Thursday, January 8, 2015

Book Review - Flow The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

I picked this book up at the airport while traveling over Thanksgiving. Didn’t realize at the time it was first published in 1990, but it remains relevant and is a worthwhile read.

The author defines flow as “…the process of total involvement with life…” and provides examples of how some people bring enjoyment into their lives. I wouldn’t call it a practical guide to happiness but I found some of the principles and examples similar to those in books about happiness. For example, keeping a daily journal; something I’ve thought a lot about but never done. In a small and incomplete way, this blog is my journal:) Crossword puzzles, rock climbing, sailing, and chess are some examples of flow activities the author draws upon from his and other research. Regardless of the activity (e.g., puzzles, climbing, work, etc.), the author implies the quality and complexity of the experience is what matters most.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is:

“Those who try to make life better for everyone without having learned to control their own lives first usually end up making things worse all around.”

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