A Wonderful Discovery

I absolutely enjoyed reading and reading this book. Neo Leo The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo DaVinci by Gene Barreta is a wonderful celebration Leo's extraordinary ideas and inventions. The way the author set up this book is a total fascination to me because I love to compare how Leonardo's ideas back then have been transformed into an actual reality. This books how Leonardo's ideas were revolutionary and how he found inspiration for his ideas by spending time outside observing his surroundings carefully. The point this book makes is that most of his inventions were not built during his lifetime. But the notes that were able to survive the test of time prove that he had some amazing ideas in mind. When you lay the book flat you see on one page how Leo's ideas were transformed into realities. For example in 1903 The Wright Brothers became famous for creating an engine-powered aircraft. On the opposite page the author points out how 400 years earlier Leonardo had designed several man-powered aircraft including the ornithopter. Fascinating!!! Get ready to be impressed with the pages that follow because the book goes through some amazing inventions from contact lenses, through bicycles to parachutes.

At the beginning of the book, the author Gene Barreta explains that reading Leonardo's notes were a huge challenge for historians because Leonardo always used mirror writing which means he wrote everything backwards!! Wow. Genius souls like Leonardo DaVinci left a huge mark in our modern world and most of his work still remain a mystery.

I am sure so many of my students will be in total awe when they see and read this book. And please check out Now & Ben The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin. Another amazing publication by Gene Barreta which received several recognitions & awards.