One of the great failures of the past few generations has been the absence of teaching kids how to think, not to be confused with what to think. We all have our mentors, but most of our mentors are still products of being taught what to think. Imagine having Leonardo da Vinci as your mentor.

After reading this book, I cannot begin to convey how such material can change your life, almost immediately. It is not the answer to life, it is simply showing you how to enrich your life, be it what you observe, how you think, your lifestyle...the possibilities are near-endless.

Michael Gelb has the reader explore what Leonardo did:

• Curiosita: An insatiably curious approach to life.
• Dimonstratzione: A commitment to test knowledge through experience.
• Sensazione: The continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as the means to clarify experience.
• Sfumato: A willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty.
• Arte/Scienza: The development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination ("whole-brain thinking").
• Corporalita: The cultivation of ambidexterity, fitness, and poise.
• Connessione: A recognition and appreciation for the connectedness of all things and phenomena; "systems thinking."

Now, there is nothing in writing that can describe what this book can offer you, but it can be offered thusly: If you are a thinker or even wish to be a thinker, this is a book you will not regret reading. A lot of this material should be taught to kids. It will certainly make people far more interesting. Do yourself a favour and get it.