Published: New York, N.Y.: Delacorte Press
Year: c1998.
Physical Details: xiv, 322 p. : ill. ; 23 cm
ISBN: 0385323816
On the outside this may seem like a standard self-help book, but it is a bit more than that. Not only does it give you some very interesting insights into the life of Leonardo da Vinci, but it examines his philosophy and methodology on how he thought and practised what he accomplished during his life.
Mr. Gelb was invited to speak at a conference of executives, on how to be more creative, and balanced etc. The chairman of this conference even suggested something about Leonardo, and this book is the result of all the research that had to be done to produce the talk.
The book is separated into three sections. Part one of this book gives an overview of Leonardo da Vinci's life, his major accomplishments, some of the practical aspects of how he did his work, and an overview of what the renaissance was actually like. Part two takes you through seven different principles used by da Vinci: Curosità, Dimostrazione, Sensazione, Sfumato, Arte/Scienza, Corporalita, and Connessione. In English these are generally Curiosity, the willingness to gain knowledge through experience, the continual refinement of the senses, the willingness to embrace ambiguity, the balance between science and art, the cultivation of dexterity, and finally the appreciation of the interconnectedness of everything. Part three gives a short but very interesting course on da Vincian drawing principles, which is very interesting and worth the time.
Each of these sections gives an overview of the topic, as well as exercises the reader can do to further their knowledge and enjoyment of the lessons being learned. By doing these exercises it is almost guaranteed that the reader will open up a new understanding of how their life can be changed, and they enjoy it more.
There is a workbook that goes with this text, which I have not seen, but I am assuming it is just an expansion on the various exercises that are given in this book.
Overall this is an extremely interesting book, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in both the life of Leonardo da Vinci, as well as improving their enjoyment of life.
