Rating: 
Summary: Optimal Experience: Not One Destination
Review: If anyone is seeking a "recipe" for "optimal experience" do not read this book. This book is not a step-by-step, self-help guide to achieving this sought after state of being ... Neither is it a pedantic overview of psychological studies replete with statistical analyses, i.e., hard data, proving "flow" exists. Instead, it begins with an overview of how people define and achieve happiness. Essentially, the author contends, most people are not happy because the universe was not created to make us happy but on the contrary, ti serves to frustrate us and help us grow ... The primary focus of this book is to show us that "flow" states happen to people despite the challenges of the universe, it happens to people from all walks of life, from all cultures throughout the world. Flow is a state of consciousness which anyone can achieve as it is an individual path but has common elements which everyone can identify. That being the case, the author examines the common experiences and descriptions about which people who are in a state of "flow" speak. It seems people who are in "flow" find a state of consciousness that is in harmony with their surroundings and feelings. They do not make distinctions between work and play ... the people in "flow" create an inner state of being that brings them peace and satisfaction that is apart from their external circumstances. They are focused, what they do has meaning and purpose, they are absorbed in the activities they do, and they have a sense of connection to their inner self and others. The state called "flow" pertains to enjoyment and satisfaction with one's quality of life. The basis for the flow experience seems to be creating meaning and controling consciousness where a state of unity exists which is consistent with a person's life themes. Some people experience it for minutes, some for hours, and some for days on end ... evidently it can be sustained by some people. The simplest way to describe "flow" is creating meaning in life with focus and intent. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in the "psychology of being alive here and now."
Erika B. (erikab93)
Rating: 
Summary: A really different perspective on happiness
Review: This is an excellent book on the happiness derived from achievement. Anyone who is any good at something comes accross as self-actualized, driven, talented, fortunate. This applies to Andre Agassi as well as Yoyo Ma. Top performers in any field appear blessed by a destiny leading them to superior achievement and level of happiness.To the author there is no secret. All these super talented achievers live in 'flow.' This is a psychological state where you are so fulfilled that you seem in a timeless, efortless dimention of play. But, to the rest of the world you actually are really focused, training really hard, and really driven. To you it is a piece of cake because you love what you are doing. Find your own 'flow' activities. And, see your own self actualization soar.
Rating: 
Summary: Explains the mechanics but not the spirit.
Review: According to the author, flow is a state of mind when it is totally engrossed in an activity that it looses track of itself and becomes one with the activity being performed. The author supports this with excerpts from interviews with people (rock climbers, artists, musicians etc) who are involved in flow-producing activities. However, the author never addresses why a person would choose one flow producing activity over another or should people cram as many flow producing activities in their lives as possible. Instead the author attempts to apply the conditions that create flow to turn even the most mundane activities into flow producing activities! In effect, he is saying, "Stop whining you lot, use these techniques known to produce flow to make your job more interesting". The author contends that people are dissatisfied because of lack of flow in their activities which gets them bored sooner or later. Cant people be bored of always being in flow too? How is it different from being temporarily entertained by a good film? The work is good in that it documents the mechanics of flow but disappoints by not discussing the role of passion/liking of the performer for his chosen activity - which is probably why he repeatedly engages in it; flow being a pleasant by-product but not an end in itself.
Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately unoriginal
Review: Flow is an exciting concept, and a truly dynamic experience - but that doesn't mean this is a great book. The author has basically taken the concept articulated by earlier psychologists such as Maslow and Freud and tried to put a modern, quantitative spin on it. Anyway, isn't losing yourself in a creative activity common sense? We don't need high-falutin' academics and their "studies" to prove what we already know. Furthermore, the entire concept is now so much a part of the public consciousness that it has been bastardized, marginalized and trivialized. I doubt one in a hundred readers of this book will regularly find flow experiences - whereas are our hardworking, less introspective and more realistic forebears would easily find flow without having read this pseudo-masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Studies the history and current analysis of psychology
Review: A really interesting read, but a bit slow unless you love studying and learning about psychology & the mind. It delves into the history of psychology as well as a modern analysis of focusing one's energy to truely accomplish everything we want.
Rating:
Summary: Stimulating, motivating.
Review: An excellent insight into the human mind. He helps you realize how to set your self up for more "flow" situations, therefore, setting your self up for a happier life. A great book for helping one find what truly interests her and how she can discover a more productive and meaningful life. To the reader from Diamond Bar, CA: Nowhere in the book does Csikszentmihalyi claim to be "God like." His theories can be applied to a religious life as well as a secular life. If anything "Flow" is a way to further explore your spirituality.
Rating: 
Summary: If you want to Flow experience read your Bible
Review: Man will always continue to seek the meaning of life. Each generation asks what purpose they serve to bring true meaning and purpose to existence. Without purpose and a greater good, man suffers in mediocrity and daily chaos. Most people desire to achieve a new goal or higher status in life only to discover that once obtained, dissatisfaction occurs and a new goal must be established. It is this intuitive hunger for achievement beyond that which we possess that prevents long-term happiness and peace. Most people never utilize positive entropy to find true fulfillment but continue in the dark, an abyss, which consumes their daily lives. Throughout the book, Csikszentmihalyi hinges his flow premise on the idea that man through evolution continues to gain more freedom and consciousness. He cites the Protestant reformation and the American Constitution as moments in time that freed man from existing ideologies and oppression from either the Roman Catholic Church or the aristocratic government as examples of this evolution of our consciousness. [pg. 22] It is my belief these negative entropies were actual paradigm shifts that occurred because man naturally desires freedom over oppression and tyranny.
The author does not address how our physical well being affects our physic energy? Depression, a chemical imbalance with the brain or physical discomfort from the pain of an injury can play a major role in how we perceive the world. Granted, our days are full of choices. We can turn negative entropy into a positive attitude; however, there can be a lack of control over consciousness because of the physical or chemical imbalances that occur along the journey of life. Where does one find happiness when our physic energy is affected beyond our control? Personally, I regard the ideas of Csikszentmihalyi and other philosophical writings like his as man's feeble attempt at achieving "god like" status. If he had read scripture not as simply a bibliography, but as a guide on how to live, believing in its divine inspiration, his heart would be opened to see the entropy of God's flow. He would find the happiness he writes about and the true awakening of a slumbering consciousness.
Rating:
Summary: revealing
Review: Personally revealing to me. Opened my eyes to why I enjoyed some things that I did not think I would and pointed me in the direction of setting myself up to enjoy more.
Rating:
Summary: Two Thumbs up!!
Review: Very rarely do you see authors go into the level of detail as did Mr.Mihaly! The book is small and is packed. If you intend to read it in a day and get everything what he wants to say, it will be as difficult as spelling his last name:)[One of the 1-star rater called it a "rediculous spelling". eeee! The spelling of "ridiculous" is not "rediculous" buddy]. The only drawback is that it combines a self-help and a textbook into one but nevertheless its good!
Rating:
Summary: the thinking man
Review: anybody who has bothered to read this book and is not impressed greatly is either a) an idiot who cannot grasp a concept like "flow"
b) someone full of envy or a deep hatred for the writer This is not a novel where you can worry about the frikkin writing style or any other bs. for that matter. This is the book that can change your entire life for the better if you care enough to get its fundamental message, period.
| 
