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The Evolving Self

A Psychology for the Third Millennium

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The Evolving Self

By: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
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About this listen

In this wise, humane inquiry, Csikszentmihalyi (Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience) argues that genetically programmed behaviors that once helped humans adapt and multiply now threaten our survival. These traits include obsessions with food and sex, addiction to pleasure, excessive rationality, and a tendency to focus on the negative. A University of Chicago psychology professor, the author also believes we must free our minds of cultural illusions, such as ethnocentric superiority or identification with one's possessions. He urges listeners to find ways to reduce the oppression, exploitation, and inequality that are woven into the fabric of society. Further, he wants us to control the direction of human evolution by pursuing challenging activities that lead to greater complexity while opposing chaos and conformity.

Each chapter concludes with self-help questions and mental exercises designed to help listeners apply the insights of this literate manifesto to their daily lives.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. I believe that this is the sort of stuff that should be taught in schools. There are so many valid points the author touches on, that we all could learn from. I highly recommend that everybody takes a look at this marvellous piece of literature 11/10.

This book is on point!

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I had some great insights delivered by this book's author (via the book). Most earlier chapters I felt were wandering excursions, interesting but not very focused compared with, say, guns germs and steel.
Having very much enjoyed Flow, I thoroughly agreed with the ideas presented in the final chapter and think they will be relatable to most people (including high school students). Some fine insights made it worth the effort.
Something about the narration didn't sit well with me, but I got over it.

It's all in chapter 10

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One of the most brilliant, intelligent and thought -provoking books I have come across, and I consider myself to be widely read. Highly recommended for those who are seeking to contemplate a bigger picture view of life and the world.

Enlightening

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More about evolution than psychology. This does not meet the quality of his previous scientific work.

New age political correctness.

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