Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
This is a fascinating book about one of the greatest, uh, engineers of all time.
Engineer?
That's how Da Vinci described himself in a letter to the prince of Milan, and he stuffed his notebooks with sketches, yes, but also with designs for armaments, water systems, anatomy of living things from humans to horses.
Isaacson relies primarily on the notebooks, unraveling from the bizarre, backwards mirror writing key details about Da Vinci's sexuality, his gifts, his accounts, and the reasons he left so many masterworks unfinished.
Readers will find insights into creativity, and lessons on genius that are applicable today. This is a masterful work on a masterful artist by a masterful biographer.
Engineer?
That's how Da Vinci described himself in a letter to the prince of Milan, and he stuffed his notebooks with sketches, yes, but also with designs for armaments, water systems, anatomy of living things from humans to horses.
Isaacson relies primarily on the notebooks, unraveling from the bizarre, backwards mirror writing key details about Da Vinci's sexuality, his gifts, his accounts, and the reasons he left so many masterworks unfinished.
Readers will find insights into creativity, and lessons on genius that are applicable today. This is a masterful work on a masterful artist by a masterful biographer.
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Kinda a slow starter. This first 100 pages or so were kinda... Meh. But it got more interesting the further in I got. All in all a worthwhile read!
I liked the high quality of the images of Leonardo da Vinci's work. It made the biography a lot more interesting. However, I did not like it when the image did not line up with Isaacson's descriptions and information. I wasn't a fan of flipping between pages to see what I was reading about. I enjoyed Isaacson's writing style (definitely more than I thought I would). I felt like I was reading about his personal journey to learn about the mind and life of a genius. I disliked how long it was. I got a little overwhelmed by the size and it was *literally* heavy to hold.
The appeals in this book include that the reader learns a lot, it's insightful, and it has engaging writing. People who enjoy this book are probably fans of history, art, and/or science.
The appeals in this book include that the reader learns a lot, it's insightful, and it has engaging writing. People who enjoy this book are probably fans of history, art, and/or science.
This book was everything I expected to be and much more. It reads like a novel rather than a biography. Walter Isaacson is a master storyteller. I’m glad I purchased a hardcover, which allowed me to admire the paintings’ details and appreciate the effort that went into Leonardo’s masterpieces.
I now know 10x more about Leonardo, so mission accomplished. I understand something new about greatness now.
Really enjoyed learning about Leonardo and felt by the end of the book I knew him quite well. The pacing of the book was just a little slow for me.
As a historical figure often held up in reverence, Leonardo da Vinci is given a very humanizing quality by Walter Isaacson, with good humor. We often hear of da Vinci's genius and innovative mind but we don't often hear about how his combinaton of being a perfectionist as well as a chronic procrastinator very often left commissions unfinished and abandoned or how he would lie on his job application. While his genius is by no means understated, this biography makes such a larger than life historical figure feel much more relatable and human which only made me feel even more inspired and increased my appreciation for everything I learned about him. This is a biography I can see myself revisiting time and time again in the future.