Book review time again. An oldie which I discovered only recently.
I'd like to say I enjoyed reading Flow, but the style and prose are not exactly conducive to a, whatchamacallit, a flow experience (pun quota for blog post exceeded, please contact our staff immediately). The text is mercifully bereft of footnotes and references, but this still doesn't lead to a very pleasant reading experience.
Having said this, this is an extremely important book, a must-read for anyone looking for personal growth, reinventing themselves and rediscovering their calling. Buddhists have every right to say "I told you so", but it's still good to have scientific backing and research for such common-sense intuitions.
Quick summary, more for self-reference, as I had to return the book to the library: pleasure vs enjoyment, matching of skills vs challenges, feeling of being in control, constant feedback, integration and differentiation. Oh, another important aspect: the flow experience is value-neutral (it's possible to be in the flow and still do things that are immoral or make others think you're crazy).
If at all there is any criticism of the book, it is an effort to, in my opinion, shoehorn enjoyable experiences into the flow paradigm even when it seems somewhat contrived. I'd provide examples, but no book, so no go.
