By: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Ph.D.
Narrated by: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Ph.D.
Publisher’s Summary
In flow, everyday experience becomes a moment by moment opportunity for joy and self-fulfillment. Flow is the brain-child of a fascinating psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a renowned social scientist who has devoted his life’s work to the study of what makes people truly happy, satisfied and fulfilled. While much of the study of psychology investigates disorders of the human mind, Dr. Csikszentmihalyi takes a different route. He focuses on the noble side of human nature, our capacity for living a life of integrity, courage, and perseverance. With his landmark research on flow, he reveals what he considers beautiful in life, ways of being and behaving that make people happy, satisfied and delighted to be alive. His insights into the “flow experience” show ways to lessen stress, fear and anxiety while increasing feelings of challenge, joy and excitement. The revolutionary findings of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Experience Sampling Method offer unprecedented information about the specific ways we can turn life into a continuous high quality experience. You’ll discover how anyone can enrich his or her quality of life simply by learning how flow occurs and what it feels like. You’ll learn about the key elements of the flow experience including:
- why it is important to know what you want to do in any given moment
- specific activities you can do that produce flow easily and naturally
- how to improve your experience of work so you feel in control and rewarded by it
- keys to harnessing the power of concentration
- the difference between pleasure and enjoyment (only one leads to personal growth)
- how to match challenges with skills to avoid boredom and frustration and maximize enjoyment
Once you experience the exhilaration of the “flow” state of being, you’ll want to return again and again.
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.
About the author:
Mihaly Robert Csikszentmihalyi, (1934-2021), was a Hungarian-American psychologist who made significant contributions to the field. He is well-known for his identification and naming of the psychological phenomenon known as “flow,” which refers to a highly focused mental state that promotes productivity.
Review:
This audiobook presents an excerpt from the author’s life’s work, delivered in a manner that can be easily understood by the average reader. It offers practical solutions to everyday problems, providing valuable insights.
The book offers valuable guidance on the principles it promotes: discovering activities that bring you joy and pushing yourself to explore your skills and purpose. These keys are instrumental in personal growth and fulfillment.
Motivational speeches and books are currently popular, and while I have come across a few good ones that offered helpful tips, many of them seem more focused on making money rather than providing genuine personal support.
A common piece of advice found in self-development books I’ve read or listened to is to minimize distractions like excessive email and phone checking. Ironically, to emphasize this point, authors often urge readers to visit their websites, subscribe to newsletters, sign up for “free” extra content, and download PDFs, unintentionally creating the very distractions they advise against. This audiobook, however, avoids such side distractions, making it more valuable compared to others. It allows you to immerse yourself in the content and experience a state of flow while listening or reading.
Unlike many listeners, I genuinely enjoyed the narrator’s voice. It felt like an intimate conversation by a comforting fireplace, reminiscent of a wise grandfather sharing his life experiences and knowledge. The absence of overly enthusiastic pep talks was refreshing.
In conclusion, I found this audiobook to be brilliant and highly recommend it.
