• How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci

  • Seven Steps to Genius Every Day
  • By: Michael J. Gelb
  • Narrated by: Michael J. Gelb
  • Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (245 ratings)

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How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci  By  cover art

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci

By: Michael J. Gelb
Narrated by: Michael J. Gelb
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Publisher's summary

This inspiring and inventive guide teaches listeners how to develop their full potential by following the example of the greatest genius of all time, Leonardo da Vinci. Acclaimed author Michael J. Gelb, who has helped thousands of people expand their minds to accomplish more than they ever thought possible, shows you how.

Drawing on Da Vinci's notebooks, inventions, and legendary works of art, Gelb introduces Seven Da Vincian Principles - the essential elements of genius - from curiosità, the insatiably curious approach to life, to connessione, the appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things. With Da Vinci as your inspiration, you will discover an exhilarating new way of thinking. And step by step, through exercises and provocative lessons, you will harness the power - and awesome wonder - of your own genius, mastering such life-changing abilities as:

  • Problem solving
  • Creative thinking
  • Self-expression
  • Enjoying the world around you
  • Goal setting and life balance
  • Harmonizing body and mind
Can't get enough of Leonardo's legacy? Check out our store devoted to all things Da Vinci.
©1999 Michael J. Gelb (P)1999 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

What listeners say about How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

More self-help bromides

This book was a disappointment. The information about da Vinci's life was interesting. But by the mid-way point the book degrades into yet another litany of self-help and goal setting exercises. There's hundreds of book out there already recommending such exercises, and I doubt da Vinci actually spent his time with these endless and tedious tasks. In fact, if you follow the book's prescription you'd fill your entire day just doing mental exercises trying to become creative rather than actually doing creative things. There's nothing original or even very practical about this book.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

OK if you don't know this stuff already

I didn't find this audiotape very useful because I already do a lot of the techniques described in the book. I think this would be good if you haven't explored your creativity a lot or need a reminder.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

I was looking for more.

Is this all that made Leonardo da Vinci different, a curiosity about life, a desire to learn more, asking great questions and keeping a note book full of reflections? The great questions included in one of the books exercises were to ask these questions: who, what, when, where and why. This book has some interesting facts about Leonardo but it doesn't really teach the reader how to think like him. It appears the author focused on his writing style and missed the mark connecting the title to the actual content of the work.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

not worth the money...

Other than a few interesting facts about da Vinci's youth this book is filled with nothing but uninspired axioms than any five year-old could string together. If, that is, the five year-old spoke italian. At one point the author says make your own insignia. Is branding really what Leonardo was thinking? This book is the opposite of insightful.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Distracting affectation

What did you love best about How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci?

The ideas presented had many insightful points

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Refrain from repeating the concepts in Italian. Once the point was made, just use the English version of the phrase

What insight do you think you’ll apply from How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci?

The use of mind mapping ideas is the concept I'm most likely to pursue first.

Any additional comments?

With the reader's overbearing insistence on pronouncing the Italian words over and over again, it was like listening to a pompous language student practicing with a distracting, arrogance. I found myself wanting to ask him to shut up already with the pronunciation. I wouldn't recommend this aggregation to anyone. The printed version would be my choice.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci to be better than the print version?

It's an amazing book, any way you can get this information… you should.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci?

The life story of Da Vinci...

Which character – as performed by Michael J. Gelb – was your favorite?

NA

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Genius EVERYDAY!

Any additional comments?

I have already recommended this book both paperback and audio to many of my friends and family.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great Book…too abridged

I own this book in the paper back form. It is one of a couple hundred that I have done a surface reading of but have been trying to fully work through for a few years. I was hoping that this audio version would close that gap. It didn’t.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth reading again.

I found of Mind mapping exercises quite interesting. as I said in the title one could read this over a few times. seems it would be a good book to take a personal retreat through and go through the exercises.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not at all what I expected!

this look was not at all what I expected it didn't capture my attention like I hoped it would and was very difficult to follow maybe due to the monotone voice narrating the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It really helps you open your mind

Te best way of listening to this audiobook is with pen and paper at hand because it gives you such valuable information about opening your mind that you will want to write it down!

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