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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Good, not great. I started off loving it, about halfway through realized I only liked it, then near the end felt like a homework assignment that wouldn't end. The book is half traditional biography using da Vinci's own journals as source and half fan boy critique of his artistic works, including a chapter or two tangent about modern "discoveries" and the debate if they are authentic or not. Preferred the former over the latter. One of those books that I'm glad I read, but also glad to finally finish...
Not quite the 5 stars of Irving Stone's The Agony and Ecstasy, about Michelango, but nevertheless very educating while being enjoyable. There are many similarities between these peers, working in the same times, places and sometimes mediums. Leonardo takes things one step further as a multi-talented genius always questioning everything his eyes saw. The amount of drawings, he left behind, and the breadth of his work is mind boggling.
I love biographies and Walter Isaacson never disappoints.
I love biographies and Walter Isaacson never disappoints.
“Be open to mystery. Not everything needs sharp lines.”
Abandoned. As much as I enjoy learning about Leonardo da Vinci as well as reading Walter Isaacson's previous works, I could not finish this book. I'm beginning to realize I enjoy autobiographies far more than biographies. Reading quotes after quote about a person from some 3rd party gives me an idea of how they were perceived, not how they perceive. I think it would be far more rewarding to learn about Leonardo by looking at examining his works for yourself rather than read some words on a page about him.
I'm struggling with this and I'm going to DNF it for a while, maybe forever. I've read Isaacson's books on Steve Jobs and "The Code Breaker". I can't get into this one. I feel I'm reading about some nerdy tech bro.
I had always wondered about Leonardo, but never knew much about him or why he is considered to be THE master. Now I know. As much a scientist as an artist, Leonardo was obsessed with observing the natural world and understanding how it worked. He used the knowledge he gained to fuel his art, which in turn powered his ability to further observe the world using highly realistic drawings.
He articulated Newton's law of motion centuries before Newton lived. He utilized the scientific method well before the enlightenment. He filled notebooks with ratios concerning different body parts (e.g., the length of the foot is 1/7th the length of the body).
And his ability to look at the world closely revolutionized art itself. Leonardo realized that objects don't have distinct outlines--that forms a distinguished by changes in color, light, and shade. He realized that perspective mandated that objects nearer to the viewer must be more clear and detailed than objects father away. He studied how light hit the retinas to further refine perspective, especially for his larger works like the Last Supper. And he saw that colors in direct light were purer than colors in the shade. All of this and more.
I can't wait to see his work in the future with a new appreciation for what makes him the master. And his life is a lesson to stay curious.
He articulated Newton's law of motion centuries before Newton lived. He utilized the scientific method well before the enlightenment. He filled notebooks with ratios concerning different body parts (e.g., the length of the foot is 1/7th the length of the body).
And his ability to look at the world closely revolutionized art itself. Leonardo realized that objects don't have distinct outlines--that forms a distinguished by changes in color, light, and shade. He realized that perspective mandated that objects nearer to the viewer must be more clear and detailed than objects father away. He studied how light hit the retinas to further refine perspective, especially for his larger works like the Last Supper. And he saw that colors in direct light were purer than colors in the shade. All of this and more.
I can't wait to see his work in the future with a new appreciation for what makes him the master. And his life is a lesson to stay curious.
Listened to the audio book. It took me a while to get used to the narrator, but it was really well executed. Also, make sure you have the associated PDF (111 pages filled with a timeline, pictures of referenced works, and other useful information) before you listen to this book.
So can you have spoilers on a biography of someone as well known as Leonardo da Vinci? He dies towards the end. Anyway...
Isaacson is enthralled by the overlap of science and creativity, and Leonardo is possibly the ultimate human example of this. The book certainly makes a compelling case.
I thoroughly enjoyed the history and the facts covered, but I could have done without some of the speculation and interpretations by the author (however well defended). Specifically, I’d rather the facts be provided and let the reader make a judgment.
The biggest surprise to me was the depth of Leonardo’s contribution to anatomy (human and animal). His drama with Michelangelo and interactions with Machiavelli were news to me as well.
Overall, it was a rewarding experience.
So can you have spoilers on a biography of someone as well known as Leonardo da Vinci? He dies towards the end. Anyway...
Isaacson is enthralled by the overlap of science and creativity, and Leonardo is possibly the ultimate human example of this. The book certainly makes a compelling case.
I thoroughly enjoyed the history and the facts covered, but I could have done without some of the speculation and interpretations by the author (however well defended). Specifically, I’d rather the facts be provided and let the reader make a judgment.
The biggest surprise to me was the depth of Leonardo’s contribution to anatomy (human and animal). His drama with Michelangelo and interactions with Machiavelli were news to me as well.
Overall, it was a rewarding experience.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
Learned a lot about one of the very few true geniuses history has given us. One major gripe I had with this book is with the writing: the endless repetition of some of the key ideas was immensely annoying by the time I finished the book. Possibly, the translation to Dutch is partly at fault as well but I suspect this is inherent in the content itself.
I also had a feeling there is much more to be told, will be looking for other biographies.
Apart from that, really interesting read, would definitely recommend!
I also had a feeling there is much more to be told, will be looking for other biographies.
Apart from that, really interesting read, would definitely recommend!