If you type 30802500 into Google, guess what pops up first? The Codex Leicester. This is a notebook of one of history’s greatest geniuses, Leonardo Da Vinci. But what’s with the number? Well, it’s the amount—$30,802,500—that Bill Gates paid for this notebook back in 1994
But wait, what’s inside this book that made someone like Bill Gates spend that kind of money?
Let’s dive into its pages and explore!
Leonardo da Vinci always carried a notebook with him. Inside, he wrote down his thoughts, observations, experiments, poems, and even made to-do lists. Back then, paper was rare and expensive, so Leonardo made sure to use every inch of it. Today, we’re lucky to have found 7,200 pages of his notebooks. These pages help us understand-
- What was happening in the mind of a genius like Leonardo.
- How did Leonardo think and learn?
- What were his dedication, techniques, and work ethics?
- How can we implement Leonardo’s work ethics in our personal and professional lives?
Practice:
In the first few pages of one of his notebooks, he attempted 169 times to square a circle using only a compass and scale. At that time, it was a popular problem among mathematicians and geometers to create a square with the same area as a given circle using the minimum steps with these tools.
In his notebooks, we can also find 730 exact and original diagrams of water’s steam and its flow. He was trying to understand water’s nature and the dynamics of fluid. He also used 67 different words for running water. Maybe this diversity of words helped him think from different angles.
What do we learn from this?
Persistence in Problem-Solving:
Imagine trying something 169 times just to figure it out. That’s exactly what Leonardo did while attempting to square a circle. It wasn’t about giving up; it was about learning through every failed attempt. His story reminds us that mastery doesn’t come easy—it’s built on persistence, one try at a time.
Diverse Perspectives:
Here’s a cool fact—Leonardo used 67 different words for running water. Why? Because he wanted to look at it from every possible angle. That’s the key right there! When we approach a problem in different ways, we start seeing solutions we never even thought of.
Systematic Observation:
Now, think about this—Leonardo made 730 detailed diagrams just to understand how water moves. That’s dedication! Breaking something complex into smaller pieces and observing them closely is such a smart way to learn. It’s a lesson for all of us: take it step by step, and you’ll get to the bigger picture.
Complete Dedication:
In one notebook, he wrote about the human face and the muscles and nerves behind it. This notebook contained a precious drawing—yes, you guessed it right—the drawing of Mona Lisa’s upper lip nerves. Based on this, he drew Mona Lisa’s smile. He perfected this nerve drawing over 16 years. He used to bring Mona Lisa’s painting to different places and show it to people. But he never declared the painting complete, nor did he sell it.
You can find this kind of dedication and willingness to do better in all his work. He always saw art in the landscape of science. In Mona Lisa’s smile lies Leonardo’s lifelong knowledge of science, anatomy, optics, and many fields.
He wanted to make every drawing resemble the real world and follow its principles. His lifelong work could be said to be a fusion of art and science.
At first, Leonardo worked in theater production, where he learned how to play with human vision and perspective. With the help of light and shadow, stages could appear larger or smaller. For theater productions, he designed flying machines and helicopter screws.
When he worked on Mona Lisa, he was also studying the dissection of the human eye and retina. He learned that the retina processes an image in two parts: the center sees the details, while the edges perceive shadows and shapes. This understanding explains why his drawings, like Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, heavily incorporate light, shadow, and angles.
What do we learn from this?
Be Patient with Mastery:
Leonardo spent 16 years perfecting a single aspect of Mona Lisa’s smile. This shows that mastery takes time, patience, and a willingness to constantly improve.
Whatever skill or goal you’re working on, give yourself time to grow. Don’t rush the process; instead, focus on small, meaningful improvements every day.
Fusion of Knowledge:
He didn’t see art and science as separate. Instead, he combined them to create something extraordinary. This teaches us the power of interdisciplinary thinking—bringing together different skills or fields to achieve something unique.Think about how your passions or skills can complement each other. For example, if you’re into writing and technology, explore creative ways to merge them.
Observation and Curiosity:
Leonardo’s study of anatomy, light, and vision shows his desire to understand how things work. His attention to detail made his work more realistic and impactful.
Question the “why” and “how” behind things. Observe the world around you, take notes, and let your curiosity guide you to new ideas. If you pay attention, you will see that most of your ideas and intelligence come from your surroundings rather than your academic books.
Learn from Every Opportunity:
From theater production to painting, Leonardo applied lessons from one area to another. This adaptability and openness to learning were key to his success.
No experience is wasted if you take something valuable from it. Whether it’s a job, hobby, or a setback, even a heart break, 😁figure out how it can contribute to your bigger goals.
Intense Curiosity:
Leonardo da Vinci became a genius because he had an immense will to know and learn—he had intense curiosity.
He wanted to learn why people yawn, how to square a circle, how pigs’ lungs work when they breathe, how shadows’ edges interact with light, and the mathematics behind the spiral flow of rivers.
So, what does that tell us?
Curiosity is the spark that gets everything going. The more questions we ask and the more we explore, the closer we get to figuring out the world—and discovering what we’re truly capable of.
Observation:
Leonardo never attended any academic studies because he was an illegitimate son. Whatever he learned came from his own observations and experiments. He was fond of the stream of the Arno River. From childhood until his death, he would sit at the riverbank for hours.
In his notebooks, we can find many diagrams of streams and spirals, where he tried to understand their mathematics. By closely observing objects and animals, Leonardo attained great mastery in observation.
Walter Isaacson, who wrote a book on Leonardo da Vinci, said that Leonardo revealed the secret of observation in his notebook. Leonardo said:
- Observe the physical details: Write every detail of the physical appearance of the thing you want to observe. Do not move to the next step until this is fully completed.
- Look at the motion:Write about the movement or motion of the thing. How does it move? What changes does the object or phenomenon undergo?
- Identify the effect: Write about the effect, reaction, or change from the motion.What happens as a result of that motion?
- Understand the science behind it: What theories explain the changes you’ve observed?
- Leonardo said that when you record every detail by observing, those details are imprinted in your memory, and then your intelligence begins to work on its own. Eventually, the solution appears automatically.
Lessons for Us:
People like us, living professional lives, can learn from this.
First, pick a problem you want to solve—like laziness or overthinking.
- Write down all the symptoms of the problem. When it happens, how it starts, how long it lasts, how it looks from a third-person perspective, and how it resolves.
- In the next step, write any solutions you have in mind.
- Experiment with those solutions and note the results.
- Review your result over time, revisit your observations and make necessary changes.
This process will deepen your thought process and help you solve problems independently.
Let me share my personal experience. Once, I wanted to learn MS Dhoni’s famous “helicopter shot”. For those who are familiar with cricket, you know exactly what I’m talking about. At first, I watched videos of MS playing the shot over and over again. I paid attention to every detail—how he placed his legs, how he positioned himself, how he held the bat, and so on. Then, I tried it repeatedly, but I kept failing. I practiced for hours and still couldn’t get it right, so I gave up for a while. However, after a week, while I was playing in a competitive match, I don’t know how, but I suddenly started hitting the helicopter shot effortlessly.
Unique To-Do Lists:
In Leonardo’s notebooks, you will find mathematical calculations and to-do lists here and there. When an idea came to his mind, he immediately wrote it down. For example, in his 1490s notebook, he wrote-
- “Need to calculate Milan city and its streets.”
At first glance, this might seem unnecessary. But on the seventh page of that notebook, he wrote: - “Need to make a drawing of Milan.”
He also wrote: - “Need to learn how to find the square of a triangle from a mathematician.”
- “Need to ask Bombardio why the wall of Ferrara is so strong.”
- “Convince Master Giovanni to teach me how to calculate the distance of the sun and its diameter.”
Not only did Leonardo ask questions, but he urgently sought answers. He said:
It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and things happened.
Walter Isaacson noted that, unlike other mathematicians, Leonardo couldn’t solve equations in his mind. He needed to visualize them, which is evident in his studies of optics and proportion. As a child, he even learned multiplication through visualization.
What can we learn from this?
Leonardo’s approach shows us how important curiosity is and how acting on it right away can lead to breakthroughs. Whenever something caught his attention, he wrote it down immediately, even if it seemed small or unimportant. That’s a good habit for us to build. When a question or idea pops up, jot it down and go after it.
We can also learn that everyone solves problems differently. For Leonardo, he needed to visualize things to understand them, and maybe that’s something that works for you too. So, next time a question comes to mind, don’t ignore it—write it down, dive into it, and find the answers. Simple curiosity can lead to big discoveries.
So in Summary What We Learn from Leonardo:
- Practice and Practice: Leonardo was not born a genius. The skills he had—observation, imagination, and knowledge—were achieved through lifelong practice.
- Practical Tips for Observation: Record your observations. Write every small detail, then the movements, and finally the underlying theory. This process imprints details into your brain, activating your intelligence.
- Urgently Seek Answers: Don’t just ask questions—seek answers immediately. Write them down and act upon them.
- Intense Curiosity: Leonardo gained immense knowledge because he was curious. Choose a goal to master and dedicate all your energy and curiosity to it. Make it your life’s purpose.
- Visualize the Process: From childhood, Leonardo learned through visualization. Whenever he faced difficulty, he used visualization to understand and learn.
