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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
Get the paperback, the hardback self-destructs.
A dry, detailed exploration of Leonardo Da Vinci's works--his interest in geometry, anatomy, light, and movement. His paintings, sculpture, and drawings everything from war engines to toys to effects for plays. He wrote copiously, and produced plenty, but various issues led to art and writings being lost or difficult to attribute.
The book makes it clear what is known, and what isn't, sometimes repeating information. It is a big text, with a lot of information, and pictures of paintings and pages, etc. You're likely to learn something, but the book is light on entertainment value.
A dry, detailed exploration of Leonardo Da Vinci's works--his interest in geometry, anatomy, light, and movement. His paintings, sculpture, and drawings everything from war engines to toys to effects for plays. He wrote copiously, and produced plenty, but various issues led to art and writings being lost or difficult to attribute.
The book makes it clear what is known, and what isn't, sometimes repeating information. It is a big text, with a lot of information, and pictures of paintings and pages, etc. You're likely to learn something, but the book is light on entertainment value.
Excellent book. Interesting and thoughtful breakdown of an approachable genius who was an engineer, an artist and throughout his life human.
Amazing figure. Isaacson is an incredible story teller. But I also remembered why I prefer fiction.
Was a bit annoyed that the author brought up Steve Jobs and Benjamin Franklin several times in comparison whilst pointing out his books on them. Once or twice maybe but it was more times than that…
I chipped away at this heavy tome bit by bit because I didn't want to carry it around. The publishers kindly sacrificed portability for a finely bound volume with excellent illustrations. I thought this was going to be a real slog to read but Isaacson keeps it surprisingly light, sectioning the book into subjects Leonardo was interested in. I kind of didn't want the book to end.
I received a signed copy of this book for Christmas (from someone who knows me well! Grade-A gifting, Kathi!). I enjoyed a long sigh of satisfaction when I finished it last night. Not because I was glad it was over - on the contrary. What a wonderful read. Sure, it's long, but it's quantity AND quality. And who wants to give Leonardo short shrift? Not me.
I have two other biographies from Isaacson, but I haven't started the Jobs yet and just scratched the surface of the Einstein last year. Not sure if he does this in all his bios, but with Leonardo he was very considerate in breaking down his long list of achievements into bite-sized chapters. I'm sure this was a big factor in helping me get to the finish line. In addition, there are many fabulous plates of some of his artwork interspersed throughout. Having them paired with the author's in-depth analysis makes for many happy hours of inspection as well as introspection.
Something else I was not expecting was Isaacson's down-to-earth style. It's as if he were sitting next to you at the coffee shop, telling you all these fabulous factoids, with an occasional elbow bump or eye roll or shared moment of reflection. He even manages to slip in a few puns and alliterations, just to see if we're paying attention.
I transcribed several quotes from both Leonardo and Isaacson into my journal for further reflection. Taking the time to read a book of this length and quality is an investment in yourself. Highly recommend.
I have two other biographies from Isaacson, but I haven't started the Jobs yet and just scratched the surface of the Einstein last year. Not sure if he does this in all his bios, but with Leonardo he was very considerate in breaking down his long list of achievements into bite-sized chapters. I'm sure this was a big factor in helping me get to the finish line. In addition, there are many fabulous plates of some of his artwork interspersed throughout. Having them paired with the author's in-depth analysis makes for many happy hours of inspection as well as introspection.
Something else I was not expecting was Isaacson's down-to-earth style. It's as if he were sitting next to you at the coffee shop, telling you all these fabulous factoids, with an occasional elbow bump or eye roll or shared moment of reflection. He even manages to slip in a few puns and alliterations, just to see if we're paying attention.
I transcribed several quotes from both Leonardo and Isaacson into my journal for further reflection. Taking the time to read a book of this length and quality is an investment in yourself. Highly recommend.
I both read and listened to Walter Isaacson’s Leonardo Di Vinci, alternating depending on what I was doing. Alfred Molina’s narration is excellent. At some point along the way of reading and listening, I forgot about the writing and the words and entered on a journey in which I barely noticed I was reading or listening. I was immersed in the person of Leonardo Da Vinci and 500 years and all else easily fell away. As a biography, Isaacson succeeded in portraying all that made Leonardo the complicated, fascinating, complex, creative, curious genius he was while at the same time touching on how completely human he was. Isaacson goes in depth on Leonardo’s painting and engineering as well as his study of anatomy and astronomy. The book is organized in a combination of both chronological and topical order in a way that somehow makes complete sense. Highly recommend for biography readers who are interested in art, engineering, anatomy, and Renaissance history.
I thoroughly enjoyed this in depth examination of the genius that was Leonardo da Vinci. We’ve all read and seen snippets of his life and work, but nothing quite matches the deep insight that this book achieves.
By looking at Leonardo through his notebooks we are able to assess his personality, and understand what led to his genius. He wasn’t just gifted, he worked hard to be the best at everything he did.
Leonardo’s varied interests led to him having a finger in every pie. It’s not hard to see that he was a brilliant artist and engineer because he was imaginative and creative.
His obsession with human anatomy led to him creating art that had more emotion and life than those of his contemporaries. Same with his fascination with the eye and perception. It adds layers to his paintings.
I like that Leonardo isn’t painted as some kind of perfect human. Yes, he strived for perfection in everything he did, but that obsession often led to him leaving works incomplete or incapable of letting go. The Mona Lisa was commissioned by a rich merchant, but Leonardo kept trying to perfect it and never handed the piece in.
I found it funny that the first time Leonardo moved to Milan, he essentially did so to try and make a career move. He wanted to be an engineer and promised the ruler everything under the sun. But he was unable to complete most of his promises.
This was an engrossing read. And the audiobook read by Alfred Molina was particularly effective in being a dramatic and tempered listen.
I highly recommend this book as a study of the man known as Leonardo.
By looking at Leonardo through his notebooks we are able to assess his personality, and understand what led to his genius. He wasn’t just gifted, he worked hard to be the best at everything he did.
Leonardo’s varied interests led to him having a finger in every pie. It’s not hard to see that he was a brilliant artist and engineer because he was imaginative and creative.
His obsession with human anatomy led to him creating art that had more emotion and life than those of his contemporaries. Same with his fascination with the eye and perception. It adds layers to his paintings.
I like that Leonardo isn’t painted as some kind of perfect human. Yes, he strived for perfection in everything he did, but that obsession often led to him leaving works incomplete or incapable of letting go. The Mona Lisa was commissioned by a rich merchant, but Leonardo kept trying to perfect it and never handed the piece in.
I found it funny that the first time Leonardo moved to Milan, he essentially did so to try and make a career move. He wanted to be an engineer and promised the ruler everything under the sun. But he was unable to complete most of his promises.
This was an engrossing read. And the audiobook read by Alfred Molina was particularly effective in being a dramatic and tempered listen.
I highly recommend this book as a study of the man known as Leonardo.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
All I knew about Leonardo da Vinci before I read this biography was the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, and that he came up with a lot of ideas that were considered "out there" when he conceptualized them but that became reality centuries after he died, one example being the helicopter. I learned so much more about the innovative, artistic, gay, vegetarian humanist and well-dressed procrastinating perfectionist that was Leonardo da Vinci and for that, I'm grateful. The only negative for me was that the further into the book I read, the more first-person "I think this" opinion there was from the author about what Leonardo did, thought, felt, imagined, loved, hated. Not necessary.