Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Hands on History
We are homeschoolers using this book in part of a unit on Inventors. My eight year old is able to read and enjoy the history behind the different inventions. I thought it would just be a "how to" book, but we are both really enjoying the well written historical information in this book. It really makes Leonardo and the world he lived in come alive.I like to just browse through the book and look at all of Leonardo's sketches as well.

The pictures and instructions are fairly easy to follow. The inventions do use common items, but we don't always have the right "common" items at the right times. We have modified most of the directions to use what we actually have in our house. Today we wanted to make the camera obscura, but we just threw out our last empty Pringles can... guess we'll be eating lots of chips in the next week :)

Amazing facts
Wonderful book for kids who love to learn. Great info and facts even for adults. Highly recommend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great subject for a children book.
Great subject for a children book. I got this series of books for my daughter and she really enjoyes reading them. Great read and educational too.

i can't wait to get the whole series
This is one of the best biographies aimed at children that I have ever read.The main narrative is interspersed with sidebars about different historical explanations about relevant topics such as the invention of paper, ranking of workers within the guild system, Copernicus,The illustrations by True Kelley are light-hearted, accessible, and they carry the text.How else do you explain a painting? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Do you want to read or look at the art of Da Vinci?
I'm not much of a reader and it's not blatantly spelled out in this book's description BUT if you're looking for a book with DaVinci's art DO NOT LOOK HERE!

The first Renaissance man
Nothing of Leonardo DAVinci's sketchbooks were published until the 20th century.These are some of the most important documents of the Renaissance, and they did not become known until the 20th century.There are still people who do not know how important this work was.His anatomical studies were a watershed moment, because they introduced visual diagrams as the standard for communicating knowledge of the body and self.This was no more and no less than the conviction that the true knowledge of the shape of any body could only be arrived at by seeing it from different aspects.The truth of the body, the truth of the human being can only be discovered by looking at the body from multiple aspects, like; level, motion, perspective, transformation and growth.He opened up the body, it had always been closed, now its open.Now, what goes on inside the body is going to give us the essence of what it means to be human.It is the internal struggle, the self with the self, within .you.When you look at his sketchbooks, you see just one place where the whole world opens up.

Leonardo DAVinci-- Leonardo DAVinci invented the modern self.He invented the modern self precisely in this way, through the perspective of disappearance.What he tells reality and us about the self is that it only exists by that which is perceived by the eye.Reality is a product of nature; reality is that which we perceive by the eye.Reality is only that by which we can see.Moreover, in his notebooks he gives us another foundational belief about the human subject and its form.That the sound rules are the issue of sound experience and observation.Experience and observation can only be our best teacher.Of course, this is also, what Voltaire is telling us to by the way.The challenge comes when we realize that we are both to the subject observing and the object that is observed.In our search for self, we experience a kind of division between our constitutions as objects and our constitution as subjects.However, when we look at the human form, when we look at the self we find that the body is in harmony with nature, and that it is in harmony within nature.How does DA Vinci make these kinds of claims?Alternatively, how does he ground these kinds of claims with the function of the eye or the power of the eye?Well, one of the ways he does it is thru the camera obscura.Earliest record of use of camera obscura is in DA Vinci's writings.The camera obscura gave birth to the science of optics, the science of seeing.It is with DA Vinci, that the science of seeing became the foundation of self-representation, a representation called the self, thus the representation of the human form.Now DA Vinci embodied his own concept of the painter, as philosophers.He saw painters principally as natural philosophers.To him, nature was all important, absolute, the image of the eternal.In one very significant passage of his notebooks, he defines the relationship of art to nature and its process of evolution."The painter will produce pictures of small merit, if he takes for his standard the pictures of others.If he will study from natural objects, he will bear good fruit, as was seen in the painters after the Romans always imitating each other until their art constantly declined from age to age.Therefore, this was paramount for him in some ways what he was doing, and thinking was very radical and revolutionary and in other ways, it was very traditional.He appears to be quite a traditionalist, he studied ancient sources, Greeks, medieval sources, he studied anatomy, and these traditions get him to compare the microcosm of the body and the macrocosm of the world.These analogies extend to everything that he attempted to trace, to record and to know about the human form.Comparisons between the arteries in the body and the underground rivers of the earth.The flow of blood to the head in relation to the circulation of water to the summits of mountains.How does blood get to your head?If you want to understand that then understand how water flows up to mountains.Blood when it bursts in the veins of your nose and water rushing out of a vein in the earth.Almost everything that occurs in the human body can be found in the natural world.His interest in these analogies becomes very evident in the notebooks and sketchbooks.Scholars argue that these microcosm and macrocosm analogies are more than outright comparisons that belong to a pre scientific age, they lead him to compare the study of the body and Ptolemy's study of the earth.Consequently to use Ptolemy's method in the geography as the starting point for his own systematic study of anatomy.Therefore, anatomy and geography here become one in DA Vinci's mind.The forms of the earth and those of the human body have a parallel. "Thus in 15 entire figures you will have set before you the microcosm on the same plan as was before me adapted by Ptolemy in his cosmology, and so I shall afterwards divide them into limbs as he divided the whole world into processes.Then, I will speak of the function of each part in every direction putting before your eyes a description of the whole form and substance of man as regards his movements from place to place by means of these different parts.Thus if it please our great author I may demonstrate the nature of men and their customs in a way I describe this figure."Therefore, within the human form and within the kind of intricate details of human anatomy he discovered a way of describing and recording, not only the geographical construction of the natural world, but of Divinity itself.And when you look more closely at the system he devised to study the body, the more carefully you look at his drawings of the human form the more clearly you begin to recognize how strikingly stunningly original it is.

Earlier authors had relied exclusively on verbal descriptions of the human body.The human body had been a verbal entity but he emphasis visual description and some of the illustrations he has to bring visual dimensions to the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle the descriptions put forward by these men he presents in visual terms in these kind of body scapes.In the course of 20 years, roughly from 1489 to the end of his life, he dissected about 19 corpses and became very much obsessed with dissection.He drew these parts of bodies in minute detail every part of the human anatomy, he would draw each piece separately, together and at different angles.He laid out bodies in his drawings to mime classical poses in painting.He is referencing the history of art with the poses and the visual representation of the human subject.It is presented to us that deeply challenge these values of human nature, of life and death of living form and the cadaver it really raises some profound questions.The problem is in order to get to those questions, in order to explore some of the deeper philosophical implications of his work you have to get past the gross factor and the moral and ethical questions that his work raises.He is an artist that works very consciously with the sense of the ethical lines that he is crossing; he is not an artist that wants to make you comfortable.He sees that blood gets in the way of his observations, so he advises that you make a model of the body part and then you draw it.Model making and scientific art go hand in hand for him.You have to reconstruct reality before you can represent it.Therefore, before you can draw what is real you have to make it yourself.One of the most striking features of the notebooks is the manner in which he presents his work to us.There are no criticisms of the shortcomings that he has discovered in earlier authors, he does not boast about his own accomplishments, his writing style is pedagogical, and he is writing a teaching manual with descriptions and advice.Therefore, if you want to draw a lung, here is how you should do it.What he is trying to do is to convey to a larger audience this method of presentation and by representing human form, he relies on diagrams, and his reliance apparently causes some serious problems for the printing presses of the day.It also caused real issues for publishers because of the graphic nature of the work.

This was very important for medicine.He shows us we can separate human emotions and passions from the human body in understanding human form, and what it means to be human.There is a purely clinical dimension and this other dimension of feelings and emotions, and they do not have to come together at all, this is radical.

Thus again, this inside outside, you see it everywhere in his work.Why are we fascinated with the painting of the Mona Lisa?Because of the question we always ask, what is going on inside?The study of the Mona Lisa, it seems to me has always been organized around precisely the question that drove DA Vinci in his research.All his sketches in this obsessive and fanatical devotion to drawing every part of the body in relationship to every other part of the body at multiple levels and multiple perspectives and in motion, outside inside.There is the outside, what is going on inside, isn't that why we are obsessed with this?This painting just demands that we try to find out what is going on underneath.The truth is underneath, behind her smile, something she is keeping from us.Yet she is revealing just enough of it to make us have to find out what is going on inside of her.It is that relationship once again between the inside and the outside.

I read this book for a graduate class in the Humanities.Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy, art, and science.

Volume 1 is ok.Volume is NO (if you are an artist)!
I was hoping that after getting these books, I would learn some secret in art making from the great one, but I found them book very disappointing. Tons of texts and very few explanation.

However, the first volume is worth buying because it's about his drawing and painting theory.Beware they are very advance and i found them very confusing.

The second volume has nothing to do with art but rather pure science (Astronamy, sun, etc).

Not Great
Inexpensive, but the image quality is terrible, in some cases completely illegible and dark.

The Renaissance man of Renaissance men at work
Leonardo's curiosity and inventiveness are on display throughout this work. I cannot judge the quality of the translation , or how good the Richter edition of the Notebooks is. I can say that this is a tremendous amount of interesting observation and thought regarding the subjects from anatomy to perspective in painting, questions of architecture and aeronautics, that concern the Renaissance Man of Renaissance Men. All of this is in a way too much for another mind certainly one like my own who simply does not know anything about many of the areas Leonardo was interested in to real take in. But I think every person who takes an interest in the human mind and the way it works, in creativity and genius would do well to have and read these works. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Here's a personal growth guidebook that's won the admiration and recommendation of Ted Hughes, Poet Laureate of England. He calls this "a brilliant, practical guide to awakening and training our vast, unused resources of intelligence and ability." Author Michael Gelb, founder of High Performance Learning and consultant for companies including AT&T and National Public Radio, says that we all can unlock the "da Vincian" genius inside us. Gelb says there are seven critical principles that need to be followed for success, whether you're learning a new language, studying to be a gourmet chef, or just hoping to be more effective on the job:

• Curiosita: An insatiably curious approach to life.
• Dimonstratzione: A commitment to test knowledge through experience.
• Sensazione: The continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as the means to clarify experience.
• Sfumato: A willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty.
• Arte/Scienza: The development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination ("whole-brain thinking").
• Corporalita: The cultivation of ambidexterity, fitness, and poise.
• Connessione: A recognition and appreciation for the connectedness of all things and phenomena; "systems thinking."

Gelb discusses each of these principles in relation to what da Vinci accomplished, thereby giving this book a built-in history lesson. The illustrations from the master's work and time add a nice warmth to the work. As the president of NPR said after working with Gelb, this is a program recommended for "anyone who wants to experience a personal and professional Renaissance."Book Description
Genius is made, not born. And human beings are gifted with an almost unlimited potential for learning and creativity. Now you can uncover your own hidden abilities, sharpen your senses, and liberate your unique intelligence—by following the example of the greatest genius of all time, Leonardo da Vinci.

Acclaimed author Michael J. Gelb, who has helped thousands of people expand their minds to accomplish more than they ever thought possible, shows you how. Drawing on Da Vinci's notebooks, inventions, and legendary works of art, Gelb introduces Seven Da Vincian Principles—the essential elements of genius—from curiosità, the insatiably curious approach to life to connessione, the appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things. With Da Vinci as your inspiration, you will discover an exhilarating new way of thinking. And step-by-step, through exercises and provocative lessons, you will harness the power—and awesome wonder—of your own genius, mastering such life-changing abilities as:

Problem solving
Creative thinking
Self-expression
Enjoying the world around you
Goal setting and life balance
Harmonizing body and mind



Drawing on Da Vinci's notebooks, inventions, and legendary works of art, acclaimed author Michael J. Gelb, introduces seven Da Vincian principles, the essential elements of genius, from curiosita, the insatiably curious approach to life, to connessione, the appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things. With Da Vinci as their inspiration, readers will discover an exhilarating new way of thinking.

Step-by-step, through exercises and provocative lessons, anyone can harness the power and awesome wonder of their own genius, mastering such life-changing skills as problem solving, creative thinking, self-expression, goal setting and life balance, and harmonizing body and mind. — ... Read more

Customer Reviews (112)

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci
I have now read this book twice and given it to several associates.I am in the middle of the exercises, and am choosing changes that will improve my life.I suspect I wouldn't have made these changes at this time without going through this process, and only wish I had stumbled across this earlier.

This book is a good way to organize your thoughts
While browsing in a bookstore the title caught my eye so I scanned a random selection of pages and found it interesting but did not purchase it then.Over the course of the next week I found I was thinking about what I'd read and decided to explore further but couldn't find it at my local library, and finally decided to get my own copy. I've found it personally motivating and useful. Some of the ideas I'd read elsewhere and found some concepts new to me. While I don't want to be a Da Vinci mimick, I feel the Da Vinci theme makes it useful to catch and hold attention. I think Mr. Gelb has organized the book well in order to help a lot of folks buiid a personal foundation to develop more creative thinking.
Will this book solve all my/your problems - no. It will provide good basic tools to help you think them through and develop your own well rounded personal growth.

Great read, more than once!
I felt this book offered a great way to approach a change in the way we look at learning and experiencing.Most of the exercises have greatly impacted my understanding of my own skills and interests.I have read this book several times and have done the exercises more than once a few years apart.I found that approaching it in this way has allowed me to see how I have improved in many ways and have opened up to fresh and new ideas.

Some of the biographical information is short and I definitely encourage anyone to read about Leonardo from other more thorough sources.

OK, but Leonardo was a late blooming 'genius'--400 yrs late
Haven't read this book but keep in mind Leonardo's notes were only deciphered and published in the late 19th century--if he's a genius, and he probably was, though from an engineering point of view some of his stuff was conceptual and won't work, and was conceptualized before him--he's an undiscovered genius like American scientist Willard Josiah Gibbs, who made fundamental contributions that were not recognized at the time since he never published them correctly.What does that say about life--you have to promote yourself? But if you did that in the Renaissance that was sometimes dangerous; better to lie low.

Think Like da Vinci by Gelb
The author discusses some classic thinking processes which help with
creativity and invoking the genius in us all. Some of these qualities
are recognizable.i.e.

o curiosity
o testing knowledge via experience
o interconnectedness
o refining the senses
o embrace and ponder on uncertainty and ambiguity
o cultivate grace and poise
o balance scientific and artistic notions
o promote "whole brain" thinking

I would add some others to this list. i.e.
o patience
o analysis but avoidance of "analysis paralysis"
o quality rest and simulating a stream of consciousness and relaxation
o encounters with nature
o spontaneous refinement of ideas

The book centralizes some very important aspects of creativity worthy
of emulation. ... Read more

Book Description
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) possessed arguably the greatest mind the world has ever known. Artist, draftsman, inventor, and philosopher, his contributions to modern society are profound and wide-reaching. Throughout his life, Leonardo kept dozens of notebooks, elegant studies on topics ranging from architecture to botany to philosophy—indeed nearly anything of which the human imagination could conceive.

Leonardo’s Notebooks collects a variety of the most fascinating of these studies and compiles them into one monumental volume that demystifies his insights and clearly illustrates his ideas, experiments, and observations with hundreds of his original sketches, line drawings, and paintings. Topics include Anatomy and the Movement of the Human Figure; Botany and Landscape; Engineering and Military Engineering; Physical Sciences; Aerodynamics and Flight; Geography—and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Very good book.
The only thing keeping this book from top grade is that the author didn't help with a deduction of Leonardo's letters where it surely was needed - in the anatomical studies for example.
This makes it hard to understand the meaning of the drawings compared with the translated text, because Leonardo's letters(in the drawings) doesn't look like anything from the Roman alphabet. So when the meaning of the letters that appears in the drawings are mentioned in the text, you can't understand what letters goes with what in the drawings, because the text ONLY use the Roman alphabet(and NOT Leonardo's letters as seen in the drawings).

In other words, to fully get the whole meaning of Leonardo's writings and drawings you do need a "Leonardo - Roman alphabet" dictionary.
This is a major set back, and the worst is that the author could have avoided this so easily.

Other than that the book is amazing.

Ingenious Notebooks
If you are a book lover, adding this to your collection is a must.
The illustrations are well formatted with clearly written text. It is a book I keep on display and refer to often. When people visit, they cannot help but stop to thumb through the book.I have to remind them that dinner is getting cold!!

Great Book
This is a great book that I had been looking forward to getting for a while.The images and writting is good, although a bit hard to understand at times.The ONLY problem I have with this book that gets it a 4 out of 5 stars for me is the fact that it is so tall and wide.Granted it makes looking at the pictures much easier but it also makes storage of this book MUCH harder.The book is to tall to stand on any but the top shelf on all of my book shelfs and it is so wide that it protudes from the edge of the shelf.

Don't let this distract you from getting this book however.It's detailed pictures are wonderful considering the orginal size of the works and the translations help with the reading.There's a section for each catagory, such as anatomy and lighting, which really helps if you want to look at certain types of works.The greatness of these pictures will have you looking at each page for hours, just to see all the details.

I would suggest this book for anyone from an art lover to a history fanatic.I use it as a reference book for one of my drawing classes.It's a great buy for anyone and everyone.

Excellent
Not one single problem with this book, I would recomend buying it for anyone anytime

Just what I wanted
I have always wanted a book just with Leonardo's sketches and annotation. Printed on beautiful paper and in great detail. This is a wonderful book, that I will draw much inspiration from. ... Read more

Book Description
TASCHEN's 25th anniversary - Special edition! Special bestseller price Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) possessed one of the greatest minds of all time; his importance and influence are inestimable. This XXL-format comprehensive survey is the most complete book ever made on the subject of this Italian painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, scientist and all-around genius. With huge, full-bleed details of Leonardo's masterworks, this highly original publication allows the reader to inspect the subtlest facets of his brushstrokes. * Part I explores Leonardo's life and work in ten chapters. All of his paintings are interpreted in depth, with The Annunciation and The Last Supper featured on large double-spreads. * Part II comprises a catalogue raisonn? of Leonardo's paintings, which covers all of his surviving and lost painted works and includes texts describing their states of preservation. * Part III contains an extensive catalogue of his drawings (numbering in the thousands, they cannot all be reproduced in one book); 663 are presented, arranged by category (architecture, technical, anatomical, figures, proportion, cartography, etc). This sumptuous TASCHEN offering is the most thorough and beautifully produced Leonardo book ever published, and this special edition offers it for a third of the usual price. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great images, good history
After a recent trip to Italy I scoured the museums there for some good books on the famous paintings I had just seen. All were much too expensive, given the value of the Euro versus the dollar. So I made a list of the books I liked and vowed to purchase them on Amazon when I returned home. This was one of those purchases.

The book is big (over a foot long, three thumbs thick) and heavy. You won't be taking this to the park to read. Great for a coffee table. There are a good mix of close-ups and detailed shots of Da Vinci's work. The text includes some good history of the works (why they were commissioned, some info about the subjects, etc.). It also showcases some of Leonardo's student's work, which they more or less copied from their teacher.

The book does include some detail about the work themselves and how the time in history impacted the works. My only regret (and why I didn't give it five stars) is that the book doesn't include more text about the details of the works themselves, ala "Da Vinci Code". For example, I'd love more explanation of the symmetry between certain figures or other curious features of Leonardo's work (why is that angelic figure holding its hand like a knife where John the Baptist's head should be in "Madonna of the Rocks"?)

Overall, worth the money for those that enjoy contemplating the works of this Master. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (8)

once I find one error, how can I tell?
While I believe that da Vinci was a vegetarian, his minestrone would not have had tomatoes in it. (Tomatoes are a "New World" product that were introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century - and many did not eat them as they were known to be in the poisonous nightshade family.) Suddenly my concern is - how can I tell what other errors might be in this book?

not received
up to now the 3 itens do not arrived in my address.
I already wrote a message about that months ago.
Please do something

Sergio

A juvenile history of Da Vinci with 21 related activites
I have been going through some of the books by Janis Herbert and others than combine history with 21 activities, and as interesting as I have found those volumes to be I have to say I like the ones that deal with artists even more."Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas" combines a detailed juvenile biography of the life of the great inventor, military engineer, scientist, botanist, and mathematician who found time to be a great painter and sculptor as well.This was the man who painted the "Mona Lisa" and invented the armored tank, diving suit, bicycle and airplane centuries before they were built.He is also an important figure in what has been the novel that has been at the top of the bestseller list for like the past year.

The biography is divided into four sections, focusing on Leonardo's youth in Vinci, his years as a young apprentice, his period of greatest productivity in Milan, and his final years in Venice and France.The volume is illustrated with dozens of pictures of Leonardo's paintings and sketches, and the back of the book includes a Glossary, Biographies of key Renaissance artists (Botticelli, Michelangeo, etc.) and historical figures (Cesare Borgia, Ludovico Sforza, etc.), Web Sites to Explore, places where you can see some of Da Vinci's work, a Bibliography, Credits, and an Index.

The other half of the book are the 21 activities and the art lessons, because in addition to detailing da Vinci's life Herbert talks about perspective, vanishing points and the like.Some of these are just basic art lessons, such as sketching things by observing nature, painting birds, decorating a jar for holding paintbrushes, and making a small picture frame.Others are specific to the artwork of da Vinci, such as making a life mask, lute, notebook, a parachute kite, and learning to measure human bodies the way Leonardo did.You can even make a minestrone soup in honor of Leonardo the vegetarian or Salai's aniseed sweets.Still others deal with the history of the time, such as making a banner.

The net result is that "Leonardo da Vinci for Kids" does more than tell the story of his life and show examples of his great artwork, but provides young readers with an opportunity to try and do the same things.This book is also of great use to teachers doing units on Leonardo, the Renaissance, or art, who will be able to find both information and activities they can use in class.

Interesting, pretty pictures
Knowing little about art, I found this book easy to understand, enjoyable and informative.However, it is too advanced ("boring") for my almost 8 year old daughter.My opinion is that this book would be great for 10 and up.

I learned as much from this book as much as my students did!
I was surprised to see even one negative review of this wonderful book.I think it can be enjoyed equally by both parent/teacher and child/student.The text is beautifully written and presents all of the facets of this fascinating man. It also places his activities firmly within the context of the politics and society of the Renaissance.The book includes explanations, in language a middle-school child can understand, how flight is possible and how canals and locks work. A wide variety of activities, as well as line drawings, are included to illustrate other key concepts in painting, mechanics, etc.I cannot agree with the reviewer who felt that too few of Leonardo's works were included; I felt it included his most important works, as well as an interesting array of his mechanical, nature and anatomical drawings.As a teacher, I suggest using this book in combination with E.L. Konigsberg's "The Second Mrs. Gioconda"; my students really enjoyed seeing how novelists can use facts as the basis for fiction.I finished this book awed by the range of Leonardo's gifts and both my own daughters (one a reader, one an artist) loved this book for different reasons.But they both came away knowing about and loving Leonardo and that's the important thing!I only wish that this author would do a book on "Michaelangelo for Kids." ... Read more

Amazon.com
Leonardo da Vinci is the perfect antidote to a dumbed-down world. Perfect for anyone with similar aspirations for self-actualization, the exercises in The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook are designed to provide a lifetime of cerebral expansion, using the seven parameters laid out in How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: curiosity; developing knowledge though experience; sensual refinement; a willingness to embrace ambiguity and paradox; linking the scientific and creative sides of the brain; physical poise and fitness; and understanding the connectedness of all life.

For example, to develop curiosity, one of the exercises has you ask people you respect to assess your strengths and weaknesses and to offer ways in which you could improve. Uncomfortable? Probably, for both parties. But if you're not curious about how others perceive you, you've closed off entire corridors leading toward self-knowledge and self-improvement. In the section on knowledge and experience, Gelb has you write down each new word you come across, along with its definition, and practice using it as often as you can. Da Vinci, he says, recorded 9,000 words this way. As Gelb notes in his introduction, this isn't a book that can be fully used up in a week or even a year; it could take 10 years to perform all these exercises. It would take months just to listen to the 10 greatest pieces of classical music he lists in the section on sensual refinement, and then listen to them played by different orchestras and conductors to distinguish subtle differences in interpretation. And, certainly, the simmeringly sensual recipes listed in that same section could lead to some very cozy evenings over the course of a lifetime. --Lou SchulerBook Description
In the bestselling tradition of The Artist's Way Morning Pages Journal, The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude and The Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Workbook comes The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook--the companion volume to Michael Gelb's 1998 Delacorte hardcover bestseller.

Created to structure and motivate the reader's development of the seven da Vincian principles introduced in How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook represents the natural extension of Gelb's da Vinci line. As any modern da Vinci student knows, Leonardo's notebook both served as the incubator and repository of his unique genius and provides the foundation of any modern-day student's attempt to emulate that genius on his own. From the very first exercise in the original How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, Gelb encourages readers to keep their own personal notebooks in which to hone their da Vincian skills; now he provides that notebook for them, with the added bonus of tips on exercises they'll recognize and new suggestions and assignments that will build on the work they've already done.

Designed to echo the inviting look of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, and structured to help readers focus on each of the seven genius principles, The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook is a companion volume that truly complements and enhances the reader's experience of the original book on which it's based. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Wonderful treasure to share with the whole family!
I was looking for something to share with my daughter for her Home school projects but fell in love with this book and workbook for myself instead!
This is a wonderful book to thrill and inspire you to learn new things about yourself every day! Why rush through it?!It was meant to be savored slowly like wine and cheese so don't rush your way through it!
I AM a Leonardo da Vincian Thinker!

My organization now thinks like Leonardo
I bought this book and the companion workbook, read it, then had a presentation done for my professional organization of which I am the state president this year.It was smashing!

I recomend this to anyone who is interested in learning how to "think outside the box" and to really explore how to think and approach everyday things in a different manner.

These books lend themselves well to seminars for groups and for academia.

Great way to step back and relook your life
At first I was skeptical but the workbook has turned out great.I have been using it on and off at times in my life when a lot of things are going on and I need a way to rethink about what I am really doing with my life.It may not be for everyone but for the few people who are ambitious or have lots of intrest, this book can help bring everything in perspective.It's not even that expensive.Also, it doubles as a journal if you don't care for the exercises.

Sad
This is very sad book with little merit. A perfect example of an author scamming the reading public. I wish there was some kind of publishing board that could review books and prohibit some from being published.

Refining senses in a cluttered, rushed world.
Part of this book is for journaling and we've all heard how helpful journaling can be in different areas of our lives.That, however is not what I consider the value of this book.

Flip it over and you have the workbook part of the book.In this section the reader is made to sit down and think.Unlike journaling, where your mind takes you where it wants to go, the workbook gives us assignments.

For instance:Learning from Mistakes and Adversity (who doesn't want to do this?).This section encourages us to explore our attitudes toward mistakes by contemplating questions given.Following the instructions are two pages of questions that the reader must answer.In a word - it makes us think.

The work book also encourages readers to refine our senses.How often do we even consider doing this during the day when we have responsibilities piled upon us, clocks ticking the seconds away, and all the world'sgeneral confusion spinning around us?Not often!

I found this book enlightening, encouraging and helpful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Refreshing
I uedd this text foran Art History classand it was not only useful and insightful, but also intriguing and well-organized. After having so many dry texts that are all fact, no fun, this was a refreshing change. It still had all the fact of a text book, but presented in a much more entertining and useful manner. I just wish all Art History texts were as easy to read while still being as informative

An excellent introduction to Leonardo
This work provides a good introduction to the fascinating subject of Leonardo and his creative genius. Clark writes with elegance and insight about the whole span of Leonardo's career. He focuses on the drawings and provides the reader with an understanding of Leonardo's technical and artistic accomplishment. Clark is also reserved in his claims of understanding the mystery of Leonardo's personality and human relation.
Like Leonardo in his inventions Clark does not supply the full and final detail that gives the complete picture. His work is a fascinating introduction which however gives a basic understanding of the subject.

The eternal genius
Kenneth Clark gives an unpropogating look at Da Vinci. All too often Leonardo's name has been attached to support a variety of causes of this or that nature. Being, seemingly, irreligious and unphilosophic while being the quintessential Renassaince Man. His name is often used as a mascot to justify the ideals of this or that group of whatever. He was clearly an animal rights lover, possibly a closet Franciscan, in all probability a homosexual (although not much of an activist). Leonardo was into his thoughts and had little patience for something that was already complete in his mind. He left scores of unfinished works, and minons of angry patrons - contrary to Bornstin's book that Leonardo was in constant search of patrons - Clark says he had many unhappy patrons. Leonardo was an animal lover who hated violence (although he designed armaments of various sorts). His depth of religious devotion could be argued, but he was not irreverant, as some have claimed. Leonardo was rather Franciscan and had a fondness for animals and individuality. He was free and valued his own individualism. Other than Da Vinci's notebooks nothing much authentic comes down to us. Every other work of Leonardo has been severally retouched or destroyed, what there is left of Leonardo's work is highly speculative - what bit is in his hand ect. Clark gives a healthy, vibrant, nonproselytizing look at a genius - something anyone might find interesting.

The best introduction to Leonardo & a compelling read
Kenneth Clark's book is probably the best available introduction to Leonardo da Vinci. It is both a good biography and an insightful analysis of Leonardo's art and artistic career. The text is appropriate for both laymen and students of art history. Clark's writing is concise and extremely engaging (to the point where I would recommend reading this book for fun), but it is also intelligent and very informative, with a clear thesis that ties the vast body of matieral covered together into an easily comprehensible package. This book is slightly out of date now, but Martin Kemp's introduction and revision help to ammend for that. I particularly recommend this most recent edition as it is well-illustrated.

"CHILD'S BOOK"?
This is the best book available in English on Leonardo da Vinci.True, the book was first published several decades ago, but the art historian Martin Kemp has added footnotes that bring the text up to date.Kenneth Clark made a tremendous contribution to the study of Leonardo da Vinci with this book - Science and Technology Museum notwithstanding!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com
Lying open, this unutterably wonderful book is almost the size of the Mona Lisa and about as hefty as a slab of The Last Supper's monastery wall. All 34 paintings are here (including what we know of the lost ones), many with huge and immensely illuminating details, plus 663 drawings. The reproductions are stunning, on paper sturdy enough to serve as wings on some of the flying machines depicted on pages 644 to 671. The precision of the images amazes: the delicate petals fingered by the larger-than-life-size baby Jesus in Madonna of the Carnation; the wailing, dismembered victims of Leonardo's scary scythed chariots; Mary's transparent drapery in the Annunciation; the bands of sunlight streaking each swirling curl of Ginevra de Benci; Mona Lisa's gossamer veil and intricately embroidered gown; even, unless my eyes deceive me, one of the fingerprints Leonardo famously left while daubing paint by hand.

This sumptuous TASCHEN offering is the most thorough and beautifully produced Leonardo book ever published. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

leonardo davinci is the greatest genius for all times
This is the best most spectacular book on leonardo to date.What can i say that hasnt already been said in the reviews above except that i cant believe that a couple of reviews gave 3 outof5 stars for this book. I think the book deserves 10 out of 10. The book is a masterpiece in itself. Keep up the great work.

awesome
this book is a daily source of admiration, exposed on our table and we change the page practically every day to have a new work of wonder to admire every day. combined with more and deeper information on leonardo da Vinci the true art becomes clear.

Masterful Book
I first saw this outstanding book at the Palm Springs Air Museum's Da Vinci exhibit last month. It is a comprehensive and beautiful tribute to Da Vinci's genius that young and old alike can enjoy for decades. Spending an hour glancing through its pages is a visual treat; reading it to more deeply appreciate his multiple talents will take years. Though the price of the book may seem high, it is an unique volume and worth the price.

Art Education Wouldn't Be Complete
without studying Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest Italian Renaissance artist and would-be inventor of all time.He left us a legacy of paintings, drawings, diagrams, inventions, and even sculpture for all to see.He's known more than the Mona Lisa painting, he's an inventor of sorts as well as a very fine draughtsman.

This book should be a required course for art students everywhere.

WOW what a book!
The massive size of this book is only dwarfed by the enormous amount of information it contains.Did you know Leonardo Da Vinci conceptualized the helicopter...or the x-ray machine...or even the engine???? He did indeed and it's all in this comprehensive anthem.I highly recommend this book for the Da Vinci neophyte as well as the most avid "Leo scholar" as both will be awed and amazed. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Older children will certainly appreciate the wealth of information in this complete and fascinating biography of Leonardo da Vinci. Illustrated in an Old Masters style, the book follows the life of da Vinci from birth to death and gives a detailed account of his extraordinary achievements, not only in his painting but also as an engineer, scientist, and inventor who is centuries ahead of his time. The treatment of da Vinci's famous notebooks usefully conveys the power of the man's imagination. His practice of writing in a backward script from right to left, requiring a mirror to decipher it, will intrigue children. (The dust jacket bears such lettering on the back, which should immediately prompt a run to the bathroom mirror.) An accomplished and engaging biography for children.Book Description

Born in 1452 to a peasant woman and a country gentleman, Leonardo da Vinci was one of the most amazing people who ever lived. He grew up to be a great painter, sculptor, architect, scientist, and inventor.

As a boy, Leonardo was apprenticed to a famous artist. But he quickly became more skillful than his teacher, and his passionate interests went far beyond art. Fascinated with the human body, he carried out his own experiments in secret. He filled thousands of pages with plans for incredible inventions including a submarine, an air-cooling system, "glasses to see the moon large," and even a flying machine!

In this magnificent addition to a distinguished series that includes Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, and Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare, award-winning author-artist Diane Stanley blends wonderful storytelling with gorgeous illustrations to convey the

A 1996 ALA Notable Book
A 1997 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book for Nonfiction
A 1997 Orbis Pictus Award
A 1996 Publishers Weekly Best Books Award

Customer Reviews (7)

www.lazyreaders.com book club recommendation for April 2006
I get this feeling that interest in Leonardo da Vinci is going to really increase next month (there's this little film called "The Da Vinci Code" coming out, based on a modestly-selling book). If you are too lazy to read an adult biography on Leonardo (and I am), this book provides an excellent glimpse into da Vinci's life and artwork. Kids love the pictures, and I love subversively introducing students to paintings (even though art is no longer taught in most schools). For more cool adult, young adult and children's book recommendations (under 250 pages), visit www.lazyreaders.com.

His name is Leo
Leonardo Da Vinci is, in many ways, the perfect subject for a children's biography.Above and beyond his myriad of accomplishments (scientist, inventor, artist) his life is one of adventure and interest.The illegitimate son of a leading man of Vinci, Leonardo went into the artistic life precisely because he was considered too base for a, "noble profession".

This book is a combination of good artistry and confounding problems.On the one hand, Stanley has drawn beautiful accompanying pictures for each point in Leonardo's life.On the other hand, these pictures sometimes take liberties with the few details of the artist's life we know of.When the text states that Leonardo, "found a loving friend in his young uncle Francesco", the accompanying picture shows the boy piggyback on his uncle.It would be nice if such facts were given appropriate footnotes, but all sources are listed in the end of the book without any references to pages.Also, the aging of Leonardo is a little haphazard.One moment he's a young man writing a letter.The next moment he's bearded and about to slice up a corpse.The Duchy of Milan is described as having black hair and dark skin, but appears to be more of a slightly tan Italian.These are tiny details, but they distract from an otherwise interesting text.

Undoubtedly, the actual drawings and sketches Leonardo made in his lifetime are some of the best parts of this book.It would have been nice if Stanley had included more of them in the story.Leonardo's paintings are nicely presented, but they're usually seen from a distance.At no point do we get a detailed and close look at any art that Leonardo created.Finally, a timeline would have been helpful in this story, but it has not been included.

None of this is to say that Stanley hasn't taken a difficult subject and made an interesting book out of it.The final product is a bit too advanced for those children accustomed to reading picture books, but older kids may shy away from the type of book they would consider "babyish".Open minded children may be the best audience for this piece of non-fiction.For those of you who would like something a little more in depth and interesting, I recommend "Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer".In interesting book that suffers from an array of tiny nagging problems.

Leonard Da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance Man
The cover of this excellent juvenile biography of Leonardo Da Vinci is quite interesting because it shows him as a young man in front of the background from his most famous painting, the "Mona Lisa."I saw a story once that compared the face of the "Mona Lisa" with the famous red ink drawing of Da Vinci as an old man, which did size comparisons and argued they were the same.In other words, the "Mona Lisa" is really a self-portrait of Da Vinci.This makes a bit of sense since the artist worked on it for years, obviously with the benefit of a model.Diane Stanley's cover painting, intentionally or not, references this intriguing hypothesis.

Stanley does some fascinating things with the art throughout this book.She puts reproductions of Da Vinci's actual paintings into her own works and includes various drawings by Da Vinci to complement her text.Young readers will learn about the highlights of Da Vinci's life, both as an artist and as an inventor.Consequently, they will see not only the painting of "The Last Supper" but the flying machine he designed.In a fascinating postscript Stanley details what happened to the grave of Da Vinci and what few of his paintings remain.Stanley provides an excellent introduction to the life of the original Renaissance Man.

A typical Diane Stanley Book!
For those who do not yet know, Diane Stanley writes the best kid-level biographies out there, and Leonardo da Vinci is no exception. She carefully traces his life from birth (including alluding to the legitamacy question) to death. Worked into the illustrations are many of Leonardo's works (so that you needn't buy a separate book for your child to appreciate them). A wonderful book that should be mandatory reading!

A Man of Vision.....
Meet Leonardo da Vinci, a man of vision who was centuries ahead of his time.Born April 15, 1452, and raised in his father's house, Leonardo was the illegitimate son of Ser Piero, "...an important man, a leading citizen of Vinci." and a peasant girl.Because of the circumstances of his birth, he was not entitled to an upper class education in banking, medicine, or law, and "what little schooling he got probably came from the parish priest and was limited to reading, writing, and simple arithmetic.He later described himself as an omo sanza lettere, a man without education."As a boy, Leonardo showed talent for drawing, and was sent to Florence to apprentice with the famous artist, Andrea del Verrocchio.And it was there that the course of his life began to take shape.Though his superb artistic talents were quickly recognized, and Leonardo was commissioned to paint many important works during his lifetime, he had a short attention span and was always restless, often failing to complete his pieces. His imagination, his interests and genius went far beyond art and painting.He was fascinated with anatomy, engineering, science, and music, and filled thousands of pages in his now famous notebooks with his ideas, plans, drawings and inventions.He was employed by kings, princes and popes, and was the friend of Machiavelli, Cesar Borgia and King Francis I, of France.But throughout his life he never married, and was a very solitary man.....Diane Stanley brings Leonardo da Vinci to life in this beautifully written and well researched, introductory biography.Her easy to read, conversational text is entertaining, engaging and intelligent, and packed full of history, drama, mystery, fun facts, anecdotes, and sketches from Leonardo's notebooks.Her graceful and elegant illustrations complement the story line beautifully, and really capture the essence of the artist and his times.With an introduction detailing the Italian Renaissance, and a Postscript to enhance and complete the narrative, this is an informative and spellbinding biography.Perfect for youngsters 9-12, Leonardo da Vinci is a wonderful addition to Ms Stanley's highly acclaimed biographical series, and a book that definitely shouldn't be missed. ... Read more

Book Description
The Anatomical, Physiological and Embryological Drawings of Leonardo da Vinci
With more than 1200 reproductions of drawings by the master's own hand, this book is the definitive and most complete collection of Leonardo's anatomical drawings currently in print.Here Leonardo's notebooks have been arranged according to the systems of the body in order to indicate the full extent of his anatomical work.This book will captivate curious laymen, medical professionals, and art and history enthusiasts alike.Also included are:
• Translations of Leonardo's anatomical notes which were written in his cryptic reverse handwriting. These translations provide an unusual glimpse into Leonardo's creativity and genius.
•Extensive commentary from the editors.
•A thorough background of Leonardo's life that reintroduces him to the world not just as a master artist, but as a brilliant scientist. ... Read more

Book Description
Leonardo da Vinci has become the definition of the "Rennaissance man." His accomplishments in painting and sculpture, music and mathematics, and engineering and architecture have endured for centuries. The Renaissance was a watershed for European artisitc and scientific accomplishment and da Vinci led the way. He exemplified a new perspective, seeking to explore and control the forces of nature, and to extend the frontiers of human knowledge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The illustrations are what make it
If you can find this out-of-print, oversized hardback, it is worth collecting.The illustrators lovingly present a detailed birds-eye view of Vinci, the Sforza compound, changing designs of palaces, the scaffoldings which supported some of his bronze works, period clothing,Leonardo's proposed design for Milan and its canals, and much more.It's hard to find, but highly recommended.

Review of the book "Leonardo Da Vinci" by Francesca Romei
This book is a very informative book about Leonardo. It has all the details about his life, his paintings, his family, his models etc. I say everyone should read this imformative book. If anyone wants to learn about Leonardo, I suggest this book to read. ... Read more

Book Description
Building on the success of The Da Vinci Code--a bestseller in 48 countries--this book brings inventions from the artist's original coded notebooks alive. There's more interest than ever in Leonardo Da Vinci, and here readers will find a rare glimpse into the innovator's brilliant mind, with:

-Gorgeous color artwork that breathes life into Leonardo's inventions--from flying and war machines to musical instruments

-Annotated diagrams that show exactly how each contraption would have worked

-A look at how the inventions would be used in modern life

With incredible detail and mechanical accuracy, Leonardo's Machines unlocks the mystery of the artist's notebooks in a way that's both fascinating and educational! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book - Only a how-to if you are VERY experienced!
I bought this book because I have tickets to see the traveling exhibit, "The Da Vinci Experience", in a couple months.It is a gorgeous book.Each machine covered has copies of the Da Vinci original plans, plus the editor's illustrations breaking the machine into it's components, with the placements of said componenets.Each machine has explanations of how components and the full machine work (or are supposed to work).Also, each machine has a history of Leonardo's drawings, purpose, client or personal notebooks, etc.It's a great book and looks gorgeous. I wouldn't think it would be a how-to for a school project unless the kid/parent had a lot of mechanical experience beforehand.All drawings show "real" components that you'd need a full shop to put together.There are no measurements, per se, just comparative sizes shown in the drawings.In the case of Leonardo's original drawings, it looks like this was deliberate.For example, the book's Introduction tells of Leonardo's problems with Giorgio Tedesco, an assistant of a prominant Medici.He wanted Leonardo to build him wooden models of several inventions.Leonardo successfully argued that he could only give Tedesco the scaled drawings.Historians surmise that Leonardo suspected that Tedesco would take the models back to his country, and take them apart to make full-sized machines out of iron without Leonardo's help.Job security was no laughing matter in the 1500's!Love the book.Can't wait to see the working full-sized (except for the half-size helicopter)models made from the drawings in the exhibition.

Very Practical book. useful for school projects
excellent illustrations. this book is a must for anybody contemplating building any of Leonardo's machines. Particularly for school projects. Disappointed that the crossbow wasn't included. Otherwise probably one of the best books available on his machines. ... Read more

Product Description
On rear cover: "By capturing the very essense of Da Vinci's life and genius - the seemingly perfect intregration of mind, body, spirit, and soul - Michael Gelb guides us in a discovery and understanding of the boundlessness of our own full human potential." Deepak Chopra, author of The Path to Love and Ageless Body, Timeless Mind ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

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!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Leonardo da Vinci
The book Leonardo da Vinci in my opinion was a truly remarkable book.Unlike most biographies this book focusedmore on the achievements and ideas of da Vinci rather than his entire life story.It told about themany inventions and philosophies written down in da Vinci's journals.Ifyou like reading informational books and you like Leonardo da Vinci, then Istrongly recommend that you get this book and actually read it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Cute Visual Aids
The glider guy and the building were complicated enough that my lego savvy eleven year old couldn't manage them without adult help, but we did find the kit enjoyable overall. ... Read more

Book Description
This exciting interactive book by a renowned children's book author takes readers on a mystery-solving adventure that ties together fact finding, artistic research, and the fabulous world of Leonardo da Vinci's art works.

When readers of this fascinating children's book are presented with an admission ticket to the Museum of Adventure, an exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci turns into a rollicking adventure through history and art. Hot in pursuit of two suspicious visitors who have stolen an important document, readers, led by the dog Pablo that lives in the museum, enter the door of a Magic Room and find themselves in the studio of the master himself. Armed with a notebook written in code, readers must solve a variety of riddles, hidden inside the artist's paintings, which will lead them to the ancient stone depository—and ultimately to the secret that will save the museum from closing forever.Illustrated and designed with the curious eyes of young readers in mind, The Museum of Adventures is a magical place where Mona Lisa smiles and waves; Leonardo's inventions come to life; and a charming dog leads youthful sleuths through an interactive educational journey that will leave an indelible impression for years to come. ...