Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic ideas to meet your full potential
Review: Gelb succeeds in making the Da Vinci lifestyle attainable for anyone. The book is easy to read and full of interesting facts about this amazing person. I especially enjoyed his look into Da Vinci's personal history. The reader can take away many useful lessons for a more fulfilling life. Da Vinci met his human potential better than almost any other historical figure. Imitating his way of life will certainly help us maximize our own potential.
Rating: 
Summary: If you like snake oil . . .
Review: If you like snake oil, and wasting your money, then buy this book..."Perhaps it is a cultural issue, but I found...Gelb's book was...very disappointing. To me, people like...Gelb are the modern equivalent of the "Traveling Medicine Show" of the "Wild West," and the programs they promote are the cure all "Snake Oil."...There are also elements, especially related to Gelb's suggestions for eating, which border on the outrageous, especially in Kansas. This makes me wonder if he has ever been west of the Mississippi, or even left the East Coast, examples are: The recipe for linguine with fresh clams and black truffles (Workbook, page 74). No additional comment considered necessary. The suggestion for developing comparative tasting - three kinds of olive oil, etc (Textbook, page 129). I would be interested to know where three kinds of smoked salmon and caviar can be found, at reasonable expense, in Wichita The recommendation to eat only "free range" meats (Textbook, page 201) - if it "oinks, moos, or clucks" in Kansas, then it is almost certain that it will have been pumped full of "hormones, antibiotics, and other toxins" long before it reaches the meat cabinet in Dillons or Albertsons. I am aware of at least one farmers' cooperative that tried, and failed, to raise free range cattle for beef. Gelb does not mention one key factor of personal development, and that is "attending" the school of "hard knocks." This is usually more effective than all the motivational programs put together." If you still go ahead and buy this book, you have my every sympathy. You need help, but you won't find it in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Fun !!!!
Review: Just a unbelievably fun book to read. I initially just glanced at the book out of curiosity, skimmed a few pages, then a few more...
I've now bought more copies of this book for family and friends than any other I've ever given. Great pasta sauce recipe buried in there too!
Rating:
Summary: the retrospective and prospective way to manage life
Review: I was really wondering about the fact that Gelb comprises in his book- without my exaggeration - a great possibility which releases our inner genius. Having start to read it
I'm so convinced by the simplicity of Gelb's arguments that I can only recommend this book for anyone who wants to go sometimes further...
Rating: 
Summary: sensationalisticismo!!
Review: learning how to think like Leonardo is going to take far more than what you'll find here. That said this book contains a nice overview of the kinds of things that Leonardo would have stressed: the science or art and the art of science and the ability to see clearly.
The book is worth a read but it is pretty light on real substance - Leonardo looked closely so it then exhorts you to look real closely at the world around you. Multiply that by a dozen techniques and you've got the material covered.
Rating:
Summary: One of the coolest books ever written. Will change your life
Review: Use this book as a guide to realizing your full potential as a creative, connected, talented human being. The activities are fun, the text is enlightening. You'll use the things you learn in here everyday of your life, and best of all, you'll find even more joy in the journey!
Rating:
Summary: A different form of self-help
Review: I really hate self-help books. I really do. Most of them spend 20 pages telling you how to help yourself and 250 talking about how wonderful it is to read the book you're reading. But this book is different. I came upon this book very casually, not really looking for anything in particular. When I saw it, I knew that I had to have it. I have always loved da Vinci's art and his intellect - from the first time seeing the Mona Lisa in Paris as a teenager up to my latest trip to Florence a few months ago. But when I bought this book, it didn't occur to me that it might be in the genre of self-help because I was so fascinated with the subject, but that didn't matter once I started reading. I really believe this book does give us a picture of how to think like da Vinci. The key is don't go into it expecting a lot, and you'll be pleased. Unlike some may perceive on buying this book, I never believed it to do so, and it never says, "You'll be a genius if you read this book." Mr. Gelb just describes da Vinci's methods of thinking, and credits da Vinci everywhere with multiple quotes. From start to finish, I don't think the author once tried to go off subject of how 'his (the author's) methods' were superior or any of the other self-help (...)- it's all credited to da Vinci. It's written fairly simply with daily exercises to produce the desired effects. One thing that I find very beneficial in this book is that it gives a few paragraphs on how to help teach your children to think more broadly with each section. Having a child that is labled as 'difficult,' it helped me to understand him better, and to encourage his naturally intelligent behaviors such as curiosity when everyone has been trying to repress it...this to me is invaluable. By changing my thinking it really gave me a greater appreciation for a 3 year-old! I only have one criticism of this book, where I truly believe the author inputs his own preferences exclusively - and that's mostly to do with the Sensazione exercises section in particular. Whether it's telling you to prefer Jazz over other music, or classical, I think his own opinions come through. But simultaneously I must add that his opinions are given as 'starting points' so to speak. I have truly enjoyed this book. Although I haven't started the exercises (he suggests reading it thoroughly first) I feel that I have learned a great deal. It is also important to note that there is a companion workbook, which probably isn't necessary, but I'm going to buy it because I found this one to be a great book on improving insights and personal qualities.
Rating:
Summary: Save Your Money
Review: I attended a two-day seminar and was given a copy of this book as an added "benefit". Michael Gelb and his training, writings and approach represent the worst of new age, self-help claptrap. Do yourself a favor: save your money and your time.
Rating:
Summary: Misleading title
Review: I found this book medium-interesting, hence the three stars. But I found the title and presentation somewhat misleading. If Gelb has figured out "how to think like Leonardo da Vinci," then where are his great works of art, scientific discoveries and plausible far-future inventions? Is he sitting on them, recorded in voluminous but unorganized notebooks, the way da Vinci did? Or is he, like other "creativity experts" whose books I've read, another of those guys in the self-help/consultancy hustle who tells others how to do something that he's not been able to do himself? Writers in that business are like authors of sex advice books who have had little sexual experience themselves. I would respect Gelb somewhat more if he could demonstrate through some tangible results that he really has cracked the great mystery of da Vinci's mind in a way that can be effectively taught to others. Realistically, Gelb should have titled his book, "How Leonardo da Vinci apparently thought," for he is clearly on the outside, looking in and trying to make sense of a puzzling phenomenon.
Rating:
Summary: A book to keep and savor!
Review: Gelb has crafted a beautiful book. Before I started to read I fell in love with the format and layout, the graphics and the art. When I started to read, I was amazed at how easily I could understand the ideas that were presented. These, of course, are listed above in the main review. But each idea makes perfect sense. What you will get from reading this book is a sense of assurance that a search for understanding is not only fully compatible with a life of beauty, but that it is a large part of it. The suggestions for incorporating these ideas could be overwhelming, but as Gelb suggests, they should be overviewed first and done later. This allows one to take in the book as a whole, getting an overview. I see this book as being a broadening companion to the current goals of organizational learning. It is at once a motivational tome as well as an excellent activity resource for broading systems thinking skills. This is one book you can savor.
| 
