Short Summary How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci explores seven principles underlying Da Vinci’s genius. The book is like a “how-to guide” to unlock some of Da Vinci’s creative genius in yourself. To become more like Da Vinci, you must be curious, pay attention, recognize patterns and blur the lines between art and science.
Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most celebrated artists of the Renaissance. You have certainly come across his famous sketch of the human body in a circle and square. And without a doubt, you’ve seen or heard of the Mona Lisa—Probably the most famous painting in the world.
What you might have not known is how much of a multi-talent Da Vinci was: Not only was he an artist, but an architect, military engineer and inventor. He created some of the first sketches of flying machines, including an early form of a helicopter, as well as a parachute—before flying was even possible.
According to Michael J. Gelb, there's seven principles that allowed Da Vinci to become so successful.
How did Da Vinci become one of the most influential artists of the Renaissance? And how was he able to break through so many multi-disciplinary barriers? A big part of Da Vinci’s ability to not only create the most enigmatic painting in the world—the Mona Lisa— but also come up with so many remarkable inventions is because he saw the world differently.
All children are curious. At first, everything is novel. Children explore the world by trying things and making mistakes. As we grow up, we lose this child-like curiosity because we don’t actively nurture it. But Da Vinci kept nurturing his curiosity, making it the basis of everything he did.
Curiosity is not only a mental process. Quite on the contrary. We learn through experience. While keeping a notebook and asking lots of questions are part of developing Da Vinci-like curiosity, it’s only through experience that we gain true wisdom. Da Vinci’s process included looking at things from different perspectives, and deeply contemplating objects. He paired this with rigorous action, incredible perseverance and an ability to learn from his mistakes.
Theory alone won’t get you far. In order to achieve your goals, no matter what they are, you must take imperfect action. This creates a feedback loop, allowing you to gain experience and learn from failure. With enough persistence, success is almost inevitable.
Da Vinci was not scared of questioning common knowledge. As a lifelong learner, fueled by curiosity and thirst for knowledge, he often reflected on his own beliefs and the sources of his beliefs. Most people today just accept their beliefs and assumptions.
This can be summarized as thinking for yourself. If you want to become more like Da Vinci, don’t be a sheep. Don’t follow the masses. Don’t accept the status quo just because everyone else believes it.
Michael J. Gelb points out that Da Vinci often used his senses to explore the world. He was known for paying attention to things in painstaking detail. We can all see and hear. But Da Vinci trained himself to see and hear things in a unique way. He often looked at objects from different perspectives.
This goes hand-in-hand with what Simon Roberts talks about in “The Power of Not Thinking”. We don’t just learn through mental processes, but sensory processes. Da Vinci was a master at this.
Da Vinci used visualization to deepen his understanding of what he was studying. He often laid in bed at night, visualizing outlines and forms.
Da Vinci was obsessed with anatomy. This becomes very apparent in his famous sketch of the human body in a circle and square, known as the Vitruvian Man. The Vitruvian Man depicts the ideal human body proportions based on the writings of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.
This sketch was a way for Da Vinci to explore symmetry, anatomy, and geometry. It became a symbol for the blend of art and science during the Renaissance.
Da Vinci wasn’t only obsessed with anatomy, he was also incredibly in shape. He is known for having taken extraordinary care of his body and being very athletic. According to Gelb, Da Vinci engaged in activities like walking, swimming, and fencing. He mostly followed a vegetarian diet and believed that emotions, such as anger, negatively impact the body. His message is clear: We are responsible for our own bodies and health.
If you want to become more like Da Vinci, you have to treat your body like a beautiful, perfect object and take care of it.
Da Vinci approached everything holistically. Rather than sticking to art or science, he removed barriers and combined the two. Instead of looking at the world and objects in one way, he looked at them from multiple angles. He searched for patterns and connections in the world. This allowed him to understand the world in ways most people can’t.
A lot of people get stuck in a particular world view. The ability to “zoom out” and understand the world through a different perspective will make you more Da Vinci-like.
So what made Da Vinci so special? Above all, he was a creative problem solver. To come up with creative solutions for problems, such as an extendable ladder or a parachute, you first have to understand the problem.
All inventors and entrepreneurs are creative problem solvers. If you want to take away one thing from this summary of How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, then it should be to become a better problem solver. Everyone can solve problems. But creative problem solving is what leads to big breakthroughs.
How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci is an inspiring book. How often do you get a chance to tap into the genius mind of one of the most iconic artists of the Renaissance?
What we liked about this book is that it contains lots of exercises. At the end of each chapter, Michael J. Gelb provides readers with a self-assessment. This allows readers to see if they possess some of the same qualities that made Da Vinci such an impactful figure. In case you miss certain qualities, Gelb provides no shortage of exercises to become a modern Renaissance man or woman.
What makes this book unique is the dozens of exercises it contains. Rather than being an abstract self-improvement book, it dives into the mindset and world view of Da Vinci himself, allowing readers to become more like him.
At the end of the book, there is also a section on how to draw like Da Vinci. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to create Renaissance-like sketches, you’ll want to read this book until the end. Some of the 7 principles outlined in the book are easier to grasp than others. However, all-in-all readers get a good idea of some of the principles that allowed this legend of the Renaissance to inspire millions until this day.
We recommend this summary of How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci to anyone who loves art, history and studying historic figures. Ultimately, How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci is all about becoming a better creative problem solver. So if any of your work requires problem solving, this summary is for you.
You’ll especially love this if you’re an artist or working in a creative profession.
Did you know that Da Vinci is credited with inventing many early war machines, including armored tanks and machine guns?