Enjoyed the bits about the paintings, not about geneology. ( )

I learned a lot of things that I did not know about Leonardo da Vinci. This book is quite scholarly and very well written. It has two sections that include his paintings in glossy paper and many more drawings and works strewn throughout the book.

I was not aware of his personal failings. Mostly he was bad with money and bad with completing projects on time. Even through all that he was much admired in his time; although the Mona Lisa didn't become super famous until someone stole it back in 1911 or so. Then the dude demanded ransom of 500,000 Florins or Lire or whatever unit of currency they had. When it was a new painting, the public did comment on how wonderful it was but they didn't see anything particularly special about it. In any case, among his many other accomplishments, he was also a pretty good musician and poet.

I already knew about the flying machines, the parachute, the machinery designed to move heavy weights and water... One wonders what he could do with the internet at his disposal.

Oh well. In any case, this book was good. I liked it a great deal for all that. ( )

Most interesting ( )

An impressive chronological account of the Maestro's life, this is sadly short on information about the man himself. I now know what he did, but I don't know his personality or habits. ( )

An impressive chronological account of the Maestro's life, this is sadly short on information about the man himself. I now know what he did, but I don't know his personality or habits. ( )