Da Vinci Decoded : Discovering the Spiritual Secrets of Leonardo's Seven Principles

Rating:
Summary: Michael Gelb has done it again!
Review: I enjoyed "The Da Vinci Code, it was a wonderfully entertaining, page-turner; but this book is on a whole other level! Michael Gelb's new book brings together the spiritual insights of Leonardo with the great truths of the world's wisdom traditions to create a life-changing guide
to inner peace and fulfillment. I loved it!!!



Rating:
Summary: Spirituality Artistically and Creatively Shared
Review: I enjoyed this book and have shared it with several friends. Bravo to Michael Gelb and many authors like him who are writing with insight, clarity and depth of spirit that I believe is unparalleled in prior works.

We are living in a time of expansion of human spirit and thought that gives great hope in the future of our world. My favorite part of this book was the chapter on the Mona Lisa and its story about the gifted children who immediately understood and described the secret of the balance of life so effortlessly.

Thank you Mr. Gelb for your work. I enjoyed your previous book but believe you've outdone yourself. Encore!

Rating:
Summary: Applying the Wisdom
Review: I have waited for this book, and I am not disappointed. As we all naturally gravitate toward that which is right...in our soul, body and mind...this book plugs in to that process for each one of us. Mr. Gelb's style is immensely gracious and clear; it is easy to imagine using this book with teenagers, young parents and senior citizens.

The orgnization of the book is such that my reading group will take each of the seven principles and go through the self-assessments and practical suggestions. There seems to be just the right amount of information presented to enable new connections and enhance development of compassion, creativity and consciousness. As a professor, I also plan to use Mr. Gelb's work with my students in college--future special educators. We all stand to benefit from the wisdom of exploring the dimensions of developing potential.




Rating:
Summary: Awaken your soul
Review: I'm used to consulting my genius "dream team" to learn more about a subject. For creative play and imagination, I turn to Einstein. For leadership skills, I turn to Queen Elizabeth I for inspiration. For musical genius, I look to Mozart and Debussy. And, having read Michael J. Gelb's "How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci", I look to the Maestro to cultivate my creative genius.

But the Maestro as a spiritual guide? I had thought he was a heretic who railed against organized religion. He himself seemed skeptical of a divine presence. How could he possible guide me to a deeper spiritual awareness?

Those questions drew me to Gelb's latest book, which I picked up this morning. Having read and been inspired by Gelb's other books, I was still skeptical but willing to give it a read.

I read it immediately, cover to cover, and have already tried many of the exercises! Yes, the Maestro is a wonderful spiritual guide. As Gelb posits, "Leonardo gives voice to values and ideals that are universal, a core body of truths that unite rather than divide us."

Part One begins by appeasing skeptics like myself. Gelb examines Leonardo's life, inspirations, inventions, and yes, spirituality. He reintroduces his seven davincian principles (I highly recommend you read "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci" first for a deeper understanding of the principles), and provides a spiritual translation. The principles do naturally flow into such translation, and take on a powerful new meaning.

Part Two dedicates a chapter to each principle. Gelb follows the formula so successful in his other books. We begin by contemplating an image and a quote (drawn from spiritual leaders of many religions) related to each principle. Then we learn how da Vinci embodied these principles on a spiritual level. Next comes the self-assessment, a powerful tool to examine how much you embody the principle in your present life. Gelb completes each chapter with powerful and practical exercises designed to put each principle into use.

I hope you find this book as inspiring as I did. Open your heart and mind to Leonardo's genius, and you will indeed cultivate your spiritual potential and bring more compassion to the world.

Bravo!!! Bravo!!! Bravissimo!!!

Rating:
Summary: DaVinci Code meets Davinci Decoded
Review: I, too, have been waiting for this book for some time. This is a book that does several things extremely well: it takes Michael Gelb's How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci to the next (and perhaps even the next!) level; answers the most important questions raised by Dan Brown in The DaVinci Code; and, offers a profound resource for seekers of personal growth and wisdom. This book is a gem and was well worth the wait.

Michael Gelb elegantly weaves together Leonardo's seven principles with their application as seven spiritual practices. And, along the way gives vivid, inspiring history and insight into who Leonardo was as a common man, and uncommon man, a genius.

This book can be a quick read, if you like, and it is most definitely a book to be savored. I know I will return to it time after time to provoke my thinking, to guide creative process and to develop myself as a better person. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Gelb has another winner!
Review: Michael Gelb wrote one of my favorite books, HOW TO THINK LIKE LEONARDO DA VINCI . . . it is also a book we use in the Creativity class that I team teach at Bucks County Community College.

So when I saw that Gelb had written a follow-up to the above, DA VINCI DECODED: DISCOVERING THE SPIRITUAL SECRETS OF LEONARDO'S SEVEN PRINCIPLES, I got hold of a copy and looked forward to reading it was great anticipation . . . and am I glad that I did . . . Gelb has another winner!

This time, he takes the principles and shows you how they can be used to cultivate your spiritual potential . . . each chapter has a helpful self-assessment, along with a useful "seek the truth" exercise.

I also liked the many quotes sprinkles throughout the book, many of them from Da Vinci.

There were several memorable passages; among them:
Leonardo's drawing of the embryo reminds us that we all come from the same Source. It beckons us to revitalize our birthright of curiosita. All of us are born with dynamic curiosity, the desire to explore, know, and understand, to seek the truth-though few of us keep it as alive within as Leonardo did. In the words of Glen Doman, of the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential: "Every child is born with the potential genius of Leonardo da Vinci, and then we go about de-geniusing them."

In the face of these and many other challenges, Leonardo writes notes of encouragement, affirmation, and inspiration to himself: "I shall continue," "I never tire of being useful," "Obstacles do not bend me," "Every obstacle is destroyed through rigor," and "Fix your course to a star and you can navigate through the storm." The star to which Leonardo fixed his course was his intellectual rigor, his freedom from preconceived ideas or opinions.

The same wisdom can be applied to the beginning and end of each day. It's also a good idea to craft some kind of ritual that signals the end of your work life and the beginning of your home life, especially if you are in a relationship. Taking a minute or two with your partner after work to honor your connection to each other, and to a higher purpose, can transform the hours you spend together, giving you a deeper sense of alignment with your beloved.

Rating:
Summary: DaVinci Decoded- Wisdom to be shared
Review: Michael Gelb's latest book DaVinci Decoded is this year's Holiday Gift to my family and friends. I find guidance, comfort and inspiration in this book and I want to share my discoveries with everyone. Michael has condensed the wisdom of Leonardo DaVinci (the ultimate Renaissance Man) into seven principles.
This format makes a Renaissance frame of mind accessible, easy to grasp and simple enough to put into practice. Mr. Gelb's work makes me believe that with a little effort on our part,
a dream of a 21st Century Renaissance is attainable.

Rating:
Summary: Practices and Doesn't Preach
Review: There are two errors when writing a book on spirituality. The first is assuming that what you're writing is the truth and the reader merely has to agree (a.k.a. preaching). The second is not giving any suggestions, or none specific enough, on how readers can apply your concepts to their daily lives. Michael J. Gelb's new book not only avoids both of these mistakes, but is itself a demonstration of his seven Da Vincian principles in action.

Unlike other spiritual books popular today, Mr. Gelb does not present some new or ancient belief system which he feels the reader should adopt. Instead, he points out Leonardo's intellectual and spiritual independence from outside authorities and invites his readers to consider the same perspective. Gelb offers specific exercises for both body and mind so that the reader can EXPERIMENT with the Da Vincian principles, EXPERIENCE the results, and come to their own conclusions. I found his approach true to the Da Vincian spirit, and refreshing for the genre of spiritual literature.

"Da Vinci Decoded" is not to be simply read and then put on the shelf. In fact, I think you would gain very little from the book if you simply read it through. The real value of Gelb's work is in USING the exercises he provides. It's not a fanciful essay which wants to wax poetic about "Eternal Truth"--that's been done since writing was invented and quite frankly there's already enough of it on the market. Gelb gives us more of a hands-on manual for spiritual experimentation: something reminiscient of the manuals monks were (and often still are) given in both Eastern and Western traditions to guide their spiritual practices.

This is not to say that "Da Vinci Decoded" lacks inspiration. Quite the contrary. In addition to many thought-provoking quotes, curious drawings and sublime paintings from Da Vinci and passages from various scriptures, Gelb's own writing has moments which invite deep contemplation. But again, in the spirit of Da Vinci, Gelb would probably enourage you to take inspiration wherever YOU find it.

The only drawback, which is why I didn't give it all five stars, is that Gelb occasionally relies a little too much on other people's work (e.g. Gary Zukav and Byron Katie) instead of presenting Leonardo's relation to the issue. But this is a minor complaint, as the authors he references are usually relevant to his point.

In short, this book is a worthy companion to Mr. Gelb's 1998 bestseller which, incidentally, was a key part of reviving interest in Da Vinci. It also stands alone, and doesn't require any knowledge of Dan Brown's novel (though Gelb provides some treats for those who have read "The Da Vinci Code"). If you're looking for a book on spirituality that encourages independence and experimentation, then this is the book for you.

Important Note: Dr. Dale Schusterman, whose work Gelb referenced regarding the Vitruvian Man Healing Exercise, points out that the illustration of "The Vitruvian Man" on p. 132 is incorrect. The publisher inserted the the drawing the reverse of how it should appear and therefore it won't work for the exercise. Dr. Schusterman says this error will be corrected in subsequent editions.

Rating:
Summary: An honest guide to living a better life
Review: This sequel to Michael Gleb's runaway bestseller focuses on the spiritual aspects of the seven steps to genius, expounded in his last text, including the need to seek the truth, taking responsibility for our thoughts, condition and actions, refining our self and outer awareness, analysing the dark components of our natures, striving for balance in all things and lastly, the cultivation of virtue, particularly love and compassion. Along with these spiritual steps are practical exercises to help us develop in these areas. These seven principles are designed and intended by the author to awaken our souls, prompt us to live in the moment, and ultimately realize the deep connection between all things in the universe.

One gets the impression that Michael Gleb has written this book directly from his heart. One senses a sincerity and clean desire to share everything he has discovered that has aided him in living a more meaningful existence. Intuitively I perceived a gut-level honesty in this book and a clear desire from the author to help his readers gain practical knowledge in order to live happier lives. Considering the vast amount of self-help manuals out there, all grappling for a piece of the self-improvement market, it was refreshing to read such an honest and well-written work. There is no question in my mind that Michael Gleb is sincere in his intention to share his seven principles, gently putting us on the road to living more meaningful lives.

We all have our areas of strengths and weaknesses, aspects of our lives that need honing or at least an honest assessment. For me it is living in the moment, not letting life pass by without experiencing all its wonders. For many years each day would more or less be taken for granted, thoughts preoccupied with memories of the past or worries about the future. The chapter on sharpening awareness has pointed me in the right direction to enjoy the moment, live in the moment, and experience the wonders of being aware in present time. Gleb also advises us on one of the age-old tenets of philosophy, first announced by the Greek philosopher, Socrates, and that was to "know thy self". The unexamined life is not worth living is a datum to live by that Gleb emphasises more that any of the other principles. It is an important one.

One does not have to read Michael Gleb's first book, "How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vince" in order to fully appreciate this one. He communicates Leonardo's seven principles in clean, easy to understand prose. The book is designed to read through once to then return and practice the exercises at the end of each chapter, which from personal experience, have great practical value.