“For those familiar with the concept of flow, you’ll find this book a wonderful review of all that makes up the flow experience. For those unfamiliar with “flow,” this book reveals the full meaning of flow as a part of the human experience. With engaging and accessible prose, Sue Jackson takes the reader on a refreshing and insightful journey about flow, that space between anxiety and boredom, presented with clarity and accessibility. Sue explains in vivid terms how, in a world filled with stress and distractions, you can learn to experience flow through mindfulness to bring you peace and happiness. That’s worth discovering.”

—Rainer Martens, Founder, Human Kinetics Publishers

“Sue Jackson offers an essential contribution to the understanding of flow, debunking several myths and misconceptions, and highlighting its role as a key psychological construct. She achieves this goal through an engaging narrative, as well as a rigorous writing style, appealing to researchers, practitioners, and any reader interested in the topic. A comprehensive view of flow is provided, which takes shape throughout the chapters through the words of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who shed brilliant light on this pervasively optimal experience; and also through the words of people encountered by Sue in her research and practice of sport psychology, mindfulness, and psychotherapy.”

—Antonella Delle Fave, M.D., Professor of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Milan

“Flow is a fascinating and important construct for human well-being. Sue Jackson is a world expert on flow and has written an accessible book not only explaining flow itself (including what it is not) but relating it to other important issues, including acceptance, goals, mindfulness, and growth mindset. Things are brought to life with some great quotes and references to interesting life experiences. It’s a great read. You will learn a lot – I did!”

—Stuart J.H. Biddle, Professor of Physical Activity & Health, University of Southern Queensland

“As a passionate flow practitioner, this is the book I have been waiting for. Dr. Sue Jackson is one of the world’s leading authorities on flow having worked with and learnt from the best—the father of flow—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Her book not only honours his legacy, but it sets the record straight on what flow is and is not and addresses the current trend of sensationalizing the experience reminding us that flow state cannot be simply switched on or forced. The book is packed with research examples and quotes, including her own research and that of other leading scientists, from this important area of psychology. Her more recent interviews with leading experts and athletes add to the richness of this text and brings flow right up to date. If you want to live a better and more fulfilling life, then this book is an essential read. And just like the many great works of Csikszentmihalyi himself, it is a book to be referred to again and again.”

—Derek Tate, MSc, President Professional Ski Instructors of Europe (PSIE)

“Experiencing Flow is a wonderful book and will contribute to a better understanding of the flow experience.  Sue has detailed key areas that impact flow and the many real-life examples clearly illustrate the principles for finding flow—and the quotes are enriching in every sense. Importantly, Sue has honoured the work of Csikszentmihalyi beautifully. This book captures the essentials all should gather to understand flow better. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi gave the world a gift and psychology a direction. Sue’s book adds to Mihaly’s timeless contribution.”

—John Hendry, OAM, Former Director of Student Welfare, Geelong Grammar School

“Expert advice on flow that takes us “beyond boredom and anxiety” is as important today as it was when Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi first wrote about flow in the 1970s. Dr. Sue Jackson’s book, Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety, provides the most up-to-date guidance available for flow seekers. Through an expert synthesis of research, case studies, psychological practice, and personal experience, Dr. Jackson shows that flow is accessible to all of us through the course of life—including during times of adversity. This important volume illuminates the key ingredients of flow, provides very practical strategies toward attaining flow, and offers many opportunities for self-reflection and planning to authentically map key lessons learned into everyday life.”

—Andrew J. Martin, PhD, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of New South Wales

“Experiencing Flow is a must-read for psychology practitioners and researchers, as well as individuals interested in living a more fulfilling life. Performance psychologist Sue Jackson, who has studied flow for four decades, combines her knowledge of the topic with her own personal experiences and interviews she conducted with elite performers and other researchers in the field. The book begins with a tribute to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who introduced the world to flow. In doing so, it provides a glimpse of how a great scientist thinks, capturing his experience and thinking that led to the idea of flow and flow theory. Mindfulness as a vehicle for achieving flow is also discussed in detail, with Jackson providing very practical guidelines for doing so. The book finishes by discussing how flow can help all of us live a more fulfilling life in the hectic information age in which we live. Reading the book will certainly help all of us do so.”

—Daniel Gould, Gwen Norrell Professor Emeritus of Youth Sport & Student Athlete Wellness, Michigan State University

“Sue Jackson leaves no doubt how special flow experience is, while expertly making the case that flow—optimal experience—is not just for “special” people. Sue shares incredibly rich stories and strategies so that we can learn what elite performers know about tapping into our best selves to rise to new challenges, the ones we take on eagerly and the ones that take us by surprise. From how we think about ourselves, to how we pay attention in each moment, to how we breathe, this book teaches that we have many resources we can use to become better than we are right now—while transforming anxiety and boredom into presence, meaning, and joy.”

—Deanne Gute, PhD, Co-founder, The Flow Channel Foundation

“Dr. Jackson takes the academic concept of flow and applies it to anyone interested in improving the quality of their life.  She shows how the popular concept of mindfulness gets you ready to enter a flow state and provides practical mindfulness strategies for experiencing flow. She demonstrates that to experience flow is to experience complete absorption in the task at hand, where skills and abilities are matched with task difficulty, and one performs effortlessly. With lots of informative quotes from performers in different domains, entertaining anecdotes, and what we know from research, Dr. Jackson presents a comprehensive understanding of flow and how it can enhance our lives.”

—Bob Weinberg, Professor Emeritus, Miami University

“Dr. Jackson is a scientist-practitioner who has spent her career centering her research and professional practice on the elusive but highly valued experiential state that Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi labeled “flow”. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the extent of her interactions and collaboration with Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, her depiction of his carefully considered conceptualization and theorizing on the flow state strikes me as thoroughly authentic and accurate. It is a depiction that is entirely accessible, at least in part, because Dr. Jackson included many relatable personal insights and disclosures from exceptionally skilled performers and practitioners intent on facilitating optimal experience among others. I particularly appreciated her intentionality in not only linking this sought after experiential state to optimal functioning, as most commonly occurs, but also to individual well-being, happiness, and ultimately the sense that one is experiencing a life that is meaningful and being well-lived.”

—Robert C. Eklund, Mode L. Stone Distinguished Professor of Sport Psychology, Florida State University

“In 1990 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi gifted the world with his book Flow. In 2024, Sue Jackson offers us a second gift in Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety. In the intervening 34 years, science has taught us much about flow. Here, Sue takes us to a new place, weaving much of that knowledge with her own passion and experience. She shares clear and practical strategies for integrating flow with growth mindset and mastery perspective, mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy. The future of flow—and the good it can do for our world—will come from our ability to integrate flow with these practices.”

—Gary Gute, PhD, Co-founder, The Flow Channel Foundation; Professor of Human Development, University of Northern Iowa

“Dr Jackson’s book, Experiencing Flow, is a very readable account on how we can incorporate flow into our achievement tasks and into everyday life. But the most impressive aspect for me is that Dr Jackson based the text on research and science. As a life-long academic who has argued for science to inform practice for many years, Sue’s book epitomizes the use of science and research to undergird the use of flow into our lives.”

—Glyn C. Roberts, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Sport Psychology, Norwegian University of Sport Science; inducted into the ISSP Sport Psychology Hall of Fame

If you want to learn what Flow is about and how to facilitate the flow state in a very clear, understandable, and practical way from one of the true Masters of Flow, then I can give you a 100% guarantee that this book will be worth your money. Sue gives her writing a personal touch by sharing about her background and connection with the founder of Flow, and even a personal story on Flow and adversity, which I think is an underexposed but very important application of the principles behind the optimal experience. This book will definitely offer you a practical guide to walking this life-enrichening path!

—Ruben van Boven, Musician

Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety is an immersive masterclass in understanding and cultivating flow, no matter what you’re doing. Along the way, readers gain a rare opportunity to intimately understand the father of flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, thanks to the author’s close relationship with him while working at the forefront of flow research. The book also features insights from an all-star cast, including Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s flow coach, George Mumford, and world-class climber, Hazel Findlay. The result is a treasure trove of life’s work and expertise, offering not only a deep understanding of flow but practical tools to help readers experience it more often in their own lives. Susan’s enthusiasm for flow is matched only by her profound expertise, making this book an essential starting point for anyone seeking to bring more flow into their life.

—James Ware, Consultant

Experiencing Flow is a book about the concept of flow written by one of the world’s leading experts on the topic. It’s written in a simple, accessible, conversational, and easy-to-understand style. It’s light reading, and I often found myself in a mild flow state while reading it. The book feels very personal. It feels like sitting down with a wise person who talks about her 40+ years of experience with the concept of flow. A highly accessible book about flow, written by one of the world’s leading experts on the topic. If you’re interested in learning more about flow or want to be a little bit happier and have a bit more fun in life, this is a wonderful read. Highly recommended.

—Nils Salzgeber, Author

It must have been some 20 years ago when I read Susan’s first book, Flow in Sports, and presented this book to others as “my bible”. I bought several copies to hand out and lend it to people who wanted to know how I work as a sports coach, what my beliefs and fundamentals are. I told them to read this book and 95% of its content is how I personally view sports, and what I aim for in helping others to perform.

And then I met the person who wrote my bible (in collaboration with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the founder of flow) on top of the mountain overviewing Innsbruck during the first Flow Conference. A moment which could have well led to ‘experiencing flow’ if I wasn’t too distracted. I was pleased and proud to receive her new book out of her hands and later could listen to the audio version. She reads it herself and her soft but clear voice fills with admiration and loving feelings when she speaks of her tutor and mentor, ‘Mike’ Csikszentmihalyi. Listening to her outlining the flow state, it not only reminded and reshaped my knowledge on the matter, but it also helped me to deal with some struggles I had at that time. Everyone has those from time to time and everyone can use some guidance in dealing with them and reach flow once in a while!—Jack Edelaar, Professional Bowler & Coach