How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day | Michael J. Gelb

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day | Michael J. Gelb | How to Live a Balanced and Fulfilling Life

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How to Think Like ...

	How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day Michael J. Gelb Dell, 2000 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 116 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

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. ?

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Great book, but has its downsides...

This book has a lot of great ideas. The exercises are wonderful and interesting. Overall, I found the book stimulating and I really got a lot out of it. For these reasons, I give the book 5 stars.
However, I do feel the need to point out that it was at times rather cheesy in its portrayal of da Vinci. Though I won't claim to be anywhere near an expert on the man himself, a lot of the things asserted in this book seemed to be conjecture, speculation and opinion. Those parts were very irritating to read and fairly worthless.
It is hard to believe that such a great book includes parts that are so awful!
Having said that, I would still recommend reading the book. It is worth pushing through the bs to get to the good stuff.

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How to Live a Balanced and Fulfilling Life

A nice balance of history (what made da Vinci a genius) and practical tips on how you can build on the 7 aspects that we all naturally have to varying degrees of ability. The book puts into words and structure how to live your life more fully, which I think people naturally want. The book breaks each step into chapters and the author recommends that you read the book through fully before going through the exercises.

EXCELLENT Book!

This was one of the best books I have read in a while. Don't try to rush through this book, read a chapter then think about it. I would consider this a 'MUST HAVE' on anyone's book shelf who is interested in creativity and increasing their creativity. 'Nuff Said.

Leon

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quick, interesting, useful

a friend of mine found this book on the streets of san francisco, i got lured by the bold title, and here i am :)

.. and why not learn something from the maestro? the numerous (and fantastic) accounts-of and quotes-from leonardo da vinci make this book! the action-oriented "how might this help you" orientation makes for an easy and exciting read. there's a lot of interesting details about leonardo (he was a vegetarian..) and the renaissance period overall

the main content is laid out in a series of seven (one for each "da vincian principle") two-part chapters; the first part containing fascinating accounts of leonardo's approach to life - the second, recommendations of how you might develop the principle within your life (eg: "curiousita.. and you")

the recommendations are fairly trite - lacking the da vincian principle of "sfumato" ("a willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox and uncertainty") - but they're easy to skim through. for example, page 233 offers this advice on improving your skills of "connessione" ("recognition of and appreciation for interconnectedness")

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"what connections can you make between: a bullfrog and the internet?
the frog's feet are webbed; the internet links you to the world wide web"

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most of the suggestions aren't this bad, but it's representative of the (imo) over-simplified approach to the stated goal of "how to think like leonardo da vinci"

but again, they're easy to skim over and i enjoyed the book overall

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