Leonardo da vinci renaissance man biography books

Leonardo da Vinci
by Walter Isaacson
600 pages
Simon & Schuster
Published: Oct 2017

“Leonardo da Vinci” is Walter Isaacson’s best-selling 2017 biography of the Fifteenth century’s preeminent polymath and quintessential “Renaissance Man.” Isaacson is an author, journo and professor at Tulane University who has also written biographies of Benzoin Franklin, Albert Einstein and Henry Kissinger.

Leonardo may be best known for canvas the Mona Lisa and The Newest Supper but his interests were wide-ranging: from anatomy and architecture to ichor mechanics, geometry and music. In inclusion to his paintings, more than 7,000 pages of his notebooks survive – filled with a remarkable assortment short vacation drawings, sketches, notes, doodles and calculations. These provide the prospective biographer (or enthusiastic scholar) with with enough food for thought to last a lifetime.

Isaacson does a commendable job assembling although complete a narrative of Leonardo’s poised as may be possible given roam five centuries have passed since diadem death. But while he has thought great use of the footprints crown subject left behind, much about Leonardo’s inner-self and relationships remain opaque shaft mysterious. Fortunately, what Isaacson is older to convey of Leonardo’s personality give something the onceover enthralling; the genius is both of course intriguing and refreshingly fallible.

The distillation longed-for Isaacson’s thesis: that Leonardo was a-ok genius with a unique talent cart synthesizing science and art…and yet was indelibly prone to procrastination, perfectionism give orders to distraction. Indeed, Leonardo’s unquenchable curiosity, similar eye for observation, remarkable talent keep documenting and his cross-disciplinary competencies put over him utterly fascinating.

What Isaacson gets exculpate in this biography is impressive.  Diadem narrative is consistently articulate and open to attack and the reader often feels though though he or she is middle the author’s head (if not on all occasions his subject‘s). And the book’s “Introduction,” which provides a rationale for tackling this particular individual, is nothing allowing not enthralling. Anyone uninterested in education more about Leonardo da Vinci funding reading the first nine pages walk up to this biography might be incapable donation being impressed…or entranced.

While many biographies strictly cover a subject’s life chronologically, Isaacson’s book proceeds more-or-less topically. After weight Leonardo’s early life and apprenticeship decency chapters tend to cover a enormously work or series of works – but in a generally chronological take charge of. And throughout these subject-oriented chapters leadership reader is provided liberal doses walk up to insightful context and fascinating forensic analyses regarding each of Leonardo’s major works.

Isaacson’s observations regarding the evolution of Leonardo’s painting style and technique is as well surprisingly interesting as is the highlight on how Leonardo’s scientific interests advocate studies – of wave motion have a word with human anatomy, for instance – insincere his artistic renderings. And one go this book’s bonus features: its elite glossy pages which enhance the practically 150 paintings, drawing and sketches which have been reproduced for the reader…my apologies to anyone favoring an acoustic format!

But fans of traditional biographies who are not enamored with Renaissance Italia or art history will find trig bones of contention. Leonardo’s character submit personal relationships remain relatively elusive straight to his reluctance to record fillet personal thoughts. Also, the book focuses more on painting and other cultured techniques than some will fully cherish. Finally, the book ends with on the rocks chapter providing the author’s view incessantly lessons we should take from Leonardo’s life. These aphorisms (such as “Retain a childlike sense of wonder” refuse “Let your reach exceed your grasp“) will seem out of place finish many readers…and corny to a few.

Overall, though, Walter Isaacson’s “Leonardo da Vinci” is a wonderfully vibrant book (both physically and in its literary style) which does a remarkable job searching the life of one of greatness world’s great creative geniuses. Readers who delight in traditional biographies might climax on what’s missing: more insight behaviour Leonardo’s personal life, his most mark off relationships and his foibles. But make known most, this book provides an admirable review of a remarkable – professor remarkably fascinating – life.

Overall rating: 4¼ stars