Best Books on Flow State
1. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)
“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.”
Our take:
We’ve placed this book at the #1 spot because it gives the idea on “flow” a solid foundational framework for overall understanding. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi does an excellent job breaking down what “Flow” is all about and how everyone can use this practice in their daily lives. He describes “flow” as the optimal experience that encompasses precise concentration and a feeling of complete engrossment into an intellectual or physical task. It is comparable to being “in the zone”. Similar to watching Michael Jordan executing his best game or listening to Beethoven playing his famous sonata. Mihaly speaks to “Flow” as relating more to the feeling than simply the action. Throughout the book, he sheds light onto different ways people can tap into this feeling and how to most effectively use it. He encourages the reader to actively seek potential opportunities for using “Flow” in different aspects of life whether it’s in a social gathering, relating to hobbies, in a work environment, or for achieving specific goals. The idea that some sense of control is necessary for optimal satisfaction goes against the conventional idea of simply “flowing through life” and develops an interesting notion about ownership and responsibility regarding circumstances and actions. The principles in this book are useful, insightful, and inspiring. Mihaly does an excellent job explaining how to proactively incorporate these lessons into your own life and maximize your “Flow” potential.
2. Stealing Fire: How SIlicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work (Steven Kotler/Jamie Wheal)
Overview:
“The authors of the best-selling Bold and The Rise of Superman explore altered states of consciousness and how they can ignite passion, fuel creativity, and accelerate problem solving, in this groundbreaking book in the vein of Daniel Pink's Drive and Charles Duhigg's Smarter Faster Better. Building a bridge between the extreme and the mainstream, this groundbreaking and provocative book examines how the world's top performers - the Navy SEALS, Googlers, Fortune 100 CEOs - are using altered states to radically accelerate performance and massively improve their lives, and how we can, too. Ultimately, Stealing Fire is a book about profound possibility - about what is actually possible for ourselves and our species when we unlock the full potential of the human mind.”
Our take:
Stealing Fire was an enjoyable read with many unique insights into different states of mental optimization. The idea of unlocking your full potential has been such a coveted goal of mankind and this book explores why that is. The authors dive deep into various ways in which people can alter their consciousness through brain chemistry. They discuss the state of ‘ecstasis’ and define this as having four qualities of STER (Selflessness, Timelessness, Effortlessness, Richness). Throughout the book, many different methods are mentioned ranging from conventional to the more abstract. A few of the techniques discussed include: box breathing, virtual reality, illicit drugs, flow dojos, and TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). Due to the fact that the writers are also founders of the Flow Genome Project, there are a few promotional moments. However, it doesn’t take away from the substance of the information. As a very in-depth look into the pursuit of ecstasis and the diverse methods of reaching this state, Stealing Fire is an absolute must read.
3. The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life’s Perfection (Michael Singer)
“Michael A. Singer, author of The Untethered Soul, tells the extraordinary story of what happened when, after a deep spiritual awakening, he decided to let go of his personal preferences and simply let life call the shots. As Singer takes you on this great experiment and journey into life's perfection, the events that transpire will both challenge your deepest assumptions about life and inspire you to look at your own life in a radically different way.”
Our take:
The Surrender Experiment is a fascinating exploration into radical freedom through following your passions and allowing the appropriate circumstances to align. The story focuses on the insight that we all have specific tasks to become aware of and by concentrating on these key priorities, everything else will fall into place. His idea to ‘surrender when you feel resistance’, really resonated with me by revealing how much resistant thought often builds up when I’m on the brink of a new experience. Whether the experience is good or bad, the idea to surrender and let yourself work through it and learn from it is very profound. I like the way that the author goes against the general idea that spirituality is only about meditation and self isolation. In fact, he goes on to explain that his deepest spiritual occurrences happened during his worldly encounters with others. Experiences are certainly the best way to receive true wisdom. Throughout the story, the author's accomplishments along the way do not sway from his central quest, but rather add to it. This is important to emphasize that your main focus and goal should not be easily distracted. If you’ve read his earlier book ‘The Untethered Soul’, you will thoroughly enjoy this one as well.
4. Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise (Anders Ericsson/Robert Pool)
Overview:
“Have you ever wanted to learn a language or pick up an instrument, only to become too daunted by the task at hand? Expert performance guru Anders Ericsson has made a career of studying chess champions, violin virtuosos, star athletes, and memory mavens. Peak condenses three decades of original research to introduce an incredibly powerful approach to learning that is fundamentally different from the way people traditionally think about acquiring a skill. Ericsson's findings have been lauded and debated but never properly explained. So the idea of expertise still intimidates us - we believe we need innate talent to excel or think excelling seems prohibitively difficult.Peak belies both of these notions, proving that almost all of us have the seeds of excellence within us - it's just a question of nurturing them by reducing expertise to a discrete series of attainable practices. Peak offers invaluable, often counterintuitive advice on setting goals, getting feedback, identifying patterns, and motivating yourself. Whether you want to stand out at work or help your kid achieve academic goals, Ericsson's revolutionary methods will show you how to master nearly anything.”
Our take:
The authors are great storytellers and they provide numerous case studies and examples to relay their ideas for gaining expertise. They start out by asserting that experts or ‘prodigies’ do not just have special innate talent that contributes to their achievements. I’m not going to say that I fully agree with that notion, however, he raises a fair point by highlighting specific strategies that these ‘prodigies’ used that certainly anyone can apply to their own practice. The book emphasizes focused repeated efforts as a key factor for improvement across any and all skillsets. Ericsson then goes on to further explain the different practice areas, deliberate vs ordinary. Deliberate practice involves specific goal setting, using mental representations of success, simplifying tasks into small chunks, analyzing feedback, and getting out of the comfort zone. Ordinary practice is described as just doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result, which often doesn’t occur. Numerous examples are described throughout the book to dive deeper into each of the ‘deliberate’ practice methods which provides practical comparisons to help the reader incorporate into their own life. The ideas in this book are definitely geared towards those looking for well-researched insights on self-improvement and overall growth.
5. Living in Flow: The Science of Synchronicity and How Your Choices Shape Your World (Sky Nelson-Isaacs)
Overview:
“When we align with circumstance, circumstance aligns with us. Using a cutting-edge scientific theory of synchronicity, Sky Nelson-Isaacs presents a model for living "in the flow" - a state of optimal functioning, creative thinking, and seemingly effortless productivity. Nelson-Isaacs explains how our choices create meaning, translating current and original ideas from theoretical physics and quantum mechanics into accessible, actionable steps that we can all take to live lives in better alignment with who we are and who we want to be.”
Our take:
In a very unique way of combining science and spirituality, Living in Flow provides thought provoking ideas on how to more effectively align ourselves. With two very separate topics that are often mutually exclusive, Nelson-Isaacs asserts a middle ground that lays out a meaningful relationship between both. By incorporating subjective experience, he is able to distinguish synchronicity vs coincidence by assigning components of meaningfulness to the former. These sorts of nuances allow the reader to better dissect their own experiences and decide for themselves how they correlate. The foundation of the story encompasses the notion of how quantum physics actually occurs in everyday experiences. It furthers this argument by discussing how the alignment with the universe, through intentional action, attracts specific events that conspire to assist you in unexpected ways. The book provides you with a new perspective on the idea of control and forced action compared with awareness and effortless action. The authors conclusions are fresh, inspiring and deepens the reader’s sense for living a more harmonious and fulfilled life.
6. The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance (Steven Kotler)
Overview:
“In this groundbreaking book, New York Times–bestselling author Steven Kotler decodes the mystery of ultimate human performance. Drawing on over a decade of research and first-hand reporting with dozens of top action and adventure sports athletes like big wave legend Laird Hamilton, big mountain snowboarder Jeremy Jones, and skateboarding pioneer Danny Way, Kotler explores the frontier science of “flow,” an optimal state of consciousness in which we perform and feel our best. At its core, this is a book about profound possibility; about what is actually possible for our species; about where—if anywhere—our limits lie.”
Our take:
This book contains an excellent perspective of “flow”. The author characterizes this state with extreme focus, a vanishing sense of self, time dilation, fearlessness, and extremely high performance. Using neuroscience and sociological data sets as well as a multitude of examples, this book is able to illustrate the what, why and how of dissecting the ‘flow’ formula. Many of the examples he uses focus on extreme sports athletes since he believes that risk-taking is a key trigger for accessing ‘flow’. He explains how these sort of individuals that take on a lot of risk are forced to focus on nothing else but the task at hand. Sometimes in a life or death type of way. He does, however, include fortune 500 CEOs, artists, scientists, as well as mainstream sports athletes into this category to demonstrate the connection that breaks human limitations and leads to ‘superman’ abilities in various areas. Overall, it is a fun story to read and will definitely change your outlook on the way you view high achievers.
7. Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)
Overview:
“What makes a good life? Is it money? An important job? Leisure time? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes our obsessive focus on such measures has led us astray. Work fills our days with anxiety and pressure, so that during our free time, we tend to live in boredom, watching TV or absorbed by our phones. What are we missing? To answer this question, Csikszentmihalyi studied thousands of people, and he found the key. People are happiest when they challenge themselves with tasks that demand a high degree of skill and commitment, and which are undertaken for their own sake. Instead of watching television, play the piano. Take a routine chore and figure out how to do it better, faster, more efficiently. In short, learn the hidden power of complete engagement, a psychological state the author calls flow. Though they appear simple, the lessons in Finding Flow are life-changing.”
Our take:
This book entails Mihaly’s academic research into his idea of ‘flow’, the state of full absorption in an activity that leads to satisfaction and happiness. He breaks down experiences by the level of challenge compared with the level of obtained personal skill. By finding the perfect alignment between these two classifications, one is able to achieve the peak feeling of ‘flow’. Work and leisure are the two main chapters covered and he provides a multitude of examples that portray how people engage ‘flow’ with both key areas of life. The additional segments of the book touch upon how to use flow for improving relationships, which personality types tend to benefit most from ‘flow’, and tips on how to utilize this idea for optimizing daily life. Although there are some similar insights to his initial book, this one is a bit more focused on the personal usage of the idea versus the more academic approach of the former. Finding Flow serves as a much more succinct way of presenting the idea of ‘flow’ from a functional perspective.
8. Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success (Brad Stulberg)
Overview:
“A few common principles drive performance, regardless of the field or the task at hand. Whether someone is trying to qualify for the Olympics, break ground in mathematical theory or craft an artistic masterpiece, many of the practices that lead to great success are the same. In Peak Performance, Brad Stulberg, a former McKinsey and Company consultant and journalist who covers health and the science of human performance, and Steve Magness, a performance scientist and coach of Olympic athletes, team up to demystify these practices and demonstrate how everyone can achieve their best. In revealing the science of great performance and the stories of great performers across a wide range of capabilities, Peak Performance uncovers the secrets of success, and coaches listeners on how to use them. If you want to take your game to the next level, whatever "your game" may be, Peak Performance will teach you how.”
Our take:
Peak Performance is a very well-written book that lays out practical ideas and methods for improving performance. This book provides a mixture of science as well as real world examples so that the reader can compare the theory to the actuality of the approach. By presenting key insights from top athletes, artists, and intellectuals, Stulberg is able to hold the readers’ attention and give context to his ideas. As the foundation of the book, the key principles discussed are: The Growth Equation (stress + rest = growth), Priming (developing optimal routines), and Purpose (staying motivated). The “performance practices” that the author presents throughout the book provided helpful tips and key ideas to execute for immediate improvement. This book is very action-oriented and really forces you to think more deeply about your daily habits. It encourages the reader to continue to evolve in the way they think about self-improvement and how to maintain a growth mindset.
9. The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance (Josh Waitzkin)
Overview:
“The Art of Learning takes listeners through Waitzkin's unique journey to excellence. He explains in clear detail how a well-thought-out, principled approach to learning is what separates success from failure. Waitzkin believes that achievement, even at the championship level, is a function of a lifestyle that fuels a creative, resilient growth process. Rather than focusing on climactic wins, Waitzkin reveals the inner workings of his everyday method, from systematically triggering intuitive breakthroughs, to honing techniques into states of remarkable potency, to mastering the art of performance psychology.”
Our take:
Waitzkin gives an in-depth look into his learning experiences as a national chess champion and a world martial arts champion. Reading books written by individuals who have actually applied their techniques at the highest level provides a more meaningful insight into the subject matter. Not only does this book present several inspiring moments, it was also very interesting throughout. Although some may get the sense of boastfulness from the author, at times, I believe they may miss the underlying point about his experience and message. His ability to utilize and apply the theories that he learned as a chess champion into a methodical approach for being able to quickly master the martial arts provides a macro look into core principles that are effective. His journey was a great example of how to quickly gain a new skill set using his time-tested techniques. It’s more than just a quick solution, though, the crux of the formula is breaking down a skill set into simple steps, and then breaking down those simple steps into micro steps, and then focusing practice efforts on perfecting those micro steps before switching to the macro steps to bring it all full circle. This book is an excellent blueprint for anyone looking to evolve their performance in any area from a structured and systematic approach.
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