I'm certain that when this book was written, it was indeed a much better tool.

However, as time has passed, it has become quite outdated at this point.

I'm constantly striving to get into the mindset of Leonardo da Vinci. That's always an incredibly cool thing to do.

As a polymath who is frequently compared to Leonardo da Vinci, I wouldn't necessarily claim that these are the exact things and ways to get you into my mindset.

Nevertheless, it can be an interesting practice for at least getting into a more creative mindset and doing some practical application.

In this book, there are several tests that you can do to attempt to exercise your creativity.

As I was previously stating, though, several of the sciences presented in this book are outdated.

So, I simply wouldn't recommend reading this book.

Instead, reading the biography of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the more recent ones, such as the one by Walter Isaacson, that did provide a much better spectrum into what it's like to think in my head, at least.

It is widely recognised and has intrigued everyone that what makes Leonardo so special is not superhuman powers or divine endowments. Instead, it is his unquenchable curiosity, obsessive passion, often combined with inventive imagination. These are simple skills that all of us have access to, but rarely exploit.

The author attempts to create a structured framework by taking seven key elements central to Leonardo's unique approach to life. The author suggests that we can improve our own lives by consciously developing these same capabilities. The promise is an opportunity to live a wholesome life, where we combine logic with imagination, reason with romance, art with science, and start our own quest for truth and beauty.

The ask is to awaken the powers of curiosity (Curiosità), probe the depths of experience to learn from mistakes (Dimostrazione), sharpen senses (Sensazione), embrace uncertainty, ambiguity, and paradox (Sfumato), balance art and science (Arte/Scienza), nurture the balance of mind and body (Corporality), and above all, find patterns across disparate things to build connections between everything (Connessione).

However, we all know that it is no easy task to emulate. All we can probably do is take a few steps in that direction.

As someone who idolises Leonardo and has read many books on his life and achievements, I believe that a structured framework like this can at best attempt to get us out of our current conditioning. The challenge starts beyond that - to break out of our single-minded quest for 'getting it done', to slow down, to observe, and to open our minds to possibilities.

For me, Leonardo's ability to switch between the abstract on one hand and get into fine details on the other is truly remarkable. This is a rare ability, and most of us err in one direction or the other. Over the years, the biggest influence on me has been to encourage me to broaden my perspective, read and explore disjoint disciplines such as psychology, design, neuroscience, anthropology, mathematics, evolution, and biological sciences, and apply insights from these completely unrelated fields into my own daily life centred around technology. I can confirm that it has opened up innovation in unforeseen areas, leading to novel ideas and unconventional insights. In a society divided between specialisation and generalisation, I find that the right combination of both is the desired goal, at least for me.

Leonardo is an inspiration like no other. I wish I could develop even a fraction of his level of acute observation, obsessive study and experimentation, indefatigable curiosity, and unnatural degree of imagination.

And if I can take one thing away from reading about his life, pursuits, passions, and approach, it would be to slow down, start looking at everything around me with new eyes, and maybe even stop for a while to cherish the infinite wonders around me. For if I do that, I will also start seeing many more patterns and correlations that I overlook today.

On the outside, this might seem like a typical self-help book, but it is actually a great deal more.

Not only does it offer some truly fascinating insights into the life of Leonardo da Vinci, but it also delves deep into his philosophy and methodology, exploring how he thought and put into practice the remarkable achievements he accomplished during his lifetime.

Mr. Gelb was invited to speak at a conference of executives, addressing topics such as how to be more creative and achieve balance. The chairman of this conference even made suggestions related to Leonardo, and this book is the outcome of all the research that was necessary to prepare the talk.

The book is divided into three sections. Part one provides an overview of Leonardo da Vinci's life, his major accomplishments, some of the practical aspects of his work, and an understanding of what the Renaissance was really like.

Part two takes the reader through seven different principles employed by da Vinci: Curosità (Curiosity), Dimostrazione (the willingness to gain knowledge through experience), Sensazione (the continual refinement of the senses), Sfumato (the willingness to embrace ambiguity), Arte/Scienza (the balance between science and art), Corporalita (the cultivation of dexterity), and Connessione (the appreciation of the interconnectedness of everything).

Part three offers a short yet highly engaging course on da Vincian drawing principles, which is both interesting and well worth the time.

Each of these sections presents an overview of the topic and includes exercises that the reader can undertake to enhance their knowledge and enjoyment of the lessons. By completing these exercises, it is almost certain that the reader will gain a new understanding of how their life can be transformed and made more enjoyable.

There is a workbook accompanying this text that I have not seen, but I assume it is simply an expansion of the various exercises provided in the book.

Overall, this is an incredibly interesting book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in both the life of Leonardo da Vinci and enhancing their enjoyment of life.

This was an extremely interesting book. I happened to pick it up after a college professor highly recommended it to me. I share a somewhat similar style with DaVinci. That is, I have a penchant for a wide variety of pursuits that engage both the right and left hemispheres of my brain. Obviously, I am nowhere near the caliber of DaVinci, but he serves as a mentor whom I could potentially follow. The author clearly has a great love for DaVinci as well. The book is replete with praise for him.

The advice provided in the book is excellent and is neatly broken up into small, easily understandable sections. However, it's not really a book that you would read in the same way as other ordinary ones. If you simply progress straight through the book without pausing to think about what you are reading and giving yourself time to test out the ideas for yourself, it won't take a very long time. Since the main purpose of the book is enlightenment, it's not something you read with the sole goal of reaching the end. Instead, you learn as you go along. I admit that I read it too quickly. The large backlog of books that I am eager to read didn't afford me the luxury of fully pausing and carefully considering each idea being presented. Therefore, I would very much like to come back to this book at some point in the future because there were indeed some really outstanding ideas within its pages.

I've read this book twice over the years and it has had a profound influence on cultivating the qualities of a "Renaissance Man" within myself.

Who could be a better subject of study than the quintessential Renaissance Man himself?

The book, although not flawless, does manage to capture the essence of how Da Vinci thought and perceived the world. It also provides checklists at the end of each chapter, suggesting things that one can develop within oneself.

The interesting aspect is that you can identify your own little weaknesses and gaps and then work on them to become more well-rounded. For instance, "Knowing the eye color of all your friends" is a significant one. How many of your friends can you truly claim to know their eye color? This encourages "curiosita" or curiosity, as well as being observant and present.

It may seem trivial, but it is a powerful example of the importance of being observant. By paying attention to such details, we can enhance our awareness and understanding of the world around us, just as Da Vinci did.

Overall, this book has been a valuable resource in my journey towards becoming a more complete and knowledgeable individual.

This was an extremely informative book that I chose not to read from start to finish in a traditional manner. Instead, I skipped around and dog-eared several pages for future review or rereading.

The book is neatly divided into three distinct parts. The first part serves to explain the author's overall idea and provides an in-depth look at Leonardo da Vinci himself. The second part delves into seven ideas that the author believes can assist us in becoming more like this remarkable Renaissance man. And the third part focuses on teaching us how to draw.

My most significant takeaway, which I will surely make great use of, began on page 179 and centered around the concept of mind mapping. To me, this is all about translating our visions into a written format. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the author's ideas regarding reframing our thoughts and the power of having a five-year plan. In essence, we can strive to be more like the man the author hails as the "greatest example of genius of all time" by being curious, learning from our mistakes, learning to utilize all of our senses, embracing paradoxes, seeking to understand both art and science, striving for balanced lives, and constantly asking how everything is connected. I truly relished this non-traditional book and the diverse ways it inspired me to think and appreciate the life I have constructed for myself. Moreover, it has now given me a better understanding of Leonardo da Vinci and perhaps even his most famous work, The Mona Lisa.

Everyone has a little genius within them.

This remarkable book is dedicated to the care and nourishment of that latent genius, presenting seven principles as expounded by the great Leonardo da Vinci.

I had the pleasure of reading this book several years ago, and I was truly enamored with it.

It compelled me to view my creative self from an entirely different perspective.

The exercises within the book were particularly engaging, especially the one on "Mind Mapping."

While it didn't transform me into a full-fledged genius overnight, it did succeed in enhancing my awareness of the everyday experiences that often go unnoticed.

I thoroughly relished reading it and would unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone who desires to open themselves up to a more creative and fulfilling life.

It offers valuable insights and practical tools that can inspire and guide individuals on their journey towards unlocking their inner genius.

Whether you are an artist, a writer, or simply someone looking to add a touch of creativity to your daily routine, this book is well worth a read.

This is truly a gem of a book. It is not only inspiring but also really opened up my eyes to the hidden potential that one has. The book makes me realize that if only one believes and has the courage to put one's belief into action, amazing things can happen.

After reading this book, I have been seriously considering trying my hand at drawing. I have always had an interest in art, but I have never really had the confidence to pursue it. However, this book has given me the motivation and the belief that I can do it.

Who knows what might happen if I give it a try? Maybe I will discover a new talent within myself. Maybe I will create something beautiful and unique. Or maybe I will just have a lot of fun in the process. Whatever the outcome, I am excited to take this step and see where it leads me.

I've relocated this book to my discarded-unfinished shelf. The review was extremely straightforward, partly because I've read hundreds of similar books. To be honest, I didn't finish reading this one.

How to think like Leonardo Da Vinci:

The book commences by elucidating a bit about the 7 intelligences, which I was already cognizant of from taking an outstanding “How to study” course. Mr. Gelb presents these intelligence concepts in Italian... just my cup of tea... I aim to learn new languages while attempting to acquire something entirely different from this book. Sarcasm aside, sorry. Somewhere in the vast database that is my mind lies the biography of Leonardo Da Vinci, obtained through some means, be it a book, film, or college course. Much of the book, in fragments, is naturally rather obvious to me due to this prior knowledge of Da Vinci's biography. However, one aspect that did pique my “Wow, I didn't know that” interest was the information regarding Machiavelli, The Borgia pope, and Da Vinci's interrelationships during the book's biography section. It's a pity it isn't a history book.

Nevertheless, to be fair, the author does initiate the book by informing us that much will be familiar to us as many of the ideas encompassed in the book are common sense. I'm not certain he actually delves into common sense; rather, he provides you with exercises that might help you develop common sense. Since most people possess common sense, the exercises and the book seem a bit redundant.

The self-help writings begin by highlighting that Leonardo was infinitely curious and suggest that our own curiosity is a good starting point in thinking like Da Vinci. Fair enough.

From here, Gelb embarks on a plethora of exercises and unending questions. I suspect that if you follow the suggestions throughout, you will become extremely busy, if not more like Da Vinci.

At certain points, I suspect Gelb is being a bit pretentious. Without knowing for sure, I imagine he sits in some corner deep in New York, surrounded by dozens of museums, galleries, and concert halls, indulging in all that is offered and creating a nice personal experience for himself, more for his own sake than anything else. I think there is a significant difference between the real Da Vinci, who was always striving to be more useful to others. If, and, or when Da Vinci likely engaged in any or all of these same types of exercises, I suspect it was always with a higher purpose in mind.

I can't really be lenient with the remainder of this book, so I'll conclude with this: It is a self-help book that essentially consists of a series of unending exercises and diary keeping. If you wish to be painstakingly guided step by step into your inner self. If your intention was truly some form of self-help (thinking better), this isn't a complete waste if everything is implemented. Take a look at this book. My suspicion is that you may think somewhat like Da Vinci, but you probably won't have his insatiable desire to be helpful to others in the end.

I happened to pick up this guide on how to be more creative. The reason was that some of my friends had planned to go through it during this summer. I decided to give it a try and did one exercise from the very first set. However, I have to admit that I didn't strictly follow the rules. After all, I already consider myself quite creative, you see? Then I read through the entire book. But to be honest, I'm not really that enthusiastic about doing more of the exercises. The way they named the seven principles in Italian just felt a bit forced. In fact, I often found myself unable to prevent myself from saying them in my head with a kind of cartoony accent. And some of the exercises seemed rather tedious. They didn't seem to have any particular point or purpose to them. Based on all these, I think this book just isn't the right one for me. Maybe I'll go back and take another look at some of Julia Cameron's works instead. Although, to be fair, I don't really want to do all of her exercises either.

Unlocking Brilliance: An Extraordinary Expedition

Rating: ★★★★☆

"How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci" by Michael J. Gelb is an absolute gem that takes readers on a captivating journey into the mind of the ultimate genius. Gelb expertly leads us through seven remarkable principles that are inspired by the incredible life and work of Leonardo da Vinci.

This book is truly a treasure map for personal growth. It delves into fascinating concepts such as maintaining a perpetual state of curiosity, understanding the intricate web of connections that exist in the world, and achieving a harmonious balance between our physical and mental selves. Gelb doesn't just stop at theory; he also provides engaging activities for us to try, making the learning process both enjoyable and practical.

The most impressive aspect of this book is how Gelb manages to make the ancient ideas of da Vinci feel incredibly relevant and useful in our modern lives. While some parts of the book may be a bit intellectually challenging, Gelb's vivid stories about da Vinci and his use of everyday examples keep the narrative engaging and accessible.

If you're looking to enhance your creativity, solve problems with finesse, and live a more fulfilling life, then this book is like having a wise and inspiring friend by your side. It's not just a historical exploration; it's a practical guide to harnessing the genius of da Vinci and applying it to our own lives today.

*Note: This review reflects my personal thoughts on the book.

A Fascinating and Inspiring Book

Leonardo da Vinci was a mystery to me before I read this book. Now, I truly appreciate what he has given the world.

The book discusses 7 Principles:

• Curiosita - Am I asking the right questions? This principle emphasizes the importance of curiosity and the need to ask meaningful questions to gain knowledge and understanding.

• Dimostrazione - How can I improve my ability to learn from my mistakes and experiences? It encourages us to reflect on our actions and use our mistakes as opportunities for growth and improvement.

• Sensazione - What is my plan for sharpening my senses as I age? Our senses play a crucial role in our perception of the world, and this principle prompts us to think about how we can maintain and enhance our sensory abilities.

• Sfumato - How can I strengthen my ability to hold creative tension to embrace the major paradoxes of life? It challenges us to embrace the contradictions and uncertainties in life and use them to fuel our creativity.

• Arte/Scienza - Am I balancing Arte and Scienza at home and at work? This principle highlights the importance of integrating art and science in our lives to achieve a more holistic and fulfilling existence.

• Corporalita - How can I nurture the balance of body and mind? Our physical and mental well-being are interconnected, and this principle reminds us to take care of both aspects of our lives.

• Connessione - How do all the above elements fit together? How does everything connect to everything else? It emphasizes the importance of seeing the big picture and understanding the relationships between different elements in our lives.

Amazing stuff - right?