What do you think?
Rate this book
Mastering Flow: Perform Better, Experience More Joy, and Live a Happier Life
“When you get in that zone, it’s just this supreme confidence; you know it’s going in. It’s not a matter of if… it’s just that it’s going in… and you just have supreme confidence…” —Kobe Bryant, basketball legend.
From top athletes and successful coaches to world-class creatives, famous artists, and major companies like Toyota, Patagonia, and Ericsson—they are all singing the praises of flow.
Flow is the state of total absorption in an activity. Everything feels smooth and fluent, easy and effortless. You feel confident and in total control. Freed from worries and self-doubts, you’re able to perform to the best of your ability. Flow is special because it combines high enjoyment with high performance.
Decades of research have shown that flow holds the key to peak performance, skill development, and well-being—that’s why flow is sought after by high performers all over the world. As Nils Salzgeber puts Fulfilling your potential depends on your ability to experience flow.
Mastering Flow takes you on a groundbreaking exploration into the fascinating world of flow and shows you how to experience this elusive state with greater ease and frequency.
You’ll Part 1: The Basics—Discover how flow is defined, when and where it happens, personality traits that support or hinder your ability to experience flow, the neuroscience of flow, and much more.Part 2: The Benefits and Risks—Flow is powerful, but it’s neither good nor bad in an absolute sense. Discover the many benefits of flow – performance, creativity, confidence, etc. – and its dangers.Part 3: Making it Happen—Your toolkit. Discover mindsets, routines, and habits that facilitate flow. Learn how to structure your life, tweak your surroundings, and manage your thoughts and emotions. The promise is Apply what you learn and you’ll experience more flow.By unlocking flow, Mastering Flow promises to help you feel and perform better, fulfill your potential, and find lasting happiness.
From top athletes and successful coaches to world-class creatives, famous artists, and major companies like Toyota, Patagonia, and Ericsson—they are all singing the praises of flow.
Flow is the state of total absorption in an activity. Everything feels smooth and fluent, easy and effortless. You feel confident and in total control. Freed from worries and self-doubts, you’re able to perform to the best of your ability. Flow is special because it combines high enjoyment with high performance.
Decades of research have shown that flow holds the key to peak performance, skill development, and well-being—that’s why flow is sought after by high performers all over the world. As Nils Salzgeber puts Fulfilling your potential depends on your ability to experience flow.
Mastering Flow takes you on a groundbreaking exploration into the fascinating world of flow and shows you how to experience this elusive state with greater ease and frequency.
You’ll Part 1: The Basics—Discover how flow is defined, when and where it happens, personality traits that support or hinder your ability to experience flow, the neuroscience of flow, and much more.Part 2: The Benefits and Risks—Flow is powerful, but it’s neither good nor bad in an absolute sense. Discover the many benefits of flow – performance, creativity, confidence, etc. – and its dangers.Part 3: Making it Happen—Your toolkit. Discover mindsets, routines, and habits that facilitate flow. Learn how to structure your life, tweak your surroundings, and manage your thoughts and emotions. The promise is Apply what you learn and you’ll experience more flow.By unlocking flow, Mastering Flow promises to help you feel and perform better, fulfill your potential, and find lasting happiness.
328 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2024
59 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 4, 2025
I have a huge respect for the kind of non-fiction books that don't preach but teach, the kind of books that don't force 'how-to' on you but acknowledge the shortcomings of an individual and give a safe space to be aware of their 'why.' Mastering Flow by Nils Salzgeber is one such book for me that has gained my admiration for its intelligent and scholarly writing.
This book discusses 'Flow' based on empirical data and studies that have been conducted on the optimal performance state/Flow. What makes this book exceptionally good is its cohesive structure and how heavily it is backed by research. As a PhD research scholar in Psychology, I am impressed by the hundreds of studies it has referenced to present a compelling and thought-provoking walkthrough for scientifically understanding the concept of 'Flow.'
The canonical work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi serves as a foundation for every research that has been or will ever be conducted on this topic, but the author takes it a step further by integrating a pragmatic and intellectual approach. The book is systematically broken down into three parts: the first part provides the background, nature, and characteristics of Flow by presenting the suitable conditions for a flow-conducive environment. The second part covers the potential benefits and risks of the flow state by providing real-life examples of athletes who achieved success in their respective fields and also how this flow state resulted in the deaths of many. The third part takes an expository approach where the author presents some practical ways that can be beneficial to create a flow-conducive environment or state.
I thoroughly enjoyed and loved this book, which felt like a learning experience, especially the first part, which was dense with the information and studies it discussed. This isn't the kind of book that one should 'binge-read' or rush through because the ideas and concepts discussed and offered are heavy to process intellectually. As a reader, one should read-pause-process-resume this book in order to truly comprehend and implement what it has to offer. Again, this isn't one of those 'how-to' books, but this book is like an instrument or 'power' of self-awareness that the author hands over to you, and you must decide how to use it or simply keep it with you.
Highly recommended for people who struggle with focus and concentration because they will get to know the science of 'why' behind it and practical ways to improve it. Also recommended for people who have read ‘Deep Work’ and ‘Indistractable’ or for those who prefer reading research-based non-fiction over forced 'self-help' books.
This book discusses 'Flow' based on empirical data and studies that have been conducted on the optimal performance state/Flow. What makes this book exceptionally good is its cohesive structure and how heavily it is backed by research. As a PhD research scholar in Psychology, I am impressed by the hundreds of studies it has referenced to present a compelling and thought-provoking walkthrough for scientifically understanding the concept of 'Flow.'
The canonical work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi serves as a foundation for every research that has been or will ever be conducted on this topic, but the author takes it a step further by integrating a pragmatic and intellectual approach. The book is systematically broken down into three parts: the first part provides the background, nature, and characteristics of Flow by presenting the suitable conditions for a flow-conducive environment. The second part covers the potential benefits and risks of the flow state by providing real-life examples of athletes who achieved success in their respective fields and also how this flow state resulted in the deaths of many. The third part takes an expository approach where the author presents some practical ways that can be beneficial to create a flow-conducive environment or state.
I thoroughly enjoyed and loved this book, which felt like a learning experience, especially the first part, which was dense with the information and studies it discussed. This isn't the kind of book that one should 'binge-read' or rush through because the ideas and concepts discussed and offered are heavy to process intellectually. As a reader, one should read-pause-process-resume this book in order to truly comprehend and implement what it has to offer. Again, this isn't one of those 'how-to' books, but this book is like an instrument or 'power' of self-awareness that the author hands over to you, and you must decide how to use it or simply keep it with you.
Highly recommended for people who struggle with focus and concentration because they will get to know the science of 'why' behind it and practical ways to improve it. Also recommended for people who have read ‘Deep Work’ and ‘Indistractable’ or for those who prefer reading research-based non-fiction over forced 'self-help' books.
October 24, 2024
I was excited to receive an advanced copy of this book because I had been wanting to dive deeper into this subject and I have to say everyone would benefit from reading this book. Mastering the flow state will help you in so many areas of your life and Nils does a great job at explaining how to get there.
You will have a better understanding of what being in flow means and there are many examples given of interesting studies that have been performed relating to flow.
You will be given many examples of the benefits of being in flow and also some of the dangers. I really liked the acknowledgement that flow is a power that should be used responsibly.
The last part of the book is all about how to get into the flow state. The suggestions given are easy to understand and attainable for those willing to put in a little effort. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to improve their lives.
You will have a better understanding of what being in flow means and there are many examples given of interesting studies that have been performed relating to flow.
You will be given many examples of the benefits of being in flow and also some of the dangers. I really liked the acknowledgement that flow is a power that should be used responsibly.
The last part of the book is all about how to get into the flow state. The suggestions given are easy to understand and attainable for those willing to put in a little effort. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to improve their lives.
July 18, 2025
I had read Csikszentmihalyi's book 'Flow' a long time ago and had understood the concept of flow theoretically, but this book 'Mastering Flow' is so practical that we can see how flow is induced, which kinds of personalities are more flow prone and also what kinds of activities are more flow inducing. The book also goes into the details of what happens in the brain during flow and also how meditation can help us in experiencing flow much more frequently and also at greater depths. Interestingly, the author also explored the topic of the negative ramifications of flow which was very insightful.
Overall, this book provides a good insight of how flow leads to happiness and how one can achieve greater flow in life and in turn be much more happier.
Overall, this book provides a good insight of how flow leads to happiness and how one can achieve greater flow in life and in turn be much more happier.
October 25, 2024
This book made me curious about flow. So I read Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
This book Mastering Flow is a comprehensive guide to understanding, achieving, and maintaining the flow state, exploring both its positive impacts and its potential risks.
My favorite part of the book is Part 3: Making It Happen, as it provides practical advice for integrating flow into everyday life, work, and personal growth. I have enjoyed reading the book and found it valuable.
This book Mastering Flow is a comprehensive guide to understanding, achieving, and maintaining the flow state, exploring both its positive impacts and its potential risks.
My favorite part of the book is Part 3: Making It Happen, as it provides practical advice for integrating flow into everyday life, work, and personal growth. I have enjoyed reading the book and found it valuable.
October 21, 2024
I couldn't put my Kindle down. Nils this book Mastering Flow is a master piece on how to live and think. By changing the way you think reduce stress and let life flow. I LOVE THIS BOOK. People you need to read this informative text. It will literally change your life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews