I just finished reading Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson. Isaacson paints a picture of a man that was truly a creative genius. His curiosity and his powers of observation were simply astounding. From observing the beating wings of a dragon fly to the finest brush strokes of the Mona Lisa, a painting which was still in his studio waiting for the master to provide the final brush strokes. I’m not going to give you a book review. The book is worth the read if you have an interest in the workings of the creative mind. This is one book you’ll want to read in the hard copy version, given the many illustrations. Isaacson does provide a chapter with concluding remarks. Here are the things Issacson suggests are a requirement for living a creative life:
- Be curious, relentlessly curious
- Seek knowledge for its own sake
- Retain a childlike sense of wonder
- Observe
- Start with the details
- See things unseen
- Go down rabbit holes
- Get distracted
- Respect facts
- Procrastinate
- Let the perfect be the enemy of the good
- Think visually
- Avoid silos
- Let your reach exceed your grasp
- Indulge fantasy
- Create for yourself, not just for patrons
- Collaborate
- Make lists
- Take notes, on paper
- Be open to mystery
Any one of these could be a subject for future exploration.
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