Every day, we are surrounded by a plethora of elements such as air, water, birds, flowers, and planes. However, we seldom take the time to consider their artistic subtleties.

Centuries ago, a maestro emerged who had the remarkable ability to connect all these delicate dots with his extraordinary thinking style. His curiosity about everything was matched by his spontaneous originality in responding to all that intrigued him. Regrettably, Leonardo Da Vinci might just be the most underrated individual in history.

In this book, Michael Gleb reveals that thinking style and inspires us to adopt a similar approach. After delving into its pages, you gain diverse perspectives on life. After all, the freedom to think is a precious human inheritance. 'Think like Da Vinci' is undoubtedly one of the finest self-help books I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to one and all. :)

I read this such a long time ago and I truly loved it.

Even now, I still vividly remember a few great chapters that had a profound impact on me when I was just a 16-year-old.

Recently, while reading the extensive biography of Leo written by Walter Isaacson, I came across this book again at my parents' place.

It immediately brought back those wonderful memories, and I vowed to read it again for the sake of reliving those good times.

I am looking forward to delving into its pages once more and rediscovering the wisdom and inspiration that it holds.

Who knows what new insights and perspectives I might gain this time around?

I'm excited to embark on this literary journey again and see where it takes me.

I think this book is for personal development, but it's definitely different!

The ideas are unconventional, not commonly mentioned or consumed, and the style is new and interactive between the author and the reader.

The book combines ideas in 266 pages in a specific and unique order.

It talks about the secret of creativity in Leonardo da Vinci and the methods he used in his interaction with the world, and includes a lot of information about Leonardo's personality, who is known as an innovative and ingenious painter.

But he also studied anatomy and dissected many corpses himself, all because of his great love for knowledge and science.

Leonardo followed many methods in his interaction with life in an unfamiliar way, such as his view of colors and shapes and his observation of the world and people in ways, saying "Many people see but do not observe."

He would observe everything with an eye that saw for the first time in life.

Also, he adopted the principle of doubt in everything to get rid of traditional ideas passed down through generations and he would test everything himself until he was sure of its truth.

Leonardo used his small notebook that he carried everywhere he went to write down his observations, ideas, thoughts, and even his drawings, and this helped him discover the world with greater enthusiasm and made him feel the greatness of this universe, its details, and its infinite beauty.

Finally, Leonardo lived a life full of everything in it, and on his deathbed, he felt guilty for all the things he would die without having completed yet, and he insisted on his death as a true believer.

I think everyone has an idea, even the vaguest one, about who Leonardo da Vinci was. However, this book delves into da Vinci in an extensive way, and it is impressive how multifaceted he was.

This book is then full of information about da Vinci's life - so much that when reading it in a rush, I will have to come back to it to retrieve its information. Additionally, it is written in the form of a self-help book, making it somewhat dull. But in the end, it concludes with other curious data, recommendations, and tips - I will apply those based on increasing creativity.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive look at da Vinci's life and work, although its self-help format may not be to everyone's taste. Nevertheless, the additional information and tips at the end make it a worthwhile read for those interested in da Vinci or looking to boost their creativity.

Super kniha!

This is an amazing book that truly stands out. It captivates the reader from the very first page with its engaging storyline and well-developed characters.

The author has done a remarkable job of creating a world that is both vivid and believable. The details are so rich that you can almost picture yourself in the scenes as you read.

Whether you are a fan of adventure, mystery, or romance, this book has something for everyone. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly guessing what will happen next.

Super kniha is a must-read for any book lover. It will leave you satisfied and eager to pick up another book by the same author.

Look at your life mind map from the perspective of the Seven Da Vincian Principles:

Curiosità Are you asking the right questions? Do you have a thirst for knowledge and a desire to explore the unknown? Curiosity is the key to unlocking new opportunities and expanding your horizons.

Dimostrazione How can you improve your ability to learn from your mistakes and experiences? This principle emphasizes the importance of reflection and analysis. By learning from your past, you can make better decisions in the future. Additionally, how can you develop your independence of thought? This requires you to question the status quo and think for yourself.

Sensazione What is your plan for sharpening your senses as you age? Our senses play a crucial role in our perception of the world. By taking care of our senses, we can enhance our experience of life and become more in tune with our surroundings.

Sfumato How can you strengthen your ability to hold creative tension to embrace the major paradoxes of life? This principle encourages you to embrace the contradictions and uncertainties in life and find creative solutions. It requires you to think outside the box and be open to new ideas.

Arte/Scienza Are you balancing Arte and Scienza at home and at work? This principle highlights the importance of integrating art and science in our lives. By combining creativity and logic, we can achieve a more holistic approach to problem-solving and decision-making.

Corporalità How can you nurture the balance of body and mind? Our physical and mental health are interconnected. By taking care of our bodies through exercise, proper nutrition, and rest, we can also improve our mental well-being.

Connessione How do all the above elements fit together? How does everything connect to everything else? This principle emphasizes the importance of seeing the big picture and understanding the relationships between different aspects of our lives. By recognizing these connections, we can make more informed decisions and live a more fulfilling life.

Because it leads the reader to the center of human functioning: self-defining and self-regulating, I think this is one of the most significant personal development books I've read. It provides a framework for understanding ourselves and our place in the world, and offers practical advice for improving our lives.

I would like to begin by the review of this Great Legend by saying a couple of sentences.

I continually keep thinking of those who were truly great.

Who from their very early childhood remembered the history of the soul; and who kept on striding towards the corridors where the sun’s light was burning brightly endlessly.

Leonardo Da Vinci was born in 1452, in a small town in Florence, Italy. Since childhood, he showed a great capability of understanding the world and worldly events surrounding him. He was a brilliant child, very curious about the different phenomena and mysteries of the universe. His keenness to learn about the universe as a whole was his first stepping stone into the later culmination of the brilliant scientist, painter, and philanthropist that he became.

The author Michael Gelb has astoundingly captured the essence of DA VINCI’S soul in this book. Here, the author has brilliantly explained how we can capitalize on our hidden talent and creativity and become icons of society. This is not just a book, but a treatise on how we can bring out creativity and be more productive both for ourselves and the society as a whole. The author further capitalizes on Da Vinci’s Seven Principles in this regard. Which were:

Curiosita: The first and most important thing is to have an insatiable curiosity towards everything.

Dimonstrazione: A willingness to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and also an ability to learn from mistakes.

Sensazione: This goes with a continuous effort to keep refining your senses; especially your sense of sight, through which you gain most of the delightful experiences of the world.

Sfumato: Also important is a willingness to accept and embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty.

Arte/Scienza: Most importantly, remember to make a balance between science and art, logic, and imagination.

Corporalita: Grace, poise, fitness, and ambidexterity are as important factors to cultivate to get a better understanding of the mysterious machinations of the universe.

Connessione: This is perhaps the most important principle of all as it deals with the ability to understand the interconnection of all things and phenomena.

Michael Gelb also further throws light on the life of Leonardo Da Vinci’s guidelines to live a healthy, harmonious, and happy life. This book is essentially to bring out the genius in you by following and implementing simple and creative techniques to enhance your talent and productivity. Kudos to the author for enlightening us on such a great legend and the way he used to spend his each day in life.

A truly excellent concept gets lost within the realm of subpar, self-indulgent writing. I'm left uncertain as to whom Gelb is more enamored with, himself or da Vinci. Let's consider this: the book is penned in English, yet the main figures are named in a bastardized form of Italian to give it an air of uniqueness.

Even better - "His physics studies anticipated the modern disciplines of hydrostatics, optics, and mechanics." Astonishing - he delved into physics a full 200 years before the sciences of physics and calculus were even invented! As Dr. Cavanagh once scribbled on one of my research papers - anachronistic nonsense!

Leonardo da Vinci was an absolute genius, and we can glean valuable lessons from his methods of insatiable curiosity, testing knowledge through hands-on experience, honing the senses, embracing ambiguity, striking a balance between science and art, cultivating grace and fitness, and recognizing the interconnectedness of all things. However, you'll gain a far deeper understanding of these aspects through a well-written biography rather than this particular book.

This should really be a 3.5 star, but unfortunately, that option isn't available, so I rounded up. It is indeed a really cool book. However, anyone interested in reading it should be aware that it isn't a typical book. Instead, it is more of a handbook, guide, or manual.

It presents 7 different principles that were themes in da Vinci's life. For each principle, the book provides a definition, shares an example from da Vinci's life, and then offers a number of activities for readers to start incorporating the principle into their own lives.

The book merits 3.5 stars because some of the principles and activities are truly remarkable. Nevertheless, the majority of them are just average. My main concern with the book is that the author appears a bit pretentious or snobbish. There were several instances when I felt this was a handbook for being a strict member of the upper class rather than emulating da Vinci.

For those who are serious about reading the book, the author suggests in the preface reading it all the way through to familiarize oneself with the content, and then going back and attempting the ideas that most intrigued you. I agree that this would be the optimal way to read the book. I will never read it cover to cover again, but I do plan on (and have already) begun experimenting with some of the activities. I don't feel more intelligent, but I definitely feel more fulfilled as a person while engaging in each one. I can't claim it will have a huge impact on my life, but so far it has been satisfying and enjoyable. I'll update this review if that situation changes.

There is a wealth of excellent content encompassed within these pages. It offers a remarkable, yet cursory, overview of one of the prominent geniuses in Western civilization. However, for me, it has a slightly overly-catchy and clever tone around the edges. Additionally, it leans a bit too heavily on the prescriptive side. This is rather strange considering that the author created a workbook version subsequent to this. I truly have no idea what else could be added in terms of exercises. I found the ones already present to be tiring, rather than captivating or inspiring.

It seems that while the initial concept and the information provided are valuable, there are certain aspects that could be refined or reevaluated. Perhaps a more balanced approach to the writing style and a rethinking of the exercises might enhance the overall experience for the reader.

Nevertheless, it still serves as a useful resource for those interested in gaining a quick understanding of this particular genius and the ideas associated with them.

The first edition of the book was published in 1998 and it has been widely distributed around the world due to the availability of its translated versions in many languages. The book is classified as a self-development book. In it, the author discusses the phenomena and reasons for the genius of Leonardo da Vinci, who was not only proficient in art but also in engineering, war machines, dissection, and philosophy, along with a strong and healthy physical structure.

The author covers seven principles that can enable you to think in the way of Leonardo da Vinci, to break through the barriers of your mind, and to maximize your creativity and potential. They are as follows:

1. Idleness and questioning

2. Proof and verification

3. Sensation

4. Doubt and questioning

5. Arts and sciences

6. Intellectual and physical integration

7. Connection

It is worth mentioning that the book contains many practical applications. In addition, there is another book that you can obtain called "The Application Book", which is considered a practical workbook containing a larger number of applications for each of da Vinci's genius principles. It is not just for reading but for interaction and application to achieve the maximum benefit from it.

The book is interesting and beautiful for those who are interested in self-development books. However, personally, it did not add much to my knowledge due to its early publication date and the similarity of its content to many books in the field of self-development that I have already read. Nevertheless, it is still worth reading.

Note: The original English version of the book is more accurate in description, more complete, and more beautiful than the abridged translated version. If your English is strong, I recommend reading it in its original language.

It's okay. I liked the last flipped pages.

These flipped pages seem to hold a certain charm. They might have carried the weight of countless stories and emotions. As I turned them, I could almost feel the essence of what was written within.

Maybe it was the anticipation of what was to come, or the nostalgia of what had already passed. The act of flipping those pages was like a journey through time and space.

It allowed me to escape from the present and immerse myself in a different world. Whether it was a fictional tale or a non-fiction account, the words on those pages had the power to transport me.

And so, I continue to cherish those last flipped pages, for they have left an indelible mark on my heart and mind.