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Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention Paperback – August 6, 2013

4.4 out of 5 stars 673 ratings
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“Although the benefits of this study to scholars are obvious, this thought-provoking mixture of scholarly and colloquial will enlighten inquisitive general readers, too.” —  Library Journal (starred review)

The classic study of the creative process from the bestselling author of Flow.

Creativity is about capturing those moments that make life worth living. Legendary psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (“The leading researcher into ‘flow states.’”  — Newsweek) 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.

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  1. Print length
    480 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 6, 2013
  4. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.77 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0062283251
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0062283252
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Although the benefits of this study to scholars are obvious, this thought-provoking mixture of scholarly and colloquial will enlighten inquisitive general readers, too.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Accessible and enjoyable reading.” — Washington Times

From the Back Cover

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.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (August 6, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062283251
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062283252
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.77 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 673 ratings

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Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
673 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides wonderful insights into creativity and is well-researched, with one review noting it explains how and when creativity arises with historical examples. Moreover, the book includes one hundred interviews with extraordinary people, and customers appreciate its historical accuracy. However, the readability receives mixed feedback, with some finding it well-written while others consider it a difficult read. Additionally, the pacing receives negative feedback, with one customer describing it as repetitive.

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46 customers mention "Creativity"43 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights into creativity, with one customer noting how it explains when and how creativity arises through historical examples.

"...Csikszentmihalyi breaks down the creative process into digestible parts, showing how environment, discipline, curiosity, and flow all play a crucial..." Read more

"...with a description of what creativity is, it reviews the way creative people work and live, and it ends with ideas about how to make your life more..." Read more

"...This book provides an interesting view into the minds and work habits of Creative individuals, and concludes by offering general advice to those who..." Read more

"I love how the author almost redefines creativity .and sheds new light (for me, at least!)on what what real-for-true creativity is and how it..." Read more

41 customers mention "Research quality"31 positive10 negative

Customers find the book well-researched and informative, with one customer noting it provides practical guidance and another mentioning it contributes new knowledge to its domains.

"...process into digestible parts, showing how environment, discipline, curiosity, and flow all play a crucial role in fostering creative discovery...." Read more

"...I especially enjoyed the amount of work and thought that went into the creation of this book...." Read more

"...The book also offers supporting evidence from the lives of the 91 interviewed, which also provides interesting insights into their lives...." Read more

"...It is a useful book, but one which requires a great deal of supplemental reading, in order to truly engage in creativity studies." Read more

4 customers mention "Historical accuracy"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, with one mentioning its use of historical examples.

"...] “This book is about creativity, based on histories of contemporary people who know about it firsthand...." Read more

"it is classics. I recommend this to everyone interested deeper in creativity...." Read more

"...A truly amazing book filled with insights, reflections, historical examples, personal testimonies, and everything else that helps to explain what..." Read more

"Modern Classic..." Read more

4 customers mention "Interviewing"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the interviews in the book, with one review highlighting the inclusion of one hundred interviews with extraordinary people, and another noting the interesting questions posed to them.

"...over three decades of research along with over one hundred interviews with extraordinary people—from scientists and business leaders to artists and..." Read more

"...this as a negative review, yes, but I did enjoy reading the testimonies of the people interviewed, and the author adds some value in the..." Read more

"...I love that artists were interviewed and held in equal standing with scientists!..." Read more

"...interesting questions answered by extra-ordinary people" Read more

19 customers mention "Readability"13 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it well-written while others describe it as a difficult read.

"...of the interviews conducted with nearly 100 exceptionally, world renowned creative minds by a brilliant scientist...." Read more

"...It's not just for poets and painters: think about the way that thinking-outside-the-box is the key to success for business start-ups, technology, law..." Read more

"...Warning: Although deeply insightful, it’s not an easy read...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. Well researched and written with some great take aways...." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book boring and repetitive.

"...definition, the author's musings meander hopelessly and painfully for hundreds of pages without working toward any new or useful idea...." Read more

"Surprised this book gets such good reviews. It was so repetitive and boring I skipped chapters 10-13, but did read the conclusion in 14...." Read more

"...Reading this book was a slog, and honestly, if I wasn't the facilitator of the book club, I would have stopped reading at page 60...." Read more

"This book bores so much that I don't want to look into the huge amounts of gibberish in it anymore...." Read more

Go with the Flow...... Full Steam Ahead....
5 out of 5 stars
Go with the Flow...... Full Steam Ahead....
Friends: As a Research Engineer I enjoyed reading Mihaly's book hoping to absorb a few Good ideas. My wife is a descendant of Scottish Mechanical Engineer - James Watt who invented the Steam Engine. Every lightbulb in the world has a reference to James Watt { 20 Watts, 40 Watts, etc }. Mihaly reminds us of the difference between Genius, Brilliance and Creativity. You have to create something to be Creative....... Google my name to Learn more....... Arthur von Boennighausen
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Julie S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars – A Must-Read for Anyone Interested in Creativity!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention* by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a brilliant exploration of the inner workings of creativity and the human mind. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or simply someone interested in understanding how creative breakthroughs happen, this book provides a fascinating blend of psychology, real-world examples, and deep insights.

    What sets this book apart is its comprehensive approach to creativity, going beyond the idea of it being a mysterious or innate trait. Csikszentmihalyi breaks down the creative process into digestible parts, showing how environment, discipline, curiosity, and flow all play a crucial role in fostering creative discovery. The interviews with a wide variety of highly creative people—including scientists, artists, and business leaders—add incredible depth and context to his theories.

    One of my favorite takeaways is how Csikszentmihalyi emphasizes the balance between freedom and structure in creative work, and how finding the "flow" state can lead to moments of true innovation. The book not only helped me better understand my own creative process but also offered practical advice for cultivating creativity in everyday life.

    This is an insightful, inspiring read for anyone who wants to dive deeper into the psychology behind creative genius. Highly recommend!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Brian Johnson | Heroic
    5.0 out of 5 stars I absolutely loved this book.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The media could not be loaded.
    “This book is about creativity, based on histories of contemporary people who know about it firsthand. It starts with a description of what creativity is, it reviews the way creative people work and live, and it ends with ideas about how to make your life more like that of the creative exemplars I have studied. There are no simple solutions in these pages and a few unfamiliar ideas. The real story of creativity is more difficult and strange than many overly optimistic accounts have claimed. For one thing, as I will try to show, an idea or product that deserves the label ‘creative’ arises from the synergy of many sources and not only from the mind of a single person. It is easier to enhance creativity by changing conditions in the environment than by trying to make people think more creatively. And a genuinely creative accomplishment is almost never the result of a sudden insight, a lightbulb flashing on in the dark, but comes after years of hard work.”

    ~ Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi from Creativity

    Creativity with a capital C—the type of Creativity that changes the world.

    How can we go about cultivating it in our lives? That’s what this book is all about.

    Our guide is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi—one of the founders of the positive psychology movement. Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced “cheeks sent me high”) is a professor at Claremont Graduate University and the former Chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago who wrote the classic book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience .

    This book features the wisdom gained from over three decades of research along with over one hundred interviews with extraordinary people—from scientists and business leaders to artists and poets.

    Warning: Although deeply insightful, it’s not an easy read. If you’re looking to understand creativity at a deeper level via one of the world’s leading (and legendary) psychologists then I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

    Here are some of my favorite Big Ideas:

    1. What is Creativity - Domain + field + person.
    2. Attention - + Being kind weird
    3. Complexity - + Resolving dischotomies.
    4. Rhythms - Your ideal days?
    5. Creativity + Flow - The 9 elements

    Well, there we go. That’s a super quick look at this great book. Time to get our flow on as we tap into our Creativity and optimize + actualize!

    More goodness— including PhilosophersNotes on 300+ books in our ​*OPTIMIZE*​ membership program. Find out more at brianjohnson . me.
    40 people found this helpful
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  • Common Arts Farm
    4.0 out of 5 stars Creativity which has the power to change the world
    Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2003
    Verified Purchase
    A few caveats to those who are generally interested in creativity studies: Csikszentmihalyi's analysis and discussion of creativity does not directly relate to those who are personally creative. People who enjoy engaging in creative activities are not demoted, in his terms, but are simply not a part of the study. It is unfortunate that his language makes it seem this way; he distinguishes between the two by saying that Creativity has the power to shape a domain or the world, while creativity applies to those who enjoy coming up with new recipes, who are engaged in research that may not change a domain, but may "tweak" it, etc.
    What he is trying to discover are the underlying principles and traits of creativity in those whose work has made a significant change. Think Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Strand: people who are either widely known for their influence, or who have been influential within their area or domain.
    This book provides an interesting view into the minds and work habits of Creative individuals, and concludes by offering general advice to those who wish to make their own lives and work more creative. It is a useful book, but one which requires a great deal of supplemental reading, in order to truly engage in creativity studies.
    17 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Charles H. Hooker Jr.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very enlightening for those who truly appreciate creativity more than cleverness!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I love how the author almost redefines creativity .and sheds new light (for me, at least!)on what what real-for-true creativity is and how it benefits individuals and society. It's far more than simply brightening up a room with new wallpaper and curtains -- it describes how genuine creativity requires a thorough working knowledge of the fundamentals of any given field before one can truly create something new or better, and it reveals how those of us who aren't capable of creating something ourselves can yet be part of the process by demonstrating appreciation and support for those who create, whether as sponsors, patrons, or even just ardent fans!
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • prabuddha
    5.0 out of 5 stars loved it so much tha underlied 50% of the book
    Reviewed in India on August 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    loved it so much tha underlied 50% of the book! though this is in continuation to the book flow, or better say majority of the points are a repeatation to what he has already written in flow.
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  • Charles Pardoe
    5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough exposition on creativity
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Having just finished reading Creativity by Csikszentmihalyi I have become fascinated by the topic. His book is detailed and highly analytical. This is not a fantastical book of spurious claims nor a self-help book. Having said that, he sets out concisely at the end how one might apply certain principles and approaches to life based on those of successful creative people (such as those he refers to in previous chapters). The most contentious argument put forward is that one is only creative if that creativity is recognised by others of sufficient standing in a field and/or domain. However, in the 'Notes' section at the end he goes on to explain the importance of adopting this position in order to apply the scientific metheod to the study of creativity. Clearly if everyone could self-validate their creativity in terms of quantity and quality the subject would be completely subjective. I appreciate this difficulty but it is nonetheless hard to divorce oneself from the conviction that one has, on occasion, been genuinely creative even if it has not been validated by anyone else.

    I was unsure as to whether to rate this book as four stars or five on the basis that, although Csikszentmihalyi has approached the matter rigourously and makes few assumptions about the nature of creativity, it would have been valuable, i think, to evaluate the experiences and lives of those who are supposedly not creative. In a similar vein the question of how intelligence should be defined is often studied and disputed, although it seems equally challenging to precisely define its opposite, whatever that is - perhaps 'stupidity'?

    However, Csikszentmihalyi has published widely and thoroughly on the matter and as such I would not expect any book, brilliant as it may be, to address every aspect of such a complex notion as 'creativity', with all its far reaching implications for mankind. As such I rate this book five stars as it is a well-written and stimulating foray into this area of psychology. I would reccommend this book to people of all levels of knowledge of the field of psychology, although it is not a 'quick-flick' read by any means. I have already started reading another of his books.
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  • Rogério Augusto Profeta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Um clássico que não perde o impacto. Recomendo.
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Um clássico que não perde o impacto. Recomendo.
    Report
  • Martha Iriarte
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro
    Reviewed in Spain on December 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Es una aproximación empírica sobre el tema de la creatividad. El autor nos ofrece las repuestas de un amplio grupo de personas reconocidas como creativas sobre el tema. Me ha resultado interesante de fácil lectura y útil para mis intereses.
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  • P.H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Happy
    Reviewed in Canada on August 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Good read.
    Report