Bücher von Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

What really makes people glad to be alive? What are the inner experiences that make life worthwhile? For more than two decades Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi studied those states in which people report feelings of concentration and deep enjoyment. His studies revealed that what makes experience genuinely satisfying is 'flow' - a state of concentration so focused that it amounts to complete absorption in an activity and results in the achievement of a perfect state of happiness. Flow has become the classic work on happiness and a major contribution to contemporary psychology. It examines such timeless issues as the challenge of lifelong learning; family relationships; art, sport and sex as 'flow'; the pain of loneliness; optimal use of free time; and how to make our lives meaningful.

The classic study of the creative process from the national bestselling author of Flowcreativity 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.

In diesem Buch untersucht der Glücksforscher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi das flow-Phänomen in vier völlig verschiedenen Bereichen menschlicher Tätigkeit: beim Schachspielen, beim Klettern im Fels, beim Tanzen und bei der Arbeit. Ein sehr lebendig und anschaulich geschriebenes Buch - interessant für den Laien, der sich mit Motivationsproblemen im Alltag beschäftigt, wie für den Psychologen, der den Problemen der intrinsischen Motivation nachgeht. Flowbezeichnet einen Zustand des Glücksgefühls, in den Menschen geraten, wenn sie gänzlich in einer Beschäftigung »aufgehen«. Entgegen ersten Erwartungen erreichen wir diesen Zustand nahezu euphorischer Stimmung meistens nicht beim Nichtstun oder im Urlaub, sondern wenn wir uns intensiv der Arbeit oder einer schwierigen Aufgabe widmen.

Since Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi published the groundbreaking Flow more than a decade ago, world leaders such as Tony Blair and former President Clinton, and influential sports figures like Super Bowl champion coach Jimmy Johnson have all been inspired by the book. In today's corporate upheaval, a new business paradigm is evolving. While many CEOs are being exposed for their greed, truly visionary leaders believe in a goal that benefits themselves as well as others. They realize that it is their vision and "e;soul"e; that attract loyal employees willing to go above and beyond the call of corporate duty. And their employees are realizing the same thing: while 80 percent of adults claim they'd work even if they didn't have to, the majority of them can hardly wait to leave their jobs and get home.Good Business starts with the premise that this is an age in which business and work have replaced religion and politics as central forces in contemporary life. The book reveals how business leaders, managers, and even employees can find their "e;flow"e; and contribute not only to their own happiness, but also to a just and evolving society. It identifies the factors crucial to the operation of a good business: trust, the commitment to fostering the personal growth of employees, and the dedication to creating a product that helps mankind. Good Business is sure to become a must-read text for anyone who values the positive contributions of individuals in the changing world of business.

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.

This volume sets out to establish some parameters for the study of creativity. The authors examine earlier studies and present their own research findings on: the biological aspects of creativity, genes and memes, and notions of coincidence and transformation.

Talented Teenagers is a fascinating and absorbing examination of what makes adolescents tick: what roles personality traits, family interactions, education, and the social environment play in a young person's motivation to develop his or her talent. Vivid descriptions in the students' own words bring the material to life.