HOW TO THINK LIKE LEONARDO DA VINCI—Seven Steps to Genius Every Day
by Michaell Gelb

"Ninety five percent of what we know about the capabilities of the human brain has been learned in the last twenty years." (p. 3)

"Your brain

- is more flexible and multidimensional than any supercomputer
- can learn seven facts per second, every second, for the rest of your life and still have
        plenty of room left to learn more
- will improve with age if you use it properly
- is not just in your head—'intelligence is located not only in the brain but in cells that
        are distributed throughout the body…'
- is unique. Of the six billion people currently living and the more than ninety billion
        people who have ever lived, there has never, unless you are an identical twin,
        been anyone quite like you. Your creative gifts, your fingerprints, your
        expressions, your DNA, your dreams, are unprecedented and unique
- is capable of making a virtually unlimited number of synaptic connections or
        potential patterns of thought." (p. 5)


The Seven Da Vincian Principles:

"Curiositá—an insatiably curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning.
Dimostrazione—a commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes
Sensazione—the continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as the means to enliven experience
Sfumato—(literally 'Going up in smoke')—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 grace, ambidexterity, fitness, and poise.
Connessione—a recognition of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena. Systems thinking." (p. 9)
The Modern Renaissance Man or Woman
"In addition to possessing a good knowledge of the classical liberal arts, the modern Renaissance man or woman is also:
- Computer literate
- Mentally literate
- Globally aware." (p. 19)
       Although this book tells a good deal about Da Vinci and his many, many contributions to modern thinking, it is not primarily a biography. The book is designed to actually help us think like Da Vinci.
       Each of the seven principles forms the core of a section with guides toward applying and practicing the principles. It is not a book to be read and put down. It is a learning guide.