How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps To Genius Every Day

Learn about the Renaissance genius of Leonardo Da Vinci and how to bring more inspiration and brilliance into your own life.

The cover of this book caught my eye in a bookstore and I bought it on the spot.  I instantly loved the theme of the book, the cover design, and general book design.  And as I began reading, all of my expectations were surpassed by Michael Gelb's insightful writing.

The book provides life, writing, inventions, and art of Leonardo da Vinci, complete with many illustrations from his notebooks and great works of art. 

Contents

Preface: "Born of the Sun"

PART ONE

Introduction: Your Brain Is Much Better Than You Think
  Learning From Leonardo
  A Practical Approach to Genius
The Renaissance, Then and Now
The Life of Leonardo da Vinci
  Major Accomplishments

PART TWO

The Seven Da Vincian Principles
  Curiosità
  Dimostrazione
  Sensazione
  Sfumato
  Arte/Scienza
  Corporalita
  Connessione
Conclusion: Leonardo's Legacy

PART THREE

The Beginner's Da Vinci Drawing Course
Il Cavello: Rebirth of a Dream
Leonardo da Vinci Chronology:
  Life and Times

Recommended Reading
Resources
List of Illustrations

Here how Michael Gelb described the Seven Da Vincian Principles: 

Curiosità—An insatiably curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning.

Dimostrazione—A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes.

Sensazione—The continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as means to enliven experience.

Sfumato (literally "Going up in Smoke")—A willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty.

Arte/Scienza—The development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination.  "Whole-brain" thinking.

Corporalita—The cultivation of grace, ambidexterity, fitness, and poise.

Connessione—A recognition of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena.  Systems thinking.

Each principle is illustrated with examples and a rich set of exercises to help enhance the principle in your daily life. The exercises range from simple lists of the type familiar in other personal growth books to some amazingly deep and fresh exercises that will keep you probing for a long time—perhaps a lifetime.

I thought of writing a book something like How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.  However, I think Michael Gelb has filled the niche nicely, freeing me to chase other pursuits :-).

If you like this kind of book, you may also want to take a look at the Mind Map Book by Tony Buzan and The Artists Way by Julia Cameron.

Book reviewed by Greg Dixon
For Shared Visions Unlimited
Sunday, January 07, 02001

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