pamelina's review against another edition
rly interesting!!! i read this in florence so imagine the impeccable vibes of listening to the narrator describe the intricacies of the Adoration of the Magi while LOOKING at the Adoration of the Magi in person. And I had also just seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre days before. the vibez were immaculate.
however... I am HEAVILY side eyeing Leonardo "adopting" Salaí at 10 but also potentially having a romantic relationship with him at some point?? unacceptable and rly gross. Leonardo might have been a genius but he was still a creep
however... I am HEAVILY side eyeing Leonardo "adopting" Salaí at 10 but also potentially having a romantic relationship with him at some point?? unacceptable and rly gross. Leonardo might have been a genius but he was still a creep
rick2's review against another edition
5.0
Never be satisfied with your exploration of the world. Curiosity is a virtue to be encouraged and followed.
callitus's review against another edition
3.0
To jedna z tych książek, w ktorych autor zrobił tak duży research, że nie do końca wiedział, ile z tego powinien odrzucić i przekazać czytelnikowi, aby całość była dla niego interesująca.
Dłużące się opisy kolejnych dzieł (gdzie autor powtarzał te same przymiotniki), aukcji, poszukiwań, przypisywania autorstwa to momenty po prostu nudne.
Natomiast książka była fascynująca, gdy Isaacson poświęcał więcej uwagi społecznemu aspektowi, kolejnym dworom, na ktorych goscił da Vinci, czy jego konflikowi z Michałem Aniołem, i dla tych fragmentow było warto męczyć się ze słuchaniem wymienionych nieco wyżej
Dłużące się opisy kolejnych dzieł (gdzie autor powtarzał te same przymiotniki), aukcji, poszukiwań, przypisywania autorstwa to momenty po prostu nudne.
Natomiast książka była fascynująca, gdy Isaacson poświęcał więcej uwagi społecznemu aspektowi, kolejnym dworom, na ktorych goscił da Vinci, czy jego konflikowi z Michałem Aniołem, i dla tych fragmentow było warto męczyć się ze słuchaniem wymienionych nieco wyżej
torjus's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
lordcheez's review against another edition
4.0
Really good, delves into a Freudian sexual mode more than I think was necessary. However, the story told is remarkable, solid synopsis of all previous historiography.
mjsteimle's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This was a very well-researched biography; however, this was a 3-star reading (listening) experience. It is mostly an analysis of Leonardo's artistic, scientific, and engineering work and less a story-like telling of his life. The book is organized topically rather than chronologially (although it mostly follows a chronologic timeline). However, I was looking for something that focused a bit more on Leonardo's life and times with references to his art, rather than vice-versa.
With Leonardo being such an interesting historical figure, I was surprised to find this biography a bit on the dry side. I can't help comparing it to the Vincent Van Gogh biography I listened to last year, which was 3x as long but fascinating the whole way through. I was looking for something that would create a strong sense of the historical time and places Leonardo lived in, and while Isaacson does touch somewhat on those areas, it wasn't enough for my taste. Perhaps there is not enough source material to paint a full picture of Leonardo's daily life, but in addition to the heavy focus on Leonardo's work, the author could have focused more attention on the context surrounding that work.
The book also references images quite frequently - in the print copy I imagine those images are included; the audiobook refers to a PDF. I probably would have gotten more out of reading the print copy and looking at the images, but honestly it takes me ages to read a biography and I probably wouldn't have prioritized this book had I not listened to the audio.
This was a very well-researched biography; however, this was a 3-star reading (listening) experience. It is mostly an analysis of Leonardo's artistic, scientific, and engineering work and less a story-like telling of his life. The book is organized topically rather than chronologially (although it mostly follows a chronologic timeline). However, I was looking for something that focused a bit more on Leonardo's life and times with references to his art, rather than vice-versa.
With Leonardo being such an interesting historical figure, I was surprised to find this biography a bit on the dry side. I can't help comparing it to the Vincent Van Gogh biography I listened to last year, which was 3x as long but fascinating the whole way through. I was looking for something that would create a strong sense of the historical time and places Leonardo lived in, and while Isaacson does touch somewhat on those areas, it wasn't enough for my taste. Perhaps there is not enough source material to paint a full picture of Leonardo's daily life, but in addition to the heavy focus on Leonardo's work, the author could have focused more attention on the context surrounding that work.
The book also references images quite frequently - in the print copy I imagine those images are included; the audiobook refers to a PDF. I probably would have gotten more out of reading the print copy and looking at the images, but honestly it takes me ages to read a biography and I probably wouldn't have prioritized this book had I not listened to the audio.