Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson

Leonardo da Vinci created the two most famous paintings in history, The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. But in his own mind, he was just as much a man of science and engineering. With a passion that sometimes became obsessive, he pursued innovative studies of anatomy, fossils, birds, the heart, flying machines, botany, geology, and weaponry. His ability to stand at the crossroads of the humanities and the sciences, made iconic by his drawing of Vitruvian Man, made him history₂s most creative genius. Walter Isaacson brings Leonardo da Vinci to life, showing why people have much to learn from him. His combination of science, art, technology, and imagination remains an enduring recipe for creativity.

Isaacson himself narrates the introduction and conclusion, with the rest narrated by a Britsih-accented reader. An odd choice, I thought, although maybe he won the job based on his Italian, which sounded quite good. In any case, the book was fascinating, and I learned a great deal about both Leonardo and the Italian Renaissance. Not surprisingly, though, given that the subject died 500 years ago, there is a lot that is uncertain about Leonardo and his work, but that doesn't prevent Isaacson from speculating. While the speculation is always credible, it's still unsettling.

Listening to the audiobook, one doesn't have at hand the wonderful illustrations. There is a pdf of the illustrations available for downloading, but still if you're listening on the go you can't consult that document. I also borrowed the physical book from the library so I could see the illustrations there.