Leonardo Book

A great biography of Leonardo de Vinci, written by Walter Isaacson →

https://www.amazon.com/Leonardo-Vinci-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1501139150/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0

It took me 6 on-and-off years to read this book, but I finally finished it today. It’s not a page turner, nor the greatest book I’ve ever read, but the entire time I was reading it I was saying to myself “I’m so glad I’m reading about him”. I read the hardcover, which was great to be able to continually turn back to look back at the full-color pictures, which are fantastically numerous.

But, perhaps the greatest summary is done by Isaacson himself in the Conclusion, by listing what he/we learn by studying Leonardo:

1. Be curious, relentlessly 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
8. Get distrated
9. Respect facts
10. Procrastinate
11. Let the perfect be the enemy of the good
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
18. Make lists
19. Take notes, on paper
20. Be open to mystery