy, anxious, or generally dissatisfied with the direction of your life, follow this pattern: (1) read the book’s scientific assessment of happiness (or at least my summary below), (2) determine what element of “flow” is missing in your life, and (3) fix it! Thanks to this reading experience, I’m on to step #3 now. I feel enlightened with a unique self-understanding, convinced of the possibility of attaining happiness, and determined to eventually experience constant “flow.”If you don’t have the time and energy the book requires, read my gross oversimplification of Mr C’s genius below:WHAT IS HAPPINESS?A human being experiences happiness to the extent that he can mentally order his consciousness and fight off chaos (what Mr C refers to as “psychic entropy”). This explains why animals (and people who fight daily for their own basic survival) experience almost constant flow. The meaning of their lives, the focus of their energy, is simple. It might not be enjoyable, but it’s simple. We spoiled, idle folk are the ones whining on couches about the lack of fulfilment and happiness in our lives. Why? Because we are overwhelmed by so many complicated concerns that we don’t know where to focus our psychic energy.WHAT IS FLOW?Here’s the crux of the book. While it examines overall “happiness” briefly, it is more concerned with how to truly enjoy the everyday moments of life. Mr C refers to the process of “losing yourself” and experiencing Buddha-like enlightenment/self-actualization as a state of “flow.” Everyone—from professional athletes to chess masters and punk street kids—recalls a moment in which they seemed to disappear as a person, entirely immersed in the activity in which they were engaged (this differs greatly from drug use and other chemically altering activities, which are temporary fixes for those desperately needing to experience “flow”). Mr C collected data from various cultures, professions, socio-economic conditions and stages of life, then discovered certain conditions present during “flow,” including:(1) engagement in an activity that is both challenging and attainable (if the activity is too easy, we’re bored; if it’s too difficult, we’re anxious)(2) the ability to keep concentration focused on the activity (so… THAT’S the problem I had as a stay-at-home-mom :)(3) clearly defined goals that are within the individual’s control (“winning the Pulitzer Prize” is not a self-contained goal, for example, because you personally do not choose who wins the Pulitzer)(4) immediate feedback (our psychic energy tends to atrophy without some verification we’re on the right track)(5) deep, effortless involvement in the activity-which removes from awareness the worries/frustrations of everyday life (during flow, you “get lost” in what you are doing because so much of your psychic energy is engaged)(6) a sense of control over your own actions (more of that fighting-against-chaos definition of happiness)(7) non-self-conscious individualism (paradoxically, you lose yourself in what you are doing and eliminate all self-criticism, yet when the process is complete you are actually a “more complex” individual. Mr C states that “loss of self-consciousness does not involve a loss of the self, and certainly not a loss of consciousness, but rather, only a loss of consciousness OF the self.” THIS IS SO TRUE! As an actress and musician, my worst performances are always the ones in which I am self-conscious about the performance I am giving. There is no room for selfish awareness in Flow!)(8) some alteration of time (either “hours feel like minutes” or vice versa)According to Mr C, the reason most of us classify ourselves as unhappy is that we “keep widening the gap between jobs that are necessary but unpleasant, and leisure pursuits that are enjoyable but have little complexity… To fill free time with activities that require concentration, that increase skills, that lead to a development of the self, is not the same as killing time by watching television or taking recreational drugs.” Once we learn to replicate these essential characteristics of flow, Mr C contends that we can experience flow in every daily activity—whether performing brain surgery or washing the dishes.I especially appreciated the sections on how to create a meaningful “flow” relationship with your children, as well as his postulations about the flow experience through writing. His ideas on the correlation between attention disorders and depression are amazing. Only one downer—he occasionally spoke in a deprecating and somewhat condescending manner about religion. As a scientifically-minded individual who finds great purpose and opportunities in my faith, I found his comments too generalized. Other than that, he was intoxicatingly brilliant!We can experience flow in our home, work, personal relationships, daily activities, everything! We just glance down the list, discover what condition is missing, and get creative. When situations challenge our happiness, we address the problem in a healthy, proactive way and again free up our psychic energy to work toward our life goals.Bottom line—those who control their inner experience determine their quality of life.Preach it!Favourite Quotes:There are literally thousands of [self-help books:] in print… explaining how to get rich, powerful, loved, or slim… Yet even if their advice were to work, what would be the result afterwards in the unlikely event that one did turn into a slim, well-loved, powerful millionaire? Usually what happens is that the person finds himself back at square one, with a new list of wishes, just as dissatisfied as before. What would really satisfy people is not getting slim or rich ​but feeling good about their lives. In the quest for happiness, partial solutions don’t work.Contrary to the myths mankind has created to reassure itself, the universe was not created to answer our needs… A meteorite on a collision course with New York City might be obeying all the laws of the universe, but it would still be a damn nuisance.There is no inherent problem in our desire to escalate our goals, as long as we enjoy the struggle along the way.Mowing the lawn or waiting in a dentist’s office can become enjoyable provided one restructures the activity by providing goals, rules, and the other elements of enjoyment.“The purpose of flow is to keep on flowing, not looking for a peak or utopia but staying in the flow… It is a self-communication.” (a mountain climber on “flow”)Subjective experience is not just one of the dimensions of life, it is life itself. Material conditions are secondary.Of all the virtues we can learn no trait is more useful, more essential for survival, and more likely to improve the quality of life than the ability to transform adversity into an enjoyable challenge.Goals justify the effort they demand at the outset, but later it is the effort that justifies the goal.If goals are well chosen, and if we have the courage to abide by them despite opposition, we shall be so focused on the actions and events around us that we won’t have the time to be unhappy.

⭐This book explores happiness, joy and the meaning of life with useful examples and lots of research. The process where people are totally and happily consumed by life is called flow.This book took a long time to read and is quite long winded but the author writes well and I found the content engaging and I stopped reading often to contemplate the meaning of certain passages.The author could have improved the book by making the content more succinct and summarising the key points more clearly.Here are some of the ideas that I took away from the book:• Happiness is a choice• Our ability to be happy depends on how we interpret events. i.e. control over our consciousness• A person that has control of their consciousness can focus for as long as necessary to achieve their goals and not be distracted by what the world throws at them in terms of thoughts and other distractions• The pursuit of material goals does not enhance our ability to control consciousness.• We should therefore spend more time learning to control consciousness than pursuit of material goals• The key to flow is growth of the self through a sense of discovery and redefined consciousness• It’s not what we do that makes us happy, it’s how we do it• Focus on activities that can create flow• If you can train your mind well enough then it can entertain you in any moment• Flow can be diminished if choice is removed and people feel a necessity to complete a certain activity rather than using it as a hobby• Simply investing psychic energy in an otherwise meaningless task can make it meaningful• If you lack the ability to control your consciousness then try changing your activity to make it more like a game with inherent rewards• Hobbies that are most conducive to flow should include skill, goal setting and require discipline• Invest your time in real challenges rather than watch other people on TV• Passive entertainment is a waste of time• Quality of life depends on our work and our relationships• Flow in relationships can be maintained by constantly finding new challenges• The value of education is equipping students with the ability to understand and produce flow throughout their lives• When in a stressful situation do not focus attention on your self but try to focus attention on others and the wider world• Transform stressful activities into flow activities by setting goals, immersing yourself in the activity and focusing• The meaning of life is to have a meaning, whatever it is• Ideally your life’s meaning should transcend the changing conditions of life so that when events unfold you are able to adapt.• In all aspects of your life choose a goal and go for it.

⭐This book really resonated with me. The premise is that the human brain is most happy when engaged in meaningful pursuit of a goal. The goal can be anything from sport, learning a language, work, music and so on. Essentially that requires concentration and providing clear clues on how well your doing.The book goes through every type of activity and how to find flow in these. It even explores personal relationships such as talking with friends.I’d highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a different approach to find meaning in our chaotic lives.

⭐The concept of flow is incredibly important – it is strongly related to happiness, ability to deal with adversity, how content people are with their lives, and overall well-being. Not in a wishy-washy way, but in a fundamental way, where people who experience flow on a regular basis report that they feel much more at ease and fulfilled with their life, compared to people who don’t experience flow.The book describes the conditions required for flow, gives examples and discusses its importance. However, all that can be done easily in 200 pages. The next 200 felt like a slog, and aren’t needed to gain a full appreciation of the importance of the subject matter.

⭐With all the great ratings I was really looking forwards to reading this book.Have reread the reviews and am asking myself whether we have actually read the same book!The requirements for ‘flow’ is essentially summarised in one page at the beginning and the rest of the book refers to historical anecdotes which support these points.Too long winded and too much intellectual m for my taste. Wasn’t what I was looking for. Hate not finishing books but this will be one of them.

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