Summary of Flow

In his groundbreaking book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi argues that true happiness occurs only when we are deeply engaged in an activity, such as a work or hobby, that has clear goals and offers immediate feedback. He identifies the state of “flow” as the mental state in which people are so focused on the task at hand that nothing else seems to matter. Csikszentmihalyi identifies eight components of the flow state and argues that achieving flow is an important part of living a creative, meaningful, and enjoyable life. His book is based on the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche, William James, and Sigmund Freud, and incorporates findings from his decades of research.