Flow is a book that will appeal to the deep thinker within you. Part social commentary, part philosophy, partly a tale of the ills of modern lifestyle, it acts as both an educational read and as somewhat of a handbook for successful living.
The main contention is that whilst it is commonly thought that optimal experience (i.e. happiness) involves leisure, beaches, and all-round good times - the real joy in life comes when we are fully engaged in work that gives us a sense of fulfilment.
I think a good definition of success is 'the progressive realization of a worthy goal.'
In this book, the author seems to agree. We feel most 'in flow' when we are working towards something meaningful to us and to others, not when we're sitting by the beach sipping mojitos.
It was Socrates who said, 'The unexamined life is not worth living." Flow is a book that puts contemporary life under the microscope and finds that a life worth living is one in which we pursue endeavours which stimulate and challenge us. Mihaly is against the wasting of time and potential on passive leisure activities such as watching TV and playing video games. He has found that it is when you commit to the disciplines of a noble way of living, or dedicate yourself to a goal that is more intellectually rigorous, that you find true fulfilment.
There's a fascinating investigation of the struggles that we have in modern culture when we don't have a set routine to follow. Mihaly observes that many people find their flow during the 9 to 5 of work because in a normal working environment it is clear what needs to be done during those hours. On the weekend, no such structure exists, and hence people fall into passive activities that neither stimulate the mind nor provide for any sustained fulfilment.
Flow is an intellectual, somewhat dense read, however it's well worth the investment of time.
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