Flow

The Psychology of Optimal Experience

By: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Narrated by: Donald Corren

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.

“Explore[s] a happy state of mind called flow, the feeling of complete engagement in a creative or playful activity.”—Time©1990 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (P)2024 Recorded Books

Very insightful and well written

I like the questions it delves into. Invites you to know yourself, what you do and how you do it. One of those books you listen many times.

Pretty sure that this is a pearl

In the beginning I was fascinated by the power of the concept of flow! Snd I still am. The book post me a bit in the let’s say second half, but probably it was just me, lost in other thoughts! Definitely a recommendation, a must read/listen again for me and most likely a potential top ten book in my physical shelf! 🙌

The different examples from people on how achieved their flow state

Great book with highly recommend for people trying to achieve the flow state. A whole lot of great examples of people how they achieve their flow state.

Incisive and intelligent

I finished this listen in bed before I began the day — one of my favorite ways to enjoy audiobooks — then headed off to the bathroom to begin my morning routine. Stepping on the scale even half-asleep, it dawned on me that I was already engaging in a “flow” activity, as defined by the author. I was meeting his four requirements: 1) a defined goal (in my case, getting down to 170 lbs.) 2) a clear set of rules (weighing in on a scale, in the buff, daily) 3) utilizing a skill (or, in this case, a discipline - dieting) and 4) getting "feedback" from the scale.
Did I find this enjoyable, as the author promises? I have to say yes, particularly since I was about 4 lbs. under my usual, even after all the Christmas dinners and desserts I had gobbled.
Keep in mind that the book is about 30 years old, so there are occasional parts that sound dated. But that’s irrelevant in this case. Happiness hasn’t gone out of style lately, and most people are still in the dark as to how to find it.
The narration in this one, particularly considering the range of concepts covered, is another thing of that flows quite well.

Never Delivered

I was waiting for my epiphany moment with this book as it was recommended to me by therapist but it never connected.
I don't regret the time spent but wouldn't read/listen to it twice.