Leonardo da Vinci

I have a lot of knowledge of Leonardo, I've read many of his biographies in English and I'll say that this is onenof the most comprehensive, sewing together both the little we know of Leonardo's personal life and the people who knew him personally and the studies he made.

Leonardo is a figure that is hard to answer because the things that made him great were things that never made public knowledge. His art is well known but his experiments and inventions never made it to the populace. If he ever had we might be living in a very different world now.

But that is part of Leonardos tragedy. He died feeling that his life had come to naught. And for that, he should be demoralized in such a biography.

Good read. da Vinci was an interesting person for sure. Isaacson pours it on a little thick when describing his paintings and work. Otherwise, worthy read.

Another great biography by Walter Isaacson. I must say I knew very little about Leonardo da Vinci prior to reading to this book and just seen him as an artist who dabbled in a few other things. But now, after reading this da Vinci is better described as a scientist who painted as a hobby and to pay the bills. His curiosity was both astounding and dangerous, for he hardly ever finished anything. What we got is glorious and what we could have had is unknowable.

Instead of the story of Leonardo's life, the book is about his paintings.
And through his paintings, you learn something about his life.
But as the paint of the paintings is dry, so was this book.
I found it very hard to get through it.

The audiobook helped, but pfff, I have read way better Biographies of people.

Absolutely incredible. My mother recommended I read this book, it is an incredible journey. Stop and think more, wonderful.

Few books gave me goosebumps like this one. Not only an amazing life story, many lessons that we need to learn. I grew up in an environment that being intelectual and curious was reason to be made fun of. This is a good reminder that being childlike curious, open minded and sometimes even being distracted is a great thing. One of the best books I've read.