Welcome to month 4 of the book club! This month we are going to be reading Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

Mihaly is known for his work with the concept of flow – which is obviously what this book is about.

So what exactly is flow?

According to the author it is, “the positive aspects of human experience – joy, creativity, the process of total involvement with life.”

When I first heard of this book, the illustration used to describe flow was the feeling athletes get when they are “in the zone” or “on fire”. If you have ever played sports you can picture the way you feel in that moment. Everything just seems to work. You are completely in the moment, and extremely happy.

Why this book?

We all want to be happy, right? Everything we do in life is meant to bring happiness into our lives in some way or another. Some of the things we do help us achieve happiness, but others pull us far from it.

While this book is not meant to be a “recipe to happiness”, which the author says does not exists, it is designed to “present general principles, along with concrete examples of how some people have used these principles, to transform boring and meaningless lives into ones full of enjoyment.”

I am really excited to read this book. It is one that I have had on my reading list for a long time. It comes recommended from some of the most successful, and happiest, people I know.

Here’s how the reading will break down for June:

• Week 1: Chapters 1-3
• Week 2: Chapters 4-5
• Week 3: Chapters 6-7
• Week 4: Chapters 8-10

If you don’t already have the book, go pick it up this week, or order it from Amazon. I can’t wait to jump into this book with you!