With the wealth of information and principles for action presented by Michael Gelb in this book one wonders where to start? It provides an "inspirational" approach to improving your mind and your life. I have always been fascinated by fictional superheroes and I also enjoy reading about the lives of geniuses of the past in all fields of endeavor. This book uses a close study of the life and achievements of Leonardo da Vinci to identify principles that each of us can apply in our life to improve and reach a level of genius beyond that we might have thought possible.
The book is divided into three parts: Part One includes a concise biography and list of Leonardo's accomplishments; while Part Two focuses on the "Seven Da Vincian Principles" that include curiosity, a focus on the senses, use of ambiguity and development of whole-brain thinking. While the principles are not unique to Leonardo, this presentation is particularly effective and helpful. Part Three discusses the art of drawing and perspective which is at the heart of Leonardo's art. The inclusion of a chronology of Leonardo's life, which spanned the last half of the fifteenth century into the first decades of the sixteenth, and a topical bibliography of recommended reading increases the value of this truly inspirational book. (less)
FRIEND REVIEWS (1) ( )

A good approach to fulfill your life with specific steps.
I was expecting much more, but the issue was not the book but my expectations... ( )

Leonardo started a lot of projects that he never finished -- but the ones he did finish are amazing. The author, after examining Leo's life, saw that there were seven habits or characteristics that seemed to guide da Vinci and make him the Renaissance man that he was. The purpose of this book is not to make us feel inadequate by comparing ourselves to the Maestro, but to give us a path to follow, so that we may emulate him in our lives as much as possible.

The one drawback that our bookclub sees: we don't have wealthy patrons putting us up and giving us free rein to explore what we want.

by reading this book I have discovered that I have a lot to improve on, but also that I've already been living according to some da Vincian principles. Yay me!
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some good ideas in here, but I have no delusions about becoming this century's Leonardo! ( )

Ok, so most of the self-help, self-improvement books out there are complete bunk and just full of outrageously obvious or deluded truisms (or, not-so-truisms). But I've found Michael Gelb's writings to be consitently worthwhile. Yes, it's a bit silly to think you can "think like Leonardo," but there are some interesting tricks you can use to make yourself open up your mind just a little bit more and a lot of great things you can learn about yourself by exposing yourself to new experiences. That's mostly what this book is about: self-understanding through self-expanding. ( )