Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An intricate delve into the life of a Renaissance genius from Florence, Italy (who spent more years living/working in Milan). His range of curiosity & investigation spanned multiple disciplines--and the notes that he left behind detail much of these and were available for posterity. A man of humble beginnings--who was never legally adopted by his father. A man way ahead of his time in his ideas, solutions, visions, inventions, scientific & artistic understanding, and just plain ole curiosity about how things work and/or could be improved. Such prodigious reflections, musing, & investigations on such a wide assortment of phenomena. Isaacson yet again does a masterful job at giving readers a deep dive into the character, context, and ideas of a man for all times.

Lessons that Isaacson draws from the genius of da Vinci: 1. Be curious, relentlessly & randomly curious; 2. Seek knowledge, for its own sake; 3. Retain a childlike sense of wonder; 4. Observe; 5. Start with the details; 6. See things unseen; 7. Go down rabbit holes (730 findings about the flow of water!); 8. Get distracted; 9. Respect facts; 10. Procrastinate (let ideas marinate); 11. Let the perfect be the enemy of the good (Steve Jobs was similar); 12. Think visually; 13. Avoid silos; 14. Let your reach exceed your grasp; 15. Indulge fantasy; 16. Create for yourself, not just for patrons; 17. Collaborate ("innovation is a team sport; creativity is a collaborative endeavor"); 18. Make lists, and be sure to put odd things on them; 19. Take notes on paper; 20. Be open to mystery ("not everything needs sharp lines").

I'm giving the book 4-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. I listened to the audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed it from the library (had to check it out a 2nd time). Enjoyed the accompanying PDF of da Vinci's paintings & illustrations & doodles (written in Italian mirror script, which wasn't so helpful--thanks, Isaacson, for the translations)--make sure you follow along in this if you do the audiobook; otherwise, you'll miss a lot.


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