The Rise of Superman

Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance
by Steven Kotler | New Harvest © 2014 · 256 pages

The Rise of Superman. What an awesome title and vision. Steven Kotler is one of the world’s leading authorities on the science of flow. He created the Flow Genome Project that is all about “decoding the peak performance state of flow.” (<—Awesome.) In this book we take a peak at how we can get our greatness on. Big Ideas include a quick look at flow and how to hack it, achieving mastery sans misery, using fear as a compass and how to do the impossible.


This is our mystery: a rare and radical state of consciousness where the impossible becomes possible. This is the secret that action and adventure athletes have plumbed, the real reason ultimate performance has advanced nearly exponentially these past few decades. The zone, quite literally, is the shortest path toward superman. And this is a book about that zone.
Steven Kotler

“In other words, despite the unusual ‘them’ [extreme sports athletes] at the center of this story, this book is really about us: you and me. Who doesn’t want to know how to be their best when it matters most? To be more creative, more contented, more consumed? To soar and not to sink? As the deeds of these athletes proves, if we can master flow, there are no limits to what we can accomplish. We are our own revolution. …

The great civil rights leader Howard Thurman once said, ‘Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive. Because what the world needs most is more people who have come alive.’

The data is clear. Flow is the very thing that makes us come alive. It is the mystery. It is the point. Put another way: There are difficult and dangerous activities described in the pages of this book. The people involved are highly trained professionals. So please, please, please try them at home. Because what the world needs most is Superman.

It is time to rise.”

~ Steven Kotler from The Rise of Superman

The Rise of Superman.

What an awesome title and vision.

Steven Kotler is one of the world’s leading authorities on the science of flow. He created The Flow Genome Project that is all about “decoding the peak performance state of flow.”
(← Awesome.) He’s also an extraordinary (and award-winning) writer.

In this great book (get a copy here), Steven tells us the riveting stories of extreme athletes and how, over the last several decades, they’ve consistently done the impossible by systematically unlocking and tapping into the power of flow.

Most importantly, he tells us how WE can do the same.

And, as per the intro quote above, implores us to do so.

The world needs you to rise.

Here are some of my favorite Big Ideas on how we can go about doing that!

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About the author

Authors

Steven Kotler

Author, journalist, co-founder and director of the Flow Genome Project.