Am only wondering why I waited 4 years to read this book. But am thrilled I finally read it.
For those of you thinking of reading this book on a kindle, a pro tip – have your laptop next to you when you read thru the details of the paintings, sketches and all the art work. As the book keeps describing and referring to many of them and going back and forth in a kindle is really tricky (and messy at times) AND its all in black and while, refer to the originals in its original colour.
Now back to this legend. Am so damn amazed to know so much about Leonardo the genius, he was a polymath (one who has vast knowledge on various subjects).
Most of us only know him as the painter of the world famous Mona Lisa but not many know that he was much more than that. A scientist, a brilliant observer, theorist, sculptor and much more. His precise sketches of various human body parts in such detail will blow your head off! And another amazing fact about Leonardo was his diary writing habit. Thanks to this habit that we know so much about him.
His thought process, his engineering thinking angle, his creativity all gets captured by this man called Walter Isaacson in his book. This is the second book I picked up after Steve Jobs, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Am already half way through his another masterpiece and his 3rd book that am reading, Einstein’s biography. No points for guessing that am loving this one too! Mind you, all of his biography books are 600+ pages but all of them reads like a charm.
Leonardo’s early life, his aspirations, his early creations and how it came about, his world famous paintings which his took years to complete and how he kept coming back to it for decades and never claiming them to be complete (accordingly to him) and many more interesting facts about his life.
Its a must must must read. You got to be reading it, before you die. Yes, it’s one of those books. Grab it now. Get a hardcopy I recommend.