How to think like Leonardo da Vinci

🎯 How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci Seven Principles to Genius Every Day

#TNSBookReview#

(by Michael J. Gelb)

In an age of specialization and fragmentation, Leonardo da Vinci shines forth as a beacon of wholeness, reminding us of what it can be mean to be created in the image of our Creator.

Summary

This book digs up in the mind and masterpieces of the world's biggest genius of all times: Leonardo da Vinci. Michael J. Gelb abstracts the essential elements of Leonardo's approach to learning and the cultivation of intelligence into Seven Principles which can be applied to every day life. By doing so, he aims to inspire and guide us toward the realization of our own full potential.

Personal Approach

I discovered this book at our biggest Book Fair in Peru while I was in High School. Before my encounter, I was a big fan of Leonardo da Vinci, and his impressive background: anatomist, architect, botanist, city planner, costume and stage designer, chef, humorist, engineer, equestrian, inventor, geographer, geologist, mathemathician, military scientist, musician,

painter, philosopher, physicist and raconteur. I have always felt that the best approach to life was not to limit yourself but to embrace both your artistic and scientific side, and to develop the creative thinking as a way of living, so the book title really resonated with me. When I opened the book, I was delighted by the beautiful illustrations of Leonardo's art and the enigmatic reproductions of his famous journals that were mirror written. I got hooked on the narration of Leonardo's personal history and reflections extracted from his astounding works that sustained the seven principles. The Self-Assessment Questionnaires at the beginning of each principle made me think about critical aspects of my life and the practical exercises to develop the principles were fun, sometimes unusual but effective at shifting my perspective. This book gave me reassurance and practical advice on how to live a truly enriched life by embracing creativity, sharpening our senses, continuous learning and developing our passions in life, with the mindset of living each day as a great opportunity to adapt and change.

The Seven Da Vincian Principles and ByteStyles showcased

How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci showcases all our 5 Byte Styles, while some Byte Styles can be reflected on more than one Da Vincian Principles.

1. Curiosità

An Insatiable Curious Approach to Life and an Unrelenting Quest for Continuous Learning.

This principle embodies the Byte Style of Aim for the Highest. Curiosità shifts the importance from getting answers to first drawing the right questions which will consequently let us find the best solutions to our problems. This principle also encourages us to keep learning and growing and seeking feedback from friends and colleagues. The best exercises from this chapter are: 1. Keep a Journal to take notes, observations and ideas on any subject of our interest, collecting different subjects without any particular order.

2. Make a list of a Hundred Questions that are important to you, that will allow us to discover profound material and emerging themes.

2. Dimostrazione

A Commitment to Test Knowledge through Experience, Persistence, and Willingness to Learn from Mistakes.

Be Grounded and Courageous is reflected in this principle as Dimostrazione claims that experience is the source of wisdom and urges us to question conventional ideas with testing as the core of knowledge.

Dimostrazione also embodies the Byte Style of Be Candid and Clear as it promotes willingness to acknowledge our mistakes and learning from them. Furthermore it fosters a methodical approach through practical experience which can aid in identifying the facts and being more accurate. The best exercise from this chapter is: 1. Check your Beliefs and Sources by analyzing at least 3 opinions on any area and examining the role of different sources as media, people and our own experiential verification in its formation, which can allow us to change a deeply held belief.

3. Sensazione

The Continual Refinement of the Senses, Especially Sight, as the Means to Enliven Experience.

Sensazione is related to the Aim for the Highest as rich sensory impressions from our work environment can improve our productivity, creativity, and help us think outside the box by

widening our perspective through the power of synesthesia. The best exercise from this chapter is: 1. Create Your Own Equivalent to the Maestro's Studio by creating an space that promotes the merging of the senses: hanging inspiring art, listening to classical music, experimenting with aromatherapy, having comfortable furniture, etc. This type of space is perfect for brainstorming, strategizing and creative problem solving.

4. Sfumato

(Literally "Going up in Smoke") A Willingness to Embrace Ambiguity, Paradox, and Uncertainty.

Always Day 1 is perfectly correlated with this principle as Sfumato promotes making us friends with ambiguity and thrive with change, as conflict can also inspire creativity. The practice of being attuned to one's intuition and gut builds resiliance when confronting any obstacle. The best exercise from this chapter is: 1. Cultivate Confusion Endurance by sharpening our senses in the face of paradox we can embrace creative tension. The exercise suggests contemplating paradoxes such as joy and sorrow, noticing how our capacity for joy is born in sorrow. Other suggested paradoxes are strength and weakness, change and constancy, humility and pride.

5. Arte/Scienza

The Development of the Balance between Science and Art, Logic and Imagination.

"Whole~Brain" Thinking.

Champion Diversity and Inclusion can be developed with this principle as Arte/Scienza claims not only that balanced teams are more effective but also that we can balance our own brain hemispheres and awaken both left brain and right brain capabilities such as analysis and intuition, planning and improvisation, seriousness and play, Art and Science, which in turn can help us empathize more and value other's uniquenessnes. The best exercise from this chapter is:

1. Make Your Own Mind Map on any topic as mindmapping is a whole-brain method for generating and organizing ideas while encouraging the full range of mental expression.

Below is my personal application and first draft of this exercise with the key information for this book review.

6. Corporalita

The cultivation of Grace, Ambidexterity, Fitness, and Poise.

To fully achieve the Byte Style of Aim for the Highest we cant overlook the principle of Corporalita as the physical state of our body influences our mind and viceversa. Health and wellbeing directly impacts our work. For example, we can use physical exercises before brainstorming sessions to unleash greater mental flexibility and new ideas. The best exercise from this chapter is: 1. Learn to juggle as is a marvelous way to develop ambidexterity, balance, and mind-body coordination.

7. Connessione

A Recognition of and Appreciation for the Interconnectedness of all Things and Phenomena.

Systems Thinking.

Connessione embodies the Byte Style of Champion Diversity and Inclusion as it promotes a systems thinking, highlighting the patterns and connections in the world, how our actions can impact others and the environment. A very useful exercise from this chapter is: 1. The Body Metaphor by using the human body to explore the system dynamics of our workplace or team, for example: identifying for example who is the head, who is the heart,

how is it balanced, how is the circultation, etc.