Search results for ""Author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi""

What really makes us feel glad to be alive? This classic work of psychology from world-renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is your essential guide to unlocking a happier, more fulfilling state of being.'[He] has done more than anyone else to study this state of effortless attending' ? Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow'Mr Csikszentmihalyi illuminates the accuracy of what philosophers have been saying for centuries: that the way to happiness lies not in mindless hedonism but in mindful challenge' ? The New York Times'Elegantly written ... it is more relevant than ever' The Times'Enlightening, thought-provoking, relevant' -- ***** Reader review'I actually struggled to put it down' -- ***** Reader review'It will definitely help me structure and control my mind better' -- ***** Reader review'If you are searching to add meaning to your life, or to gain more enjoyment from the life that you have, reading this book is a must' -- ***** Reader review**********************************************************************************************Control of consciousness determines the quality of lifeCombining over 40 years of ground-breaking research with practical advice, world-renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi reveals the key to optimal experience: flow.Arguing that the human brain is most happy when engaged in the meaningful pursuit of a goal - anything from sport to learning a language, from enjoyable work to practising music - he demonstrates that the need to concentrate and lose yourself in the moment is the key to finding inner peace, happiness and order in the midst of our chaotic lives.

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Now in a special 25th anniversary edition and filled with brilliant wisdom and insights, Beyond Boredom and Anxiety offers a timeless introduction to the concept of flow and the scientific basis behind it-all through the work of one of the field's great scientists, Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi. Through real-life examples, discover how enjoyable activities provide a common experience-a satisfying, often exhilarating, feeling of creative accomplishment and heightened functioning-and under what conditions 'serious' work can also provide this intrinsic enjoyment.

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What really makes us feel glad to be alive? This classic work of psychology from world-renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is your essential guide to unlocking a happier, more fulfilling state of being.'[He] has done more than anyone else to study this state of effortless attending' ? Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow'Mr Csikszentmihalyi illuminates the accuracy of what philosophers have been saying for centuries: that the way to happiness lies not in mindless hedonism but in mindful challenge' ? The New York Times'Elegantly written ... it is more relevant than ever' The Times'Enlightening, thought-provoking, relevant' -- ***** Reader review'I actually struggled to put it down' -- ***** Reader review'It will definitely help me structure and control my mind better' -- ***** Reader review'If you are searching to add meaning to your life, or to gain more enjoyment from the life that you have, reading this book is a must' -- ***** Reader review**********************************************************************************************Control of consciousness determines the quality of lifeCombining over 40 years of ground-breaking research with practical advice, world-renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi reveals the key to optimal experience: flow.Arguing that the human brain is most happy when engaged in the meaningful pursuit of a goal - anything from sport to learning a language, from enjoyable work to practising music - he demonstrates that the need to concentrate and lose yourself in the moment is the key to finding inner peace, happiness and order in the midst of our chaotic lives.

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In today's society it is scientists and businesspeople who wield the most influence and power. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes this also gives them the responsibility to provide for the needs, not just of their workforce, but of the community in its largest sense. This book helps those in power towards a new understanding and vision of what it means to be a leader.The people interviewed here - including Peter Bijur (CEO of Texaco), Michael Markkula (co-founder of Apple Computer), Anita Roddick (founder of The Body Shop) and Ted Turner (vice chairman of AOL Time Warner) are recognised both for their success and because they care for more than success. Their case studies provide a blueprint for doing business that is good, not just in the material sense, but also on spiritual and ethical levels.Good Business shows leaders and managers - and employees - how to contribute to the development of an enjoyable life that provides meaning, to a society that is just and evolving, and ultimately to the sum of human happiness.

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The second volume in the collected works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi covers about thirty years of Csikszentmihalyi‘s work on three main and interconnected areas of study: attention, flow and positive psychology. Describing attention as psychic energy and in the footsteps of William James, Csikszentmihalyi explores the allocation of attention, the when and where and the amount of attention humans pay to tasks and the role of attention in creating ‘experiences’, or ordered patterns of information. Taking into account information processing theories and attempts at quantifying people’s investment, the chapters deal with such topics as time budgets and the development and use of the Experience Sampling Method of collecting data on attention in everyday life. Following the chapters on attention and reflecting Csikszentmihalyi’s branching out into sociology and anthropology, there are chapters on the topic of adult play and leisure and connected to that, on flow, a concept formulated and developed by Csikszentmihalyi. Flow has become a popular concept in business and management around the world and research on the concept continues to flourish. Finally, this volume contains articles that stem from Csikszentmihalyi’s connection with Martin Seligman; they deal with concepts and theories, as well as with the development and short history, of the field and the “movement” of positive psychology.

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Part psychological study, part self-help book, Finding Flow is a prescriptive guide that helps us reclaim ownership of our lives. Based on a far-reaching study of thousands of individuals, Finding Flow contends that we often walk through our days unaware and out of touch with our emotional lives. Our inattention makes us constantly bounce between two extremes: during much of the day we live filled with the anxiety and pressures of our work and obligations, while during our leisure moments, we tend to live in passive boredom. The key, according to Csikszentmihalyi, is to challenge ourselves with tasks requiring a high degree of skill and commitment. Instead of watching television, play the piano. Transform a routine task by taking a different approach. In short, learn the joy of complete engagement. Thought they appear simple, the lessons in Finding Flow are life-altering.

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The experience of flow is still one of the least understood phenomena in sport. And yet it is one of the richest, most memorable experiences an athlete will ever know.Some call it a natural high. Others refer to it as being in a zone. Whatever it's called, flow is an elusive and very sought-after psychological state that athletes, coaches, and sport psychologists have tried to understand, harness, and employ to their benefit since Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi first coined the term back in the early 1970s. Now, in the first book devoted exclusively to flow in sports, the pioneering legend Csikszentmihalyi and sport psychology researcher Susan Jackson attempt not only to explain the phenomenon but also to identify the key conditions associated with its occurrence.The book begins with a description of what flow is and is not. Flow is defined as a person's total absorption into an activity. While it is always a peak, satisfying experience, it is not necessarily associated with peak performance on every occasion. Most of the book delves deeply into the key factors leading up to and accompanying the flow experience. The authors also recommend certain actions on the part of the athlete or coach to optimize the conditions in training and performance that allow flow to occur. The book is full of vivid examples, captivating quotes, and revealing research findings that enhance the authors' clear and insightful text. The sport setting is rife with opportunities to experience flow-be it in pick-up games or the Olympics. But until now, flow has been an infrequent, accidental, and even mysterious phenomenon to most athletes. With Flow in Sports, this optimal experience becomes both more familiar and more achievable. Get to know flow, and get into it. Find out what you've been missing.

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Ask any serious runner and they’ll tell you that being mentally sound is vital to success in the sport. The ability to enter a flow state of mind is something that Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has devoted his entire career to understanding. In Running Flow, Dr. Csikszentmihalyi is joined by fellow psychologist Christine Weinkauff and running journalist and coach Philip Latter. This landmark work is the first book dedicated to helping runners achieve the state of flow in competitive and training environments. You’ll find comprehensive coverage of the phenomenon, unique practice exercises that stimulate its occurrence, and firsthand accounts from elite runners about their flow experiences. The psychological barriers associated with training and competition can be as demanding as the physical ones. Destined to become a running classic, Running Flow will open your mind not only to better performance but also to a better, healthier, and more enjoyable experience.

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