HOW TO: Think like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius

Who doesn't need to be a genius every once in a while... if not all the time? How great would it be if you could think abstractly, and be able to come up with solutions to complicated problems right off the top of your head. What if you could be more like Leonardo da Vinci, arguably one of the smartest men to have ever lived here on Earth. Generations ahead of his time, and the inventor of some of the greatest inventions throughout humanity. He's been credited with the invention of the Tank and Helicopter, as well as some of the best paintings to ever be produced. Well there's a book for that. In this book Michael Gelb's writes about how to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci. The book is an inspiring and inventive guide that teaches readers how to develop their full potential, using the principles of Da Vincian thought identified by the author. Beginning with a brief historical biography of Da Vinci and an overview of the astounding advances made in the arts and sciences during the Renaissance, Gelb illustrates the seven fundamental elements of Da Vinci's thought process:

Questionare: A questing, insatiably curious approach to life
Dimostrazione: 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 interconnectedness of all things and phenomena. "Systems" thinking.


Loaded with practical exercises, quotes, sidebars, illustrations and material drawn directly from Da Vinci's personal notebooks, How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci is both a tribute to his great achievements and a call to carry on his legacy in our everyday lives by utilizing our potential to the best of our ability.

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."