Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Dr Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PhD

The author of The Evolving Self draws on the theories put forth in his best-selling Flow to explain the creative process and share personal anecdotes of successful people to show readers how to tap into their own creativity. $40,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention

Creativity

Mykyta Barabanov

Creativity from a Capital C. Albeit common sense in many instances, i wish the book connected applying the creative approach in everyday life with the study of creativity a tiny tard more. 

The study is still a fascinating look into the domains of science and liberal arts, juxtaposing how various traits could be a well-grounded reason for one's creatives successes. 

The main benefit from reading the piece is a non-trivial study, via well-argued research of an ample of leaders of several prominent domains, on how staying in middle, while also being able to go from one extreme to another is what sets creative ppl apart. 

Listened to this baby and did only a couple of mental notes, thus no criticism, also the first book of this type in my arsenal. 

Warm words of gratitude to Mihaly for the research and providing a platform for the subjects to speak directly to the reader.

The classic study of the creative process from the national bestselling author of Flow creativity is about capturing those moments that make life worth living. Legendary psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi reveals what leads to these moments—be it the excitement of the artist at the easel or the scientist in the lab—so that this knowledge can be used to enrich people's lives. Drawing on nearly one hundred interviews with exceptional people, from biologists and physicists, to politicians and business leaders, to poets and artists, as well as his thirty years of research on the subject, Csikszentmihalyi uses his famous flow theory to explore the creative process. He discusses such ideas as why creative individuals are often seen as selfish and arrogant, and why the "tortured genius" is largely a myth. Most important, he explains why creativity needs to be cultivated and is necessary for the future of our country, if not the world.

The Psychology of Discovery and Invention

Katie Cheng

Lots of good insights, but also lots of frustrating generalities, and many unsuccessful attempts at eloquence - for example: 

"As we have seen, creative individuals seem to have relatively complex personalities. Neither the centrifugal nor the centripetal force prevails--they are able to keep in balance the contrary tendencies that make some people turn inward until each becomes a hard shell, and others fly outward at random" (362-3). Lets be honest - what the hell does that mean. 

I enjoyed the first few chapters a LOT, but I think Csikszentmihalyi lost steam in the second half of the book.

Creativity is about capturing those moments that make life worth living. The author's objective is to offer an understanding of what leads to these moments, be it the excitement of the artist at the easel or the scientist in the lab, so that knowledge can be used to enrich people's lives. Drawing on 100 interviews with exceptional people, from biologists and physicists to politicians and business leaders, poets and artists, as well as his 30 years of research on the subject, Csikszentmihalyi uses his famous theory to explore the creative process. He discusses such ideas as why creative individuals are often seen as selfish and arrogant, and why the tortured genius is largely a myth. Most important, he clearly explains why creativity needs to be cultivated and is necessary for the future of our country, if not the world.

Creativity Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention

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