How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day

by Michael J. Gelb

Book Overview

This inspiring and inventive guide teaches readers how to develop their full potential by following the example of the greatest genius of all time, Leonardo da Vinci. Acclaimed author Michael J. Gelb,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385323816
• ISBN13: 9780385323819
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.2" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

If You're not Thinking Critically, you're Not THINKING!

So what is Gelb trying to tell us about thinking anyway? And does critically thinking creatively really matter when there are so many other alternative ways to get answers in todays non-critically thinking culture? When we've got the internet, books, consultants, and some of the worlds greatest thinkers that have ever lived ---all living at the same time--- how can we benefit from digging up a dead man by the name of Leonardo da Vinci anyway? Well there is an appropriate ancient proverb found in the Hebrew text that says "though he be dead yet he still speaketh". So is Gelb's book really necessary and does it add to the wealth of knowledge that you already know about Leonardo? Truthfully why do we need to think like Leonardo anyway? Will it improve our understanding for the next great mind blowing adventure we take? You'll find all your answers and so much more in Michael J. Gelb's, National Bestseller. He writes a wonderful introspective book on how Leonardo da Vinci was able to master his amazing perspectives and at the same time summon up all of the Curosita' you could ever imagine. What a da Vincian approach to da Vinci's multi-sided perspectives. I've learned more about vision than I've ever been aware of. So if you want to explore why Leonardo thought the way he did you need to get Gelb's book. Well it's time to think and what better way to think clearly than to think critically. I've been sharing some amazing values with a class of very bright Glenwood school students and I'm expecting greater things to happen this new year just because it can! Your Servant, Deremiah

Lessons from the greatest Maven

Michael Gelb has spent a lifetime studying Leonardo. This book distills the key principles that Leonardo lived by and shows how we too may take our own journey of self-discovery toward excellence. In my book, The Human Fabric, Leonardo is cited as an example of an incredible Maven (and importantly, not a Relater or Evangelist). Discovering our core energy/talent is indeed the starting point. Once we discover it, we must relentlessly deepen it. Leonardo is the finest example we have of the deepening process for Mavens. In his book, Gelb describes Leonardo's seven principles. It's notable that three of the principles: Sfumato, Arte/Scienza and Connessione, all deal with bringing together opposites and seeing connections between things that don't initially seem to be related. We see this quality replicated in other great Mavens like Einstein, who was able to bring light, matter and energy together in his famous equation. Relaters and Evangelists do the same, but with people and causes, respectively, rather than knowledge. Apply just one of Leonardo's seven principles and you will be astonished by the result!

A different form of self-help

I really hate self-help books. I really do. Most of them spend 20 pages telling you how to help yourself and 250 talking about how wonderful it is to read the book you're reading.But this book is different. I came upon this book very casually, not really looking for anything in particular. When I saw it, I knew that I had to have it. I have always loved da Vinci's art and his intellect - from the first time seeing the Mona Lisa in Paris as a teenager up to my latest trip to Florence a few months ago. But when I bought this book, it didn't occur to me that it might be in the genre of self-help because I was so fascinated with the subject, but that didn't matter once I started reading.I really believe this book does give us a picture of how to think like da Vinci. The key is don't go into it expecting a lot, and you'll be pleased. Unlike some may perceive on buying this book, I never believed it to do so, and it never says, "You'll be a genius if you read this book." Mr. Gelb just describes da Vinci's methods of thinking, and credits da Vinci everywhere with multiple quotes. From start to finish, I don't think the author once tried to go off subject of how 'his (the author's) methods' were superior or any of the other self-help (...)- it's all credited to da Vinci. It's written fairly simply with daily exercises to produce the desired effects.One thing that I find very beneficial in this book is that it gives a few paragraphs on how to help teach your children to think more broadly with each section. Having a child that is labled as 'difficult,' it helped me to understand him better, and to encourage his naturally intelligent behaviors such as curiosity when everyone has been trying to repress it...this to me is invaluable. By changing my thinking it really gave me a greater appreciation for a 3 year-old!I only have one criticism of this book, where I truly believe the author inputs his own preferences exclusively - and that's mostly to do with the Sensazione exercises section in particular. Whether it's telling you to prefer Jazz over other music, or classical, I think his own opinions come through. But simultaneously I must add that his opinions are given as 'starting points' so to speak.I have truly enjoyed this book. Although I haven't started the exercises (he suggests reading it thoroughly first) I feel that I have learned a great deal. It is also important to note that there is a companion workbook, which probably isn't necessary, but I'm going to buy it because I found this one to be a great book on improving insights and personal qualities.