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Leonardo da Vinci’s Mental Models:

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Secrets of the World’s Most Famous Polymath (Learning how to Learn Book 26)

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By Peter Hollins,  narrated by russell newton."The painter has the universe in his mind and hands."

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Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci is universally recognized as a genius

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painter,

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polymath,

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and the world’s first and truest Renaissance man.

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But who was he really?

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Beyond the abundant myths and conjecture about his life,

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da Vinci was a man who was defined by nothing if not his insatiable curiosity.

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He was not just a painter but an inventor,

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scientist,

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artisan,

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draughtsman,

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philosopher,

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botanist,

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sculptor,

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musician,

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and nature-lover.

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In fact,

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so diverse were his talents and interests that part of his appeal must lie in

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the fact that we sense in da Vinci something that transcends superficial

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categories and speaks to something more subtle and profound.

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In this book,

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we’ll be exploring the mind of arguably one of the greatest thinkers and

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creators of all time.

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His works are well known,

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and his biography has been told and retold countless times.

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Here,

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however,

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we will look not at what he thought,

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but how he thought ...and perhaps glean some small insight to why.

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Da Vinci’s life course has proved so fascinating that it’s held our

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continued interest for more than five hundred years,

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with modern scholars returning to his work again and again to find fresh

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insight into our modern-day problems.

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Whether you are a scientist,

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an artist,

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a little of both,

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or neither,

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you will hopefully find something in these pages to inspire you.

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By carefully studying the attitude and life philosophy of a man who was

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obsessed with learning,

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we can imbue our own lives with a little of that same passion and fire.

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Da Vinci demonstrated thinking that was broad as well as deep,

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flexible,

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and inquisitive,

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three dimensional and multisensory.

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He was self-directed and prolific,

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but also extremely meticulous in his organization.

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But the man was also an enigma,

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and historians continue to puzzle over some of his less well-understood

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tendencies and methods.

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In the chapters that follow,

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we’ll take da Vinci for our model and try to recreate some of his

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characteristics in our own lives,

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whether that’s the ability to think holistically,

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to blur boundaries,

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or to cultivate the humility to continually subject yourself to a higher

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authority - not wealth or fame,

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but the deeper mysteries of the universe itself.

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First of all,

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a little more about the man who inspired this book.

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Born the twenty-fourth of April in 1452,

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in the small Tuscan town of Vinci,

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Florence,

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the young genius had fairly humble beginnings.

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He was the son of rich legal notary Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci

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and a poor orphaned servant girl,

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Caterina di Meo Lippi.

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He was christened "Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci," and his full name meant

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"Leonardo,

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son of Messer Piero from Vinci."

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The title "ser" showed that his father was considered a gentleman.

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His parents were unmarried,

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and his conception possibly occurred while his father was engaged to someone

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else,

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so Leonardo’s position in the family was somewhat contentious.

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He lived with his mother till he was five,

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and then with his father,

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who had by then married a sixteen-year-old girl named Albiera.

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Altogether his father produced twelve more children and married four times,

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leaving Leonardo and his seven brothers to fight over his father’s estate

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after his death.

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The illegitimacy of his birth meant that Leonardo was officially recognized as

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da Vinci’s son but received little attention,

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which resulted in a very informal education.

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He learned the rudiments of reading,

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writing,

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and arithmetic,

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but much of his learning occurred through his own efforts of observation and

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exploring the new ideas emerging in the Florentine milieu.

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At the age of fourteen,

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his father’s connections allowed Leonardo to secure an apprenticeship under

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master painter Andrea del Verrocchio,

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who himself had studied under the sculptor Donatello.

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Leonardo worked hard and eventually became a paid employee,

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gradually embedding himself in the emerging Renaissance art scene that included

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Botticelli,

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Ghirlandaio,

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Michaelangelo (a later rival),

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Masaccio,

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and Perugino.

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Da Vinci helped his master paint The Baptism of Christ,

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and legend has it that when Verrocchio saw the beauty of the angel Leonardo had

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created,

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he never painted again.

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At the time,

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the ultra-powerful and influential Medici family controlled much of the city,

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and in 1481,

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da Vinci was commissioned by Lorenzo de' Medici (known as "Lorenzo the

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Magnificent")

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to paint an altarpiece for the church of San Donato.

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This work was never actually completed,

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however—a theme we will explore in a later chapter!

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From that point on,

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da Vinci was employed by Ludovico Sforza,

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where he produced some of his most famous works,

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including the Virgin of the Rocks and The Last Supper.

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He also painted pieces for a wide variety of notable people,

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including King Louis Xii of France.

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Leonardo was just sixty-seven when he died,

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reportedly full of repentance and mourning.

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Astonishingly,

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he is reported to have said,

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“I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it

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should have."

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In his will he requested that sixty beggars bearing candles follow his casket

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during the funeral rites,

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and he was buried at the Chapel of Saint-Hubert in France.

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Da Vinci’s pupil and heir Francesco Melzi inherited everything da Vinci

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owned,

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including his tools,

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artworks,

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money,

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and countless books and notebooks.

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Da Vinci was celebrated during his lifetime and celebrated afterward.

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Georgio Vasari,

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an art historian and author of Lives of the Most Eminent Painters,

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Sculptors,

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and Architects,

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said of da Vinci - "The loss of Leonardo was mourned out of measure by all who

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had known him,

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for there was none who had done such honor to painting.

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The splendor of his great beauty could calm the saddest soul,

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and his words could move the most obdurate mind.

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His great strength could restrain the most violent fury,

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and he could bend an iron knocker or a horseshoe as if it were lead.

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He was liberal to his friends,

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rich and poor,

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if they had talent and worth;

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and indeed as Florence had the greatest of gifts in his birth,

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so she suffered an infinite loss in his death."   How To Use This Book.

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Though it’s obvious the kind and extent of talents the creator bestowed on da

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Vinci,

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what talents have been given to you?

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What burning questions have been placed at the center of your being so that all

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your curiosity points forever toward that true north?

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Whether you believe in God or not,

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what kind of life would you have to have lived in order for you to say on your

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deathbed,

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“I have pleased God and mankind because my work reached the quality it should

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have”?

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Now,

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these may be lofty questions to begin with,

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especially if you’ve only picked up this book in an effort to improve your

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memory or learn a little self-discipline.

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Our patron of learning and Renaissance mentor,

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da Vinci,

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however,

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was a man of excellence.

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His first challenge to us is to become clear on our purpose and our higher

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mission,

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and to strive for a certain transcendence—even if we are only beginning with

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small things.

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Perhaps you are an aspiring painter or an artist yourself,

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or perhaps you’re an entrepreneur who is looking for a jolt of creative

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thinking and some inspiration for looking outside the box.

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Perhaps you are a student following a formal educational path,

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or maybe,

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like da Vinci himself,

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you have graduated from the “school of life” and are now interested in ways

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to become a more refined original thinker.

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Maybe you’re a poet,

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a philosopher,

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a tinkerer,

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a content creator,

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an athlete,

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a business owner,

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a parent,

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or an inventor.

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Maybe you want to learn a new language,

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write a novel,

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or just live a more creative,

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authentic life outside of convention.

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Whoever you are and however you answer the above three questions,

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there is something in these chapters to inspire and encourage you.

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All that’s required (for this book and for life in general)

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is an open mind,

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a willingness to experiment,

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and the courage to challenge yourself to take responsibility for your own

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intellectual development.

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Oh,

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and lots and lots of notebooks!

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Chapter 1 .- From Apprentice To Master.

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Find Your Mentor.

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“We are like dwarves perched on the shoulders of giants,

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and thus we are able to see more and farther than the latter.

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And this is not at all because of the acuteness of our sight or the stature of

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our body,

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but because we are carried aloft and elevated by the magnitude of the

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giants.”   Bernard Of Chartres.

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When you think of  Leonardo da Vinci,

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how do you imagine him?

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Perhaps it’s easy to envision da Vinci as he was at the end of his career,

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once he was already well-known and accomplished.

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Perhaps it’s easy to imagine that the young Leonardo always somehow knew that

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he was destined for greatness,

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and simply advanced to this famed endpoint as though it were a matter of fate.

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In reality,

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he started out pretty much like everyone starts.

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In other words,

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it even took da Vinci himself time to become da Vinci!

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Even though we today know him as a masterful painter and a million other

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things,

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the man himself began as an apprentice to the artists and great thinkers he

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admired and considered his most esteemed teachers.

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That’s why we’ll begin our book at the most appropriate place - the

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beginning,

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when da Vinci was merely an apprentice.

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During the Renaissance period,

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it was customary to apprentice talented young individuals under a master who

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would guide and tutor their learning.

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When he was just fourteen years old,

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da Vinci became an apprentice to Andrea del Verrocchio,

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at the time a respected master artist.

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This was lucky for the boy,

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and securing such a prestigious opportunity was due mostly to his father’s

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standing in the community.

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The artist–apprentice relationship was a serious and highly codified

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contract;

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typically,

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it required extreme diligence and honesty from the apprentice,

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and involved mundane tasks like grinding paint pigments,

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priming paint panels,

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and preparing the studio.

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The master was deferred to in all things and trusted to tailor his teaching to

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his pupil’s aptitude and temperament,

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advancing his study as and when he saw fit.

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As da Vinci honed his skills,

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he would have gradually taken on more complex responsibilities,

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learning at Verrocchio’s feet and potentially assisting him with paintings.

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Over the six years of his apprenticeship,

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da Vinci's skills grew,

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and he evolved into a paid collaborator for Verrocchio.

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During the Renaissance,

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it was common for assistants to help with commissions,

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with specific stipulations in the contract designating the apprentice's and

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master's responsibilities.

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This was artistic and moral training,

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but it also was an inculcation into a highly rarified industry.

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Initially,

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the young apprentice would have received nothing but room and board for his

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tireless work,

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but eventually,

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by around 1473,

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da Vinci was likely paid to help Verrocchio create the background of paintings.

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In 1472,

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da Vinci presented his masterpiece,

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the Annunciation,

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to the Florence painters' guild.

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The term "masterpiece" originated in the Middle Ages when apprentices had to

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submit exemplary work for approval by their guild.

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The concept reflects the early roots of the modern concept of a thesis

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submitted for a master’s degree at a university.

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Successful submission demonstrated adequate mastery,

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leading to the apprentice's promotion to master status and authorization to

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train others.

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Da Vinci joined the guild in 1472,

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marking an official recognition of his mastery.

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While da Vinci continued working with Verrocchio for another four years,

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he eventually embarked on his own artistic journey,

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and the rest,

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as they say,

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is history.

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Da Vinci certainly went on to create his own unique style and become a master

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in his own right.

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But he first began not by exploring his own expression,

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but by imitating the work of his much more accomplished teacher.

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It was very common,

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for example,

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for students and apprentices’ work to be almost indistinguishable from their

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masters.

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While this may seem a little odd for modern sensibilities,

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it was taken as a given in da Vinci’s time that one couldn’t develop

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one’s own unique talents and contribution unless one had first learned how to

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properly reproduce and emulate the works that had come before.

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The first step in our journey to mastery,

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then,

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is not to explore our own goals,

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desires,

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00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:06,560
and perspectives more deeply,

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but to seek out a mentor.

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Willingly submitting to the program set for us by a more accomplished and

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00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:15,960
(hopefully)

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wiser teacher is not just about ensuring we put ourselves through the right

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curriculum.

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It’s also about learning to cultivate the humble,

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curious,

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and diligent mindset required of real mastery—the kind of mastery that was

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prevalent during that period in history that most reliably produced geniuses.

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Of course,

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today the educational landscape is not structured the way it was hundreds of

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years ago,

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and attitudes have changed considerably.

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That said,

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it is always possible to recreate that special master–student relationship

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and find mentoring that will genuinely help you thrive.

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First,

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it’s worth understanding that there are three distinct modes or steps in a

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healthy apprenticeship -   Deep Observation (The Passive Mode).

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In this phase,

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individuals entering a new environment or career are advised to observe and

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00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:21,400
absorb the rules,

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procedures,

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and social dynamics.

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The emphasis is on understanding the explicit and implicit rules governing

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success in the given field.

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Picasso,

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a painter who also received something of a classical training,

331
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is known to have said,

332
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“Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist."

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During this period,

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the apprentice is encouraged to mute their colors,

335
00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:52,920
avoid seeking attention,

336
00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,880
and focus on learning by careful observation.

337
00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:01,160
To the student who only desires quick and easy results,

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00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:02,440
ostentation,

339
00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:03,520
and novelty,

340
00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:07,800
this part of learning may seem boring and unglamorous.

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00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:09,200
You are,

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00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:09,880
however,

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00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:13,160
doing so much more than merely imitating your master.

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You are paying deep attention to the stated rules of your craft,

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00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,280
the underlying work culture,

346
00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:24,680
and the power relationships within the industry you’re working in.

347
00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:29,960
It’s a way to pay respects to the traditions of your chosen field of inquiry,

348
00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:35,000
but also a time of hard work and investment—back then,

349
00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:39,200
breaking the rules was considered a privilege you had to earn!

350
00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:44,040
Skills Acquisition (The Practice Mode).

351
00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:48,800
Once the initial observation phase is completed,

352
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the apprentice moves to the active acquisition of skills.

353
00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:58,520
The apprenticeship system of the Middle Ages involved hands-on learning through

354
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imitation and repetition,

355
00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:05,800
but it also rested heavily on the relationship between the young learner and

356
00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:06,320
the master.

357
00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:10,720
Lessons were not just about the mere mechanics of the craft,

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but about the broader social,

359
00:19:13,360 --> 00:19:14,360
historical,

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00:19:14,360 --> 00:19:15,440
cultural,

361
00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:16,480
religious,

362
00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:18,960
and metaphysical context of that art,

363
00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,320
and the many duties that came with it.

364
00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:22,960
In other words,

365
00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:27,040
one was not merely developing as a superficial artisan,

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00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:32,800
but as a whole person with a comprehensive worldview and set of moral

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00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:34,520
imperatives that accompanied their art.

368
00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:39,720
Unlike many modern and purely academic institutions,

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00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:45,840
apprenticeship was a learning process that heavily emphasized tacit knowledge,

370
00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:46,760
i.e.,

371
00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:52,360
a feeling for the skill that is hard to express in words but only demonstrated

372
00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:52,880
through action.

373
00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:57,680
Experimentation (The Active Mode).

374
00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:03,560
This last phase involves transitioning to an even more active mode of

375
00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:07,160
experimentation and applying acquired skills.

376
00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:12,200
The apprentice is encouraged to take on more responsibility,

377
00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,000
initiate projects,

378
00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,360
and expose themselves to criticisms from peers or the public.

379
00:20:18,360 --> 00:20:21,560
They are beginning to stand on their own two feet,

380
00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:22,840
but gradually.

381
00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,760
The purpose is to gauge progress,

382
00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:27,720
identify knowledge gaps,

383
00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:32,400
and develop the ability to handle criticism constructively.

384
00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:38,200
How long each of the above phases lasts will depend on you,

385
00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:39,800
your current skill level,

386
00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:41,800
the thing you are trying to master,

387
00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:43,480
your chosen mentor,

388
00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:44,200
your goals,

389
00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:45,440
and much more.

390
00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,120
A good mentor,

391
00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:47,680
however,

392
00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:52,000
will be able to pay close attention to your progress and regulate your advance

393
00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,720
so that you are always progressing in a diligent but appropriately challenging

394
00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:57,040
way.

395
00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,280
Questions To Ask.

396
00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:06,600
The right mentor for you may not be a wizened old person with a beard and a

397
00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:07,400
serious hat.

398
00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:08,560
In fact,

399
00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:13,640
the best tutors and mentors may take all sorts of unexpected forms.

400
00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:18,680
Whether they are institutional mentors within academic or professional

401
00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:19,240
settings,

402
00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:24,320
or elective mentors found in all sorts of other interesting places,

403
00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:29,840
these guiding figures can contribute significantly to your personal and

404
00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:33,280
intellectual development—if you choose them wisely,

405
00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:33,760
that is.

406
00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,000
To find mentors,

407
00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,760
explore various avenues that cater to your preferences and interests.

408
00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:47,080
Start by exploring online mentorship networks like "Find a Mentor," which

409
00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:51,040
connects professionals seeking guidance with experienced mentors.

410
00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,200
Attend professional networking events,

411
00:21:54,200 --> 00:22:00,160
where business leaders often seek new contacts and partnerships.  Join fitness

412
00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:04,960
classes or groups or engage in volunteer events through platforms like

413
00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:06,360
Volunteer Match,

414
00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:09,720
which can connect you with like-minded professionals,

415
00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,560
especially those who have retired and are looking to give back.

416
00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,760
Industry-specific meetups,

417
00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:17,920
conferences,

418
00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:22,640
and tradeshows are excellent for finding mentors tailored to your field.

419
00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:27,800
Another alternative is to leverage social media platforms,

420
00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:29,920
such as Twitter and LinkedIn,

421
00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:35,440
to identify potential mentors based on keyword searches and engagement levels.

422
00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:37,040
Lastly,

423
00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:42,880
don't underestimate the possibility of meeting mentors in any public location,

424
00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:46,920
from public transportation to restaurants and bars.

425
00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:53,400
Word of mouth can be almost magical in its ability to connect you to the right

426
00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:53,880
people.

427
00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,440
Put out the word and seek recommendations.

428
00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,640
As the Sufi mystics like to say,

429
00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,840
“When the student is ready,

430
00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:04,520
the teacher appears."

431
00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:08,080
Once you’ve found a potential mentor,

432
00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:14,560
ask yourself the following questions - Do they truly command their own subject?

433
00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:17,360
It goes without saying,

434
00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:21,920
but a mentor should genuinely possess superior knowledge in the subject

435
00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:23,320
compared to the mentee.

436
00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:30,120
Evaluation of the mentor's expertise involves assessing academic or artistic

437
00:23:30,120 --> 00:23:31,000
contributions,

438
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:32,480
publications,

439
00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:33,880
and ongoing work.

440
00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,680
But the mentor's competence,

441
00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:37,920
rather than fame,

442
00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,120
should guide the selection process.

443
00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:42,120
This means that,

444
00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:43,040
depending on the subject,

445
00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:48,920
their credentials and education may not matter as much as their plainly

446
00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:50,040
evidenced skill.

447
00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:53,640
Be clear on your own goals and priorities,

448
00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:58,880
and identify a person who has demonstrated the competence you wish to develop

449
00:23:58,880 --> 00:23:59,560
in yourself.

450
00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:08,240
Too many people get drawn into coaches and gurus whose only skill is arguably

451
00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:09,240
self-marketing.

452
00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:11,960
When the noise and bluster is removed,

453
00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:16,840
there may be very little in the way of genuine skill to recommend such a person.

454
00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:19,880
If you are an absolute beginner,

455
00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:25,000
it may be okay to select someone who is merely more skilled than yourself,

456
00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:26,640
but if possible,

457
00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,240
look for someone who truly excels in the area,

458
00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:33,240
rather than someone who is merely adequate.

459
00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:37,160
Can they get the most out of their students?

460
00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:43,640
A good mentor maximizes the potential of students and collaborators by

461
00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:47,200
understanding their intellectual and character traits.

462
00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:53,280
Remember that possessing a skill and knowing how to teach are two different

463
00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:53,760
things!

464
00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:59,520
Genuine mentoring involves pushing individuals to set and achieve ambitious

465
00:24:59,520 --> 00:24:59,920
goals,

466
00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:03,320
rather than just providing comfort and validation.

467
00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:09,480
The mentor–student relationship should focus on leaving the mentee with new

468
00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,080
insights after each interaction.

469
00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:17,880
You may be tempted to go with someone “nice” or who you get on well with,

470
00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:23,080
but focus instead on that person who will push you when you need to be pushed.

471
00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:29,400
Are they able to respond well to competition from their students?

472
00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:33,240
This is something few of us consider.

473
00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,760
While collaboration is essential,

474
00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:40,200
competition exists in mentor–mentee relationships.

475
00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:44,200
Healthy competition between generations is beneficial,

476
00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,800
but destructive competition,

477
00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,120
especially using social power,

478
00:25:49,120 --> 00:25:50,880
is cautioned against.

479
00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:56,200
External recognition can establish the mentee as an equal,

480
00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:57,760
not just a subordinate.

481
00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,040
How might your chosen mentor react to that?

482
00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,800
Do they have the maturity,

483
00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:04,440
wisdom,

484
00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,760
and grace to fully encourage your learning,

485
00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:08,120
wherever it may go?

486
00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:11,000
Unfortunately,

487
00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:16,200
some teachers are a little too fond of the elevated position they have above

488
00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,680
their pupils and wish to maintain it forever;

489
00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:23,600
a teacher who genuinely wants their student to reach their full potential,

490
00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:25,040
without feeling threatened,

491
00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,800
is worth their weight in gold.

492
00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:33,000
Are they open to approaches and attitudes other than their own?

493
00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:40,800
Mentors should pass on accumulated knowledge but encourage diverse approaches,

494
00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:41,600
styles,

495
00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:42,560
and methodologies.

496
00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:48,200
Even a highly respected and esteemed teacher only possesses their single

497
00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:52,920
perspective and should actively encourage their student to learn widely,

498
00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:56,960
rather than subscribing to their own methods exclusively.

499
00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,280
The mentor's cultural background should be embraced,

500
00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:06,880
but mentees should also explore new frontiers of knowledge and avoid hindering

501
00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:07,480
progress.

502
00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,720
As you can see,

503
00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:15,240
a good mentor should possess both technical and relational abilities—they

504
00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:19,720
need to be able to manage and contain your learning in a way that prioritizes

505
00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:20,840
your unique growth,

506
00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:25,800
without their own limitations and blind spots jeopardizing the process.

507
00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:32,080
Have any of their students become more accomplished professionals than them?

508
00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:37,320
This last question sets up quite a high bar,

509
00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,920
but it’s possibly the most important on this list.

510
00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:46,240
Be curious about where ex-students of your master have ended up.

511
00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:51,680
A successful mentor should produce alumni who surpass them (at least some of

512
00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:52,120
the time),

513
00:27:52,120 --> 00:27:56,640
indicating the effectiveness of the mentor–student relationship.

514
00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:03,160
“Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master,” said da Vinci,

515
00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,960
and indeed he did surpass his first master,

516
00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:08,760
Andrea del Verrocchio.

517
00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:15,160
Entering the great artist’s studio as a mere errand boy in 1466,

518
00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:19,440
he exceeded him less than ten years later.

519
00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:25,640
Says biographer Vasari in his book Lives of the Most Eminent Painters,

520
00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:26,480
Sculptors,

521
00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:29,600
and Architects - “He was placed,

522
00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:29,960
then,

523
00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:31,080
as has been said,

524
00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:32,400
in his boyhood,

525
00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,960
at the instance of Ser Piero,

526
00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,960
to learn art with Andrea del Verrocchio,

527
00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:42,640
who was making a panel-picture of S. John baptizing Christ,

528
00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:46,680
when Leonardo painted an angel who was holding some garments;

529
00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:48,800
and although he was but a lad,

530
00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:54,560
Leonardo executed it in such a manner that his angel was much better than the

531
00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:55,680
figures of Andrea;

532
00:28:55,680 --> 00:29:00,560
which was the reason that Andrea would never again touch color,

533
00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:04,800
in disdain that a child should know more than he."

534
00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:08,560
Even to the untrained eye,

535
00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:13,440
the differences in the figure of Christ and the angel are apparent .-

536
00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:19,320
Verrocchio’s rendering of the hair is flat and lifeless compared to the

537
00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:24,920
almost supernatural way that the young da Vinci infused the angel’s hair with

538
00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:26,120
glowing light.

539
00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:30,320
Biographer Walter Isaacson later added,

540
00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:35,120
“Afterward Verrocchio never completed any new painting on his own.

541
00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:36,560
More to the point,

542
00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:41,840
a comparison between the parts of The Baptism of Christ that Leonardo painted

543
00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:47,080
with those done by Verrocchio shows why the older artist would have been ready

544
00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:47,760
to defer."

545
00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:53,960
Watch out for teachers who can only produce students who are copies of

546
00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:58,240
themselves and who never quite advance beyond their own level.

547
00:29:58,240 --> 00:29:59,640
Beware,

548
00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:00,120
also,

549
00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,920
of mentors who break ties with students the moment they surpass them.

550
00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:05,240
Ideally,

551
00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:10,720
a mentor’s previous students should all become part of their extended network

552
00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:17,000
and continue to maintain a collaborative spirit long after training is over.

553
00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:23,760
It’s a red flag if a tutor only trains those capable of becoming tutors

554
00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:27,680
themselves—an accomplished student should be able to achieve more than

555
00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:31,800
nominal success in the very same arena as his teacher!

556
00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,560
The World Is Your Classroom.

557
00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:39,040
“Genius is not only a what or a who,

558
00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:40,440
it is a where.

559
00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,240
It is grounded in a place every single time."

560
00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,000
Eric Weiner.

561
00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:51,680
A mentor is someone who can guide and shape your learning;

562
00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:53,680
by that definition,

563
00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:54,040
however,

564
00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:58,000
our environment itself can be considered a kind of mentor,

565
00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:03,760
in that it also influences the kind of people we can become and the sorts of

566
00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:04,960
things we can know.

567
00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:06,120
Here,

568
00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:11,360
“the environment” refers not just to the room you practice your craft in or

569
00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,120
the café you sometimes take a book to.

570
00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:18,760
It includes your entire socio-cultural milieu,

571
00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:20,720
your historical period,

572
00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:22,200
your social network,

573
00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:23,480
and your family.

574
00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:29,600
Rather than imagining that a genius is a rare and perfectly individual

575
00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,320
phenomenon springing up from nowhere,

576
00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:37,320
we can see it instead as a kind of flower that blooms on a much larger tree.

577
00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:44,440
Leonardo da Vinci was similarly a kind of flower that grew on a very specific

578
00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:48,200
tree that was rooted in a specific time and place.

579
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,120
During his initial years in Florence,

580
00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:54,960
Leonardo assisted Verrocchio on various projects,

581
00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:55,880
but as he matured,

582
00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,280
he eventually established his own studio in the city.

583
00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:05,600
His active involvement in the artistic community led to his membership in the

584
00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:07,000
garden of San Marcos,

585
00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:12,680
where he enjoyed the patronage of Lorenzo de Medici and completed a commission

586
00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,400
for the San Donato Scopeto church.

587
00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,560
Despite his successes in Florence,

588
00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:24,520
Leonardo’s life took a significant turn when he decided to leave for Milan.

589
00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:31,080
The move was prompted by two key factors - the opportunity to work under the

590
00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:33,200
patronage of Ludovico Sforza,

591
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:34,840
the new Duke of Milan,

592
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,640
and allegations of sodomy,

593
00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,040
which forced him to depart Florence.

594
00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:44,440
This transition marked a turning point in Leonardo’s career,

595
00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:48,320
as he blossomed into a legendary figure in Milan,

596
00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:52,880
producing masterpieces that would define the Renaissance era.

597
00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:54,560
Moreover,

598
00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:59,080
in the competitive environment of Renaissance Florence,

599
00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:03,920
Leonardo found himself in a notable rivalry with Michelangelo.

600
00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:09,200
The intense competition between these two iconic artists,

601
00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:11,360
marked by mutual disdain,

602
00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:15,520
played a crucial role in pushing them to achieve artistic excellence.

603
00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:17,240
This rivalry,

604
00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:20,960
while characterized by personal animosity,

605
00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:26,640
reflected a broader historical pattern where competitors often turned into

606
00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:27,320
collaborators,

607
00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:31,240
contributing to the rich artistic tapestry of the time.

608
00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:37,200
Eric Weiner. discusses the central question he faced when writing his book The

609
00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:41,880
Geography of Genius .- How to Define Genius.

610
00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:45,400
He presents his unconventional definition,

611
00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:51,720
asserting that genius is essentially a social consensus—it is someone who

612
00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,520
society collectively agrees is a genius.

613
00:33:54,520 --> 00:34:01,520
Weiner emphasizes that the common debate about whether genius is innate (born)

614
00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:03,880
or developed (made)

615
00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:05,920
oversimplifies the concept.

616
00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:09,800
He leans toward the idea that genius is grown,

617
00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:14,160
rejecting the notion that it’s solely a result of genetics.

618
00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:19,280
While he acknowledges the importance of hard work in developing geniuses,

619
00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:24,240
he argues that it doesn’t fully explain the phenomenon of “genius

620
00:34:24,240 --> 00:34:26,920
clusters” in certain places and times.

621
00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:29,360
To support his argument,

622
00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:32,240
Weiner cites examples such as Mozart,

623
00:34:32,240 --> 00:34:35,680
who exhibited prodigious talent at a young age.

624
00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:38,800
Despite this early display of brilliance,

625
00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:44,200
Weiner suggests that genetics plays only a small role in the overall genius

626
00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:44,600
puzzle.

627
00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:45,920
Instead,

628
00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:52,360
he posits that specifically the environment and cultural context of certain

629
00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:54,920
locations like Renaissance Florence,

630
00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:56,640
classical Athens,

631
00:34:56,640 --> 00:35:02,480
or contemporary Silicon Valley (where fifty percent of startups are created by

632
00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:04,000
people who are foreign born)

633
00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:09,440
contribute significantly to the concentration of geniuses in those areas.

634
00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:11,040
Crucially,

635
00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:15,120
the ideal environment is not necessarily one of ease,

636
00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:15,920
wealth,

637
00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:16,920
or abundance.

638
00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:18,320
To the contrary,

639
00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:19,760
Weiner claims that,

640
00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:23,760
“One of the biggest misperceptions about places of genius,

641
00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:24,760
I’m discovering,

642
00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,280
is that they are akin to paradise.

643
00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:28,360
They are not.

644
00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,920
Paradise is antithetical to genius.

645
00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:33,920
Paradise makes no demands,

646
00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:40,160
and creative genius takes root through meeting demands in new and imaginative

647
00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:40,760
ways.

648
00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:47,200
‘The Athenians matured because they were challenged on all fronts,’ said

649
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:47,440
Nietzsche,

650
00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:52,200
in a variation of his famous ‘what doesn’t kill you will make you

651
00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:53,480
stronger’ line."

652
00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:55,040
In other words,

653
00:35:55,040 --> 00:35:56,840
it was productive rivalry,

654
00:35:56,840 --> 00:36:00,480
and not easy fame and unquestioning support,

655
00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:03,000
that spurred da Vinci on to greatness.

656
00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:08,840
In an interview Paul Solman concluded that for  Eric Weiner.,

657
00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:15,000
the final ingredients of genius seem pretty clear - a rich city with bustle,

658
00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:16,400
competition,

659
00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:17,680
cooperation,

660
00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:18,280
and,

661
00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:18,840
above all,

662
00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:21,320
openness to the new,

663
00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:22,720
the foreign.

664
00:36:22,720 --> 00:36:28,600
This may pose something of a mindset shift for those looking to develop their

665
00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:36,080
potential .- The project of genius is not a purely individualistic and private

666
00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:37,000
one,

667
00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:41,520
but rather something like a co-creation that emerges from something bigger.

668
00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:43,200
Now,

669
00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:48,160
the Renaissance is over (and not everyone agrees that it was a golden age!),

670
00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:53,040
but there is a lot we can take from our understanding of the period when it

671
00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:56,400
comes to creating our own optimal learning environments.

672
00:36:56,400 --> 00:37:01,320
Cultivate A Diverse And Open Environment.

673
00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:07,320
Look for places that embrace diversity and openness to new ideas.

674
00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:13,400
Genius often thrives in cosmopolitan and culturally rich environments.

675
00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:16,880
Cities like ancient Athens and Vienna,

676
00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,440
which welcomed foreigners and immigrants,

677
00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:23,320
provided a melting pot of ideas and perspectives.

678
00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:28,680
Seek communities where people from different backgrounds and disciplines can

679
00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:29,200
interact,

680
00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:31,920
fostering a culture of collaboration,

681
00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:33,360
competition,

682
00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:35,320
and exchanging ideas.

683
00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:38,920
This can be rather difficult in the modern world,

684
00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:40,440
where polarization,

685
00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:41,840
extremism,

686
00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:47,120
and intolerance of anything outside the dominant ideology abounds.

687
00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:49,560
As you look for this kind of environment,

688
00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:54,400
realize that you are also able to actively cultivate it yourself.

689
00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:59,640
Try to buck the trend of seeking only those who are already like yourself,

690
00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:05,720
and instead prioritize fruitful communication and interaction over agreement.

691
00:38:05,720 --> 00:38:10,760
Prioritize Competition And Cooperation.

692
00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:17,000
Consider environments that strike a balance between healthy competition and

693
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:17,840
cooperation.

694
00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:20,200
Genius clusters,

695
00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:22,240
such as Renaissance Florence,

696
00:38:22,240 --> 00:38:27,800
were competitive spaces where individuals like  Leonardo da Vinci and

697
00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,200
Michelangelo pushed each other to excel.

698
00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:34,360
There was also cooperation and the sharing of ideas,

699
00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:34,880
however.

700
00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:40,720
Look for places that encourage both friendly competition and a collaborative

701
00:38:40,720 --> 00:38:40,920
spirit,

702
00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:45,400
creating an atmosphere that challenges individuals to reach their full

703
00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:45,960
potential.

704
00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:49,760
There is much to say on this point,

705
00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:55,280
but it comes down to a wholesome spirit of collaboration that emerges out of

706
00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:56,560
struggle and opposition.

707
00:38:56,560 --> 00:39:01,120
The attitude will be your own as much as it is others’.

708
00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:07,280
The masters of old envisioned their work as their ultimate source and goal.

709
00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:10,880
A fellow artist may be your competition,

710
00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:16,520
but they were ultimately laboring under the same universal masters of truth and

711
00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:21,400
beauty and were therefore always due a certain degree of respect and fellowship.

712
00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:26,760
Try to seek out and genuinely consider critique and feedback.

713
00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:30,000
Realize that even your enemies are your teachers,

714
00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:34,440
since they can help you evolve to standards of excellence far higher than a

715
00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,800
well-meaning friend might.

716
00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:42,560
Embrace Interdisciplinarity And Innovation.

717
00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:49,680
Choose settings that encourage interdisciplinary thinking and innovation.

718
00:39:49,680 --> 00:39:53,040
The “Renaissance man” was not a specialist,

719
00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:56,880
but a fully developed and rounded human being.

720
00:39:56,880 --> 00:39:57,720
Even today,

721
00:39:57,720 --> 00:40:03,080
a “classical” education has hints of the earlier model that considered a

722
00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:06,400
compete education to be one that included languages,

723
00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:07,480
civics,

724
00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:08,880
physical training,

725
00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:09,600
music,

726
00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:10,320
philosophy,

727
00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:11,400
mathematics,

728
00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:12,960
natural sciences,

729
00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:13,920
oration,

730
00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:14,440
and more.

731
00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:20,080
Weiner believes that “today we have pigeonholed ourselves so much,

732
00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:21,600
that it's hard to break out.

733
00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:24,560
It's hard for a biologist to write about physics.

734
00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:29,120
It's hard for an art historian to talk about aeronautical engineering."

735
00:40:29,120 --> 00:40:33,400
This definitely wasn’t the case in da Vinci’s era.

736
00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:36,440
On an individual level,

737
00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:42,920
what we call genius often emerges when individuals cross boundaries and

738
00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:45,880
investigate ideas that span a variety of fields.

739
00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:52,000
It is a relatively modern tendency to break down knowledge into subjects whose

740
00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,120
experts are unintelligible to one another;

741
00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:59,760
the Renaissance thinkers excelled because they did not see the world divided up

742
00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:00,240
in this way,

743
00:41:00,240 --> 00:41:05,160
and sought theories and innovations that were more holistic and total.

744
00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:09,280
Seek places that break down silos,

745
00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:13,760
allowing for the exchange of ideas between different disciplines.

746
00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:16,440
The Viennese coffee houses,

747
00:41:16,440 --> 00:41:17,040
for example,

748
00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:23,280
were so-called “third places” that facilitated conversations between people

749
00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:25,800
with diverse viewpoints (fueled,

750
00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:26,240
no doubt,

751
00:41:26,240 --> 00:41:28,840
by rather a lot of caffeine!).

752
00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:34,120
Find environments that promote the mixing of ideas and perspectives,

753
00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:38,120
fostering a dynamic and innovative atmosphere.

754
00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:47,640
Be Curious about Outsiders ...Or Be One Yourself  Weiner says,

755
00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:53,280
“Someone who is fully invested in the status quo is not going to be a genius.

756
00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:55,040
They're not going to rock the boat.

757
00:41:55,040 --> 00:41:57,000
They're almost always outsiders.

758
00:41:57,000 --> 00:42:00,560
But I want to say they're not fully outsiders.

759
00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:04,400
They're what I call insider-outsiders."

760
00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:10,080
It makes sense that if you are curious in the new,

761
00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:11,280
the different,

762
00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:12,080
and the progressive,

763
00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:17,800
the best people to consult are those who are able to view the dominant culture

764
00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:18,680
from the outside,

765
00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:19,640
i.e.,

766
00:42:19,640 --> 00:42:25,280
with enough distance to gain a different insight on what is taken for granted.

767
00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:31,840
Try to meet with people who are “originals” and genuinely countercultural,

768
00:42:31,840 --> 00:42:36,720
or else find ways to explore that otherness in yourself.

769
00:42:36,720 --> 00:42:39,520
The people we encounter,

770
00:42:39,520 --> 00:42:41,560
the conversations we have,

771
00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:48,480
and the narratives we immerse ourselves in have immense power to either limit

772
00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:50,760
or expand our own perception.

773
00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:54,640
Be mindful of the people you interact with,

774
00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:56,560
the media you consume,

775
00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:59,680
the build environment you engage with,

776
00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:02,680
and the social narratives you’re enmeshed with.

777
00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:06,600
The name of the game is not diversity for its own sake,

778
00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:11,720
but fruitful conversation—even if that means sparks fly!

779
00:43:11,720 --> 00:43:14,200
Weiner explains,

780
00:43:14,200 --> 00:43:19,240
“Almost all of these genius clusters throughout history have been cities.

781
00:43:19,240 --> 00:43:21,640
And Athens wasn't a huge city,

782
00:43:21,640 --> 00:43:23,000
but it was very dense,

783
00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,000
there were lots of interactions,

784
00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:28,520
and it was an urban life that we might recognize today,

785
00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:34,000
people trading and gossiping and getting together for these drunken symposia

786
00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:36,960
where they would recite poetry and drink wine."

787
00:43:36,960 --> 00:43:43,720
But you don’t have to literally move to a big city (or get drunk on wine)

788
00:43:43,720 --> 00:43:45,600
to achieve similar results.

789
00:43:45,600 --> 00:43:50,280
Today the internet allows us access to people from all over the world.

790
00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:56,960
This requires extra discernment but can be an effective way to build networks

791
00:43:56,960 --> 00:44:00,120
that exceed those that were ever possible in the past.

792
00:44:00,120 --> 00:44:04,280
Depending on your goals and what you’re trying to learn,

793
00:44:04,280 --> 00:44:12,080
ask yourself where the physical epicenter of your craft/industry/field is.

794
00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:14,320
Who are the key players,

795
00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:15,840
and where are they?

796
00:44:15,840 --> 00:44:19,520
If genius is a collaborative effort,

797
00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:24,600
then it makes sense to think about not just your literal environment but your

798
00:44:24,600 --> 00:44:25,960
social environment too.

799
00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:29,480
Your mentor or teacher,

800
00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:30,240
for example,

801
00:44:30,240 --> 00:44:33,080
may help you make those important connections,

802
00:44:33,080 --> 00:44:36,160
but perhaps even more importantly,

803
00:44:36,160 --> 00:44:42,480
knowing the right people can allow you to start taking in some of the zeitgeist

804
00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:43,840
of your chosen field.

805
00:44:43,840 --> 00:44:47,120
Connect with other students,

806
00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:49,160
teachers who aren’t your own,

807
00:44:49,160 --> 00:44:53,160
and also any important “nodes” in the social network.

808
00:44:53,160 --> 00:44:57,320
Weiner makes a direct comparison with fashion;

809
00:44:57,320 --> 00:45:00,680
there are fashions in intellectual circles,

810
00:45:00,680 --> 00:45:01,840
in industry,

811
00:45:01,840 --> 00:45:02,560
in tech,

812
00:45:02,560 --> 00:45:03,240
in art,

813
00:45:03,240 --> 00:45:04,960
in the hard sciences,

814
00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:06,280
in journalism,

815
00:45:06,280 --> 00:45:07,400
everywhere.

816
00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:08,840
Likewise,

817
00:45:08,840 --> 00:45:13,280
there are people who are trendsetters and key players;

818
00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:15,200
in your field,

819
00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:16,800
who are they?

820
00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:19,000
Now,

821
00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:22,240
this vision of genius may seem a little discouraging.

822
00:45:22,240 --> 00:45:28,560
In many ways it directly contradicts the “lone genius” archetype so

823
00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:31,080
prevalent in modern mythology in the West.

824
00:45:31,080 --> 00:45:34,880
You’re probably well acquainted with this story by now,

825
00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:40,080
as it’s been played out so heavily in popular media - the genius,

826
00:45:40,080 --> 00:45:41,120
we are told,

827
00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:46,120
is someone who comes into the world with his intelligence and talent already

828
00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:47,080
fully installed.

829
00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:51,360
They achieve with ease and in complete isolation,

830
00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:54,800
mostly to impress and intimidate others.

831
00:45:54,800 --> 00:46:00,320
Their success is merely a question of them being recognized and rewarded,

832
00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:05,240
a process that is inevitable and requires little effort on the part of the

833
00:46:05,240 --> 00:46:05,760
genius.

834
00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:08,360
The modern-day genius,

835
00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:09,040
in other words,

836
00:46:09,040 --> 00:46:10,520
is a solitary superstar,

837
00:46:10,520 --> 00:46:12,560
a kind of celebrity.

838
00:46:12,560 --> 00:46:17,720
The story may in fact be the complete opposite of this.

839
00:46:17,720 --> 00:46:21,480
If we take the Renaissance era as our model,

840
00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:28,000
the many geniuses produced during this era were part of clusters and groups and

841
00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:28,400
networks,

842
00:46:28,400 --> 00:46:32,640
all mutually sharing and cross-pollinating ideas,

843
00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:33,760
competing,

844
00:46:33,760 --> 00:46:35,200
collaborating,

845
00:46:35,200 --> 00:46:37,360
and sometimes outright battling one another.

846
00:46:37,360 --> 00:46:41,640
Their genius is one they cultivated slowly,

847
00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:42,680
bit by bit,

848
00:46:42,680 --> 00:46:46,840
as a product of social engagement and fruitful dialogue.

849
00:46:46,840 --> 00:46:50,800
Their path was complicated but virtuous.

850
00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:53,000
The classical genius,

851
00:46:53,000 --> 00:46:53,280
then,

852
00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:57,840
is a hero in the more traditional sense—a flower blooming on the tree,

853
00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:02,800
but one that would nevertheless not have existed without the tree.

854
00:47:02,800 --> 00:47:07,680
Once you have found a suitable mentor (or mentors)

855
00:47:07,680 --> 00:47:09,120
to guide you on your path,

856
00:47:09,120 --> 00:47:14,240
pay some attention to your overall social and cultural environment.

857
00:47:14,240 --> 00:47:19,160
Think about your goals when it comes to the skill you’re trying to develop,

858
00:47:19,160 --> 00:47:23,560
and ask about the kind of context that will be most supportive.

859
00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:27,800
If you cannot physically be in the ideal location,

860
00:47:27,800 --> 00:47:30,720
how can you access certain networks,

861
00:47:30,720 --> 00:47:31,560
information,

862
00:47:31,560 --> 00:47:33,360
or groups in other ways?

863
00:47:33,360 --> 00:47:36,040
If you’ve found the right mentor,

864
00:47:36,040 --> 00:47:39,640
this is precisely the kind of thing they can help you with.

865
00:47:39,640 --> 00:47:45,240
Another thing to try is to identify both your rivals and your

866
00:47:45,240 --> 00:47:48,160
collaborators—they may be the same people!

867
00:47:48,160 --> 00:47:51,920
Are there other “apprentices” who are on the same path as you?

868
00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:53,800
Further along,

869
00:47:53,800 --> 00:47:54,440
perhaps?

870
00:47:54,440 --> 00:47:59,120
Identify them and figure out how you might start to engage them.

871
00:47:59,120 --> 00:48:04,920
You might find yourself spurred on by entering competitions appropriate to your

872
00:48:04,920 --> 00:48:05,120
level,

873
00:48:05,120 --> 00:48:12,000
or joining groups where you can be assured of lively back-and-forth and plenty

874
00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:13,320
of encouragement to do better!

875
00:48:13,320 --> 00:48:18,280
Become A Renaissance Reader.

876
00:48:18,280 --> 00:48:22,040
“Reading maketh a full man;

877
00:48:22,040 --> 00:48:24,480
conference a ready man;

878
00:48:24,480 --> 00:48:27,080
and writing an exact man."

879
00:48:27,080 --> 00:48:28,520
Francis Bacon.

880
00:48:28,520 --> 00:48:33,880
Your goal may be to become a language virtuoso,

881
00:48:33,880 --> 00:48:35,520
a better musician,

882
00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:37,080
a more adept painter,

883
00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:40,040
a free-thinking author or creative,

884
00:48:40,040 --> 00:48:41,160
a builder,

885
00:48:41,160 --> 00:48:42,240
an artisan,

886
00:48:42,240 --> 00:48:43,520
a crafting genius,

887
00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:44,120
a poet,

888
00:48:44,120 --> 00:48:46,520
or a master of the physical form,

889
00:48:46,520 --> 00:48:48,760
whether that’s expressed in dance,

890
00:48:48,760 --> 00:48:50,160
martial arts,

891
00:48:50,160 --> 00:48:52,480
or feats of physical endurance.

892
00:48:52,480 --> 00:48:55,720
No matter what you’re trying to accomplish,

893
00:48:55,720 --> 00:48:56,040
however,

894
00:48:56,040 --> 00:49:01,040
one thing is clear .- Reading will help you do it better.

895
00:49:01,040 --> 00:49:02,200
Yes,

896
00:49:02,200 --> 00:49:04,000
even the martial arts!

897
00:49:04,000 --> 00:49:08,040
Leonardo da Vinci was famous for his painting,

898
00:49:08,040 --> 00:49:12,480
but he was also extremely accomplished as a scientist,

899
00:49:12,480 --> 00:49:13,560
sculptor,

900
00:49:13,560 --> 00:49:14,560
draughtsman,

901
00:49:14,560 --> 00:49:15,360
inventor,

902
00:49:15,360 --> 00:49:16,400
architect,

903
00:49:16,400 --> 00:49:18,200
and general theorist.

904
00:49:18,200 --> 00:49:23,600
He is widely considered the world’s first true “Renaissance man” and the

905
00:49:23,600 --> 00:49:28,240
standard for what we now consider a polymath—a person considered to have

906
00:49:28,240 --> 00:49:30,920
knowledge that widely spans many different areas.

907
00:49:30,920 --> 00:49:37,120
The word polymath comes to us from the Greek πολυμαθής or polymathēs,

908
00:49:37,120 --> 00:49:41,720
with “poly” meaning much or many and “mathēs” meaning learning.

909
00:49:41,720 --> 00:49:48,280
It's not at all a coincidence that every individual who is considered a

910
00:49:48,280 --> 00:49:54,480
polymath is also a person known to be an avid—even obsessive—reader of the

911
00:49:54,480 --> 00:49:55,640
written word.

912
00:49:55,640 --> 00:49:57,000
In fact,

913
00:49:57,000 --> 00:50:02,560
it’s hard to imagine a person “having learned much” without access to

914
00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:02,920
books.

915
00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:08,800
Da Vinci’s thirst for knowledge led him to build a substantial collection of

916
00:50:08,800 --> 00:50:09,200
books.

917
00:50:09,200 --> 00:50:13,520
He benefited from the very recent invention of printing in Germany,

918
00:50:13,520 --> 00:50:20,120
coincidentally sharing the same age as the printing press—another hint about

919
00:50:20,120 --> 00:50:24,400
the nature of the “genius clusters” that so fascinated Weiner.

920
00:50:24,400 --> 00:50:26,600
In da Vinci’s time,

921
00:50:26,600 --> 00:50:26,960
however,

922
00:50:26,960 --> 00:50:32,200
many books were still hand-copied and astonishingly precious.

923
00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:36,720
But da Vinci didn’t only consume the written word;

924
00:50:36,720 --> 00:50:37,560
he produced it,

925
00:50:37,560 --> 00:50:38,000
too.

926
00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:41,800
When he passed away at the age of sixty-seven,

927
00:50:41,800 --> 00:50:48,280
he left behind an extensive legacy of over six thousand pages of notebooks.

928
00:50:48,280 --> 00:50:51,960
These notebooks contained a wealth of content,

929
00:50:51,960 --> 00:50:54,480
including anatomical studies,

930
00:50:54,480 --> 00:50:55,920
military inventions,

931
00:50:55,920 --> 00:50:57,240
sketches of nature,

932
00:50:57,240 --> 00:51:01,880
and notes derived from the books he’d accessed in various libraries.

933
00:51:01,880 --> 00:51:07,280
This gives us a hint not only of the size of his love for books,

934
00:51:07,280 --> 00:51:09,240
but of his character.

935
00:51:09,240 --> 00:51:13,400
This was not a man who “collected” books for their own sake,

936
00:51:13,400 --> 00:51:18,520
admiring the aesthetics of a well-coordinated bookshelf or reading the

937
00:51:18,520 --> 00:51:21,880
Renaissance version of the bestseller list just because it was popular.

938
00:51:21,880 --> 00:51:23,080
Rather,

939
00:51:23,080 --> 00:51:25,080
books were instrumental.

940
00:51:25,080 --> 00:51:29,760
They served a very specific purpose in the life of the polymath.

941
00:51:29,760 --> 00:51:35,720
Being a Renaissance reader involved a different approach to reading compared to

942
00:51:35,720 --> 00:51:36,640
modern readers.

943
00:51:36,640 --> 00:51:38,440
During the Renaissance,

944
00:51:38,440 --> 00:51:42,000
the printing press revolutionized book production,

945
00:51:42,000 --> 00:51:44,920
making books more affordable and accessible.

946
00:51:44,920 --> 00:51:47,040
This accessibility,

947
00:51:47,040 --> 00:51:47,320
however,

948
00:51:47,320 --> 00:51:49,080
comes with a downside,

949
00:51:49,080 --> 00:51:54,480
as the sheer volume of available books creates a certain "noise" in the

950
00:51:54,480 --> 00:51:55,640
literary world.

951
00:51:55,640 --> 00:51:58,520
In contrast to the modern reader,

952
00:51:58,520 --> 00:52:01,680
who faces an overwhelming abundance of choices,

953
00:52:01,680 --> 00:52:07,680
a Renaissance reader like Leonardo had a more limited selection ...but what he

954
00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:11,760
had access to was almost always of exceptional quality.

955
00:52:11,760 --> 00:52:14,600
Fewer people were literate,

956
00:52:14,600 --> 00:52:18,880
and the barrier to entry for publishing a work was extremely high.

957
00:52:18,880 --> 00:52:24,040
No book was published unless it demonstrably added to what came before.

958
00:52:24,040 --> 00:52:29,320
This meant that although books were costly and relatively scarce,

959
00:52:29,320 --> 00:52:32,600
they were of an entirely different quality.

960
00:52:32,600 --> 00:52:38,600
The world of mass paperback printing and high volume but disposable

961
00:52:38,600 --> 00:52:41,720
entertainment reading was many decades to come.

962
00:52:41,720 --> 00:52:42,480
Instead,

963
00:52:42,480 --> 00:52:46,600
a reader could expect to encounter material that was serious,

964
00:52:46,600 --> 00:52:47,360
rich,

965
00:52:47,360 --> 00:52:48,400
rarified,

966
00:52:48,400 --> 00:52:52,080
and intended for audiences who possessed the patience,

967
00:52:52,080 --> 00:52:53,400
education,

968
00:52:53,400 --> 00:52:58,840
and intellectual sophistication to make real use of what they found in those

969
00:52:58,840 --> 00:52:59,320
pages.

970
00:52:59,320 --> 00:53:02,240
To illustrate this point nicely,

971
00:53:02,240 --> 00:53:07,800
consider that da Vinci considered himself a “man without learning” and

972
00:53:07,800 --> 00:53:10,840
strived continually to learn new languages,

973
00:53:10,840 --> 00:53:16,120
filling his library with dictionaries and grammar books to better access the

974
00:53:16,120 --> 00:53:18,040
knowledge he felt he lacked.

975
00:53:18,040 --> 00:53:19,960
Standards,

976
00:53:19,960 --> 00:53:21,120
in other words,

977
00:53:21,120 --> 00:53:22,520
were sky-high.

978
00:53:22,520 --> 00:53:25,800
Books would have been read slowly,

979
00:53:25,800 --> 00:53:26,720
carefully,

980
00:53:26,720 --> 00:53:27,720
and patiently,

981
00:53:27,720 --> 00:53:30,760
and often re-read again and again.

982
00:53:30,760 --> 00:53:36,640
Diligent students were expected to know Latin and maybe a little Greek,

983
00:53:36,640 --> 00:53:40,720
and learning in a completely different language was par for the course.

984
00:53:40,720 --> 00:53:45,760
Well-formed and elegant handwriting was non-negotiable,

985
00:53:45,760 --> 00:53:51,200
and students of all kinds were expected to have exceptional memories and recite

986
00:53:51,200 --> 00:53:57,160
vast tracts of text by heart—an achievement almost unimaginable to modern man.

987
00:53:57,160 --> 00:54:00,840
Reading was not a passive activity,

988
00:54:00,840 --> 00:54:05,720
but an extension of what was seen as the ultimate learning format -

989
00:54:05,720 --> 00:54:07,160
conversation.

990
00:54:07,160 --> 00:54:12,160
The student was thus always in dialogue with the material that they read and

991
00:54:12,160 --> 00:54:16,080
would actively engage by taking notes,

992
00:54:16,080 --> 00:54:17,360
writing rebuttals,

993
00:54:17,360 --> 00:54:24,400
and composing letters and other responses (the author may indeed be known in

994
00:54:24,400 --> 00:54:25,560
their social circle).

995
00:54:25,560 --> 00:54:32,600
Da Vinci’s biographer Walter Isaacson explained how books and notebooks

996
00:54:32,600 --> 00:54:38,560
became a kind of external brain and a way to process and shape certain paths of

997
00:54:38,560 --> 00:54:38,960
learning.

998
00:54:38,960 --> 00:54:45,120
The young Leonardo would watch wild birds for hours on end,

999
00:54:45,120 --> 00:54:50,040
but then he would sit down and recreate what he had seen and learned on the

1000
00:54:50,040 --> 00:54:50,960
pages of his notebook,

1001
00:54:50,960 --> 00:54:53,920
sketching out the designs of their wings,

1002
00:54:53,920 --> 00:54:59,840
allowing that architecture to settle into his brain and develop into new ideas.

1003
00:54:59,840 --> 00:55:01,400
In fact,

1004
00:55:01,400 --> 00:55:06,800
he sketched his famous Vitruvian Man in this co-creative manner .- He studied

1005
00:55:06,800 --> 00:55:10,480
the works of the famous Vitruvius,

1006
00:55:10,480 --> 00:55:13,800
who was an ancient Roman architect and civil engineer,

1007
00:55:13,800 --> 00:55:17,880
and then designed a kind of pictorial response,

1008
00:55:17,880 --> 00:55:23,880
both expressing his understanding of the work but simultaneously expanding it.

1009
00:55:23,880 --> 00:55:25,800
Books,

1010
00:55:25,800 --> 00:55:26,080
then,

1011
00:55:26,080 --> 00:55:31,200
were a powerful technology that enabled the educated man to converse,

1012
00:55:31,200 --> 00:55:31,960
as it were,

1013
00:55:31,960 --> 00:55:36,760
with people from different times and places so that new ideas and

1014
00:55:36,760 --> 00:55:37,960
understandings could be generated,

1015
00:55:37,960 --> 00:55:39,920
then shared again.

1016
00:55:39,920 --> 00:55:46,760
On da Vinci’s bookshelf you might have found hand-drawn maps from famous

1017
00:55:46,760 --> 00:55:48,200
cartographers and explorers,

1018
00:55:48,200 --> 00:55:50,760
a printing of Aesop’s Fables,

1019
00:55:50,760 --> 00:55:54,200
The Divine Comedy (in Italian,

1020
00:55:54,200 --> 00:55:54,880
of course),

1021
00:55:54,880 --> 00:55:57,560
Ovid’s Metamorphoses,

1022
00:55:57,560 --> 00:56:00,800
richly illustrated anatomy and medical texts,

1023
00:56:00,800 --> 00:56:02,520
a few Latin dictionaries,

1024
00:56:02,520 --> 00:56:05,600
a book by Benedetto de l’Abaco,

1025
00:56:05,600 --> 00:56:08,800
who instituted the use of Arabic numerals,

1026
00:56:08,800 --> 00:56:10,840
many mathematical treatises,

1027
00:56:10,840 --> 00:56:15,600
illuminated religious manuscripts (both original and copied),

1028
00:56:15,600 --> 00:56:19,520
and many major and minor works on botany,

1029
00:56:19,520 --> 00:56:20,400
hydraulics,

1030
00:56:20,400 --> 00:56:21,000
mechanics,

1031
00:56:21,000 --> 00:56:22,120
and cosmology.

1032
00:56:22,120 --> 00:56:26,760
If you wanted to emulate the great polymaths of old,

1033
00:56:26,760 --> 00:56:33,440
there is surely a lesson here .- Strive to have a bookshelf that makes you hard

1034
00:56:33,440 --> 00:56:34,320
to categorize!

1035
00:56:34,320 --> 00:56:37,360
With da Vinci as our model,

1036
00:56:37,360 --> 00:56:43,360
how can we go about planning our own self-education on those well-traveled

1037
00:56:43,360 --> 00:56:44,760
paths of the printed word?

1038
00:56:44,760 --> 00:56:47,400
First and most importantly,

1039
00:56:47,400 --> 00:56:52,840
this style of reading is not so much a what as it is a how.

1040
00:56:52,840 --> 00:56:59,160
The reading is a means to an end—what matters is the active and curious

1041
00:56:59,160 --> 00:57:01,880
engagement of knowledge and its mechanisms;

1042
00:57:01,880 --> 00:57:07,200
it just so happens that reading and writing are one of the most effective tools

1043
00:57:07,200 --> 00:57:09,800
we have for this kind of intellectual activity.

1044
00:57:09,800 --> 00:57:15,280
Let’s take a look at some ways to embody the Renaissance approach to our own

1045
00:57:15,280 --> 00:57:19,560
reading -  Design Your Reading Environment.

1046
00:57:19,560 --> 00:57:23,120
Reading is a lifelong activity.

1047
00:57:23,120 --> 00:57:26,920
It should play a permanent and central role in your life,

1048
00:57:26,920 --> 00:57:29,760
whatever your chosen disciplines and subjects.

1049
00:57:29,760 --> 00:57:33,640
That means that it should be built into your daily routine along with

1050
00:57:33,640 --> 00:57:36,560
everything else you do almost automatically.

1051
00:57:36,560 --> 00:57:39,240
Depending on your resources,

1052
00:57:39,240 --> 00:57:41,920
consider investing in a proper desk,

1053
00:57:41,920 --> 00:57:43,680
a suitable light source,

1054
00:57:43,680 --> 00:57:48,720
and other accessories that enhance your focus and comfort during reading

1055
00:57:48,720 --> 00:57:49,280
sessions.

1056
00:57:49,280 --> 00:57:53,680
The more your reading space inspires and welcomes you,

1057
00:57:53,680 --> 00:57:56,680
the more at home you’ll feel there.

1058
00:57:56,680 --> 00:58:00,880
Can you include easy access to pens,

1059
00:58:00,880 --> 00:58:01,480
paper,

1060
00:58:01,480 --> 00:58:02,720
notebooks,

1061
00:58:02,720 --> 00:58:05,680
and other items to help you engage with your material?

1062
00:58:05,680 --> 00:58:08,440
Depending on your subject,

1063
00:58:08,440 --> 00:58:12,720
you might like to invest in a few pieces of stationery to help you stay

1064
00:58:12,720 --> 00:58:13,160
organized,

1065
00:58:13,160 --> 00:58:14,760
such as shelves,

1066
00:58:14,760 --> 00:58:15,480
files,

1067
00:58:15,480 --> 00:58:16,080
folders,

1068
00:58:16,080 --> 00:58:16,960
highlighters,

1069
00:58:16,960 --> 00:58:17,760
corkboards,

1070
00:58:17,760 --> 00:58:18,880
sticky notes,

1071
00:58:18,880 --> 00:58:19,560
and so on.

1072
00:58:19,560 --> 00:58:27,240
Classical paintings from this era show lush studios and drawing rooms that were

1073
00:58:27,240 --> 00:58:31,120
as much works of art as they were practical learning spaces.

1074
00:58:31,120 --> 00:58:38,080
A common practice was to place a skull on the desk—a memento mori—or other

1075
00:58:38,080 --> 00:58:42,640
religious items or decorative knickknacks from far-off places to denote

1076
00:58:42,640 --> 00:58:44,640
prestige or bring some beauty,

1077
00:58:44,640 --> 00:58:45,560
mysticism,

1078
00:58:45,560 --> 00:58:47,440
or inspiration to the space.

1079
00:58:47,440 --> 00:58:53,520
You can follow suit by decorating your space in a way that reaffirms your own

1080
00:58:53,520 --> 00:58:54,800
goals and intentions,

1081
00:58:54,800 --> 00:58:57,840
as well as motivates you to keep pushing onward.

1082
00:58:57,840 --> 00:59:02,840
Some simple ideas include beautiful pictures and paintings,

1083
00:59:02,840 --> 00:59:05,040
trophies and certificates,

1084
00:59:05,040 --> 00:59:08,680
“vision boards,” photos of loved ones,

1085
00:59:08,680 --> 00:59:11,160
moving quotes and poetry,

1086
00:59:11,160 --> 00:59:15,360
or symbolic ornaments that speak to your purpose.

1087
00:59:15,360 --> 00:59:20,120
Actively Engage With The Text.

1088
00:59:20,120 --> 00:59:23,440
Now on to the actual reading.

1089
00:59:23,440 --> 00:59:30,200
Renaissance readers actively engaged with texts by having a pen in hand.

1090
00:59:30,200 --> 00:59:34,760
Reading was a part of thinking—it was something you absorbed,

1091
00:59:34,760 --> 00:59:35,880
digested,

1092
00:59:35,880 --> 00:59:36,920
processed,

1093
00:59:36,920 --> 00:59:38,360
and responded to.

1094
00:59:38,360 --> 00:59:41,400
Men of learning from this period,

1095
00:59:41,400 --> 00:59:43,080
da Vinci included,

1096
00:59:43,080 --> 00:59:47,480
marked up texts to fully comprehend meanings and implications.

1097
00:59:47,480 --> 00:59:52,080
It was as though the author were right there in the room with them,

1098
00:59:52,080 --> 00:59:57,200
delivering a lecture they fully intended the audience to stop and ask them

1099
00:59:57,200 --> 00:59:57,960
questions about.

1100
00:59:57,960 --> 00:59:59,920
Take notes,

1101
00:59:59,920 --> 01:00:01,920
underline key passages,

1102
01:00:01,920 --> 01:00:04,440
and interact with the text while reading.

1103
01:00:04,440 --> 01:00:10,080
Consider keeping a commonplace book or learning notebook to collect and

1104
01:00:10,080 --> 01:00:12,960
organize important information for future reference.

1105
01:00:12,960 --> 01:00:14,680
For da Vinci,

1106
01:00:14,680 --> 01:00:20,880
this was a multimedia affair and contained snippets of verse,

1107
01:00:20,880 --> 01:00:21,720
drawings,

1108
01:00:21,720 --> 01:00:23,520
designs for inventions,

1109
01:00:23,520 --> 01:00:24,000
and more.

1110
01:00:24,000 --> 01:00:26,200
For the modern reader,

1111
01:00:26,200 --> 01:00:28,240
you can keep your questions,

1112
01:00:28,240 --> 01:00:29,240
objections,

1113
01:00:29,240 --> 01:00:33,640
and responses either in a notebook or typed up on a computer.

1114
01:00:33,640 --> 01:00:38,880
We will be looking more at exactly how to take effective notes in a later

1115
01:00:38,880 --> 01:00:39,320
chapter,

1116
01:00:39,320 --> 01:00:44,880
but the most effective method will always be the one you devise for yourself,

1117
01:00:44,880 --> 01:00:47,200
since it will fit your life,

1118
01:00:47,200 --> 01:00:47,920
your goals,

1119
01:00:47,920 --> 01:00:50,360
and your needs perfectly.

1120
01:00:50,360 --> 01:00:55,800
Have Both A Practical And An Intellectual Goal.

1121
01:00:55,800 --> 01:00:58,800
Much later on,

1122
01:00:58,800 --> 01:01:02,880
as literacy rates climbed and reading became more popular,

1123
01:01:02,880 --> 01:01:08,920
things like novels abounded and more and more ordinary people had access to

1124
01:01:08,920 --> 01:01:10,520
material of all kinds,

1125
01:01:10,520 --> 01:01:13,480
not just heavyweight academic manuscripts.

1126
01:01:13,480 --> 01:01:19,320
It became possible to read simply for entertainment or even distraction.

1127
01:01:19,320 --> 01:01:21,880
During the Renaissance era,

1128
01:01:21,880 --> 01:01:24,040
this attitude would have seemed absurd.

1129
01:01:24,040 --> 01:01:25,320
Instead,

1130
01:01:25,320 --> 01:01:28,040
reading was done with a purpose.

1131
01:01:28,040 --> 01:01:33,680
Every intellectual effort was aimed at some definite practical or intellectual

1132
01:01:33,680 --> 01:01:35,840
goals—usually a mix of both,

1133
01:01:35,840 --> 01:01:42,040
and only the extremely idle elite would attempt an education merely as an

1134
01:01:42,040 --> 01:01:46,560
ornament to courtly life and not truly intended to be put to use.

1135
01:01:46,560 --> 01:01:48,480
Today,

1136
01:01:48,480 --> 01:01:53,960
the sheer volume of information out there means that no human being can process

1137
01:01:53,960 --> 01:01:55,400
it within a single lifetime;

1138
01:01:55,400 --> 01:02:00,560
this means that you are necessarily limited and must choose.

1139
01:02:00,560 --> 01:02:04,200
Goals are a way to focus and prioritize.

1140
01:02:04,200 --> 01:02:07,840
They help you chart a route through the noise and distraction.

1141
01:02:07,840 --> 01:02:11,800
If you understand why you are reading before you even pick up a book,

1142
01:02:11,800 --> 01:02:17,120
your attention will be more alive and targeted than if you had read with no

1143
01:02:17,120 --> 01:02:18,600
special aim in particular.

1144
01:02:18,600 --> 01:02:20,920
Whether it's for academic,

1145
01:02:20,920 --> 01:02:21,800
professional,

1146
01:02:21,800 --> 01:02:23,000
or personal reasons,

1147
01:02:23,000 --> 01:02:27,080
read with the intention of using the knowledge gained.

1148
01:02:27,080 --> 01:02:30,160
Go in with unanswered questions,

1149
01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:34,960
and let your curiosity bring the words to life for you.

1150
01:02:34,960 --> 01:02:38,840
Some Additional Things To Try -

1151
01:02:38,840 --> 01:02:45,320
Actively consider how the material can be applied or incorporated into your own

1152
01:02:45,320 --> 01:02:46,560
work and thinking.

1153
01:02:46,560 --> 01:02:51,560
It may apply to a completely different area than the one you’re investigating.

1154
01:02:51,560 --> 01:02:53,040
Make a note,

1155
01:02:53,040 --> 01:02:54,600
make connections,

1156
01:02:54,600 --> 01:02:56,120
and follow up later.

1157
01:02:56,120 --> 01:03:00,840
Write your questions in the margins as you read.

1158
01:03:00,840 --> 01:03:02,440
Alternatively,

1159
01:03:02,440 --> 01:03:06,840
pause now and then to digest what you’ve read and guess what will be said

1160
01:03:06,840 --> 01:03:07,120
next.

1161
01:03:07,120 --> 01:03:10,640
This way you are teaching yourself to not just read,

1162
01:03:10,640 --> 01:03:13,480
but “think along with” the author.

1163
01:03:13,480 --> 01:03:16,240
You will gain so much more insight this way.

1164
01:03:16,240 --> 01:03:17,640
Similarly,

1165
01:03:17,640 --> 01:03:21,640
express your disagreement or concerns in the margins,

1166
01:03:21,640 --> 01:03:22,000
too.

1167
01:03:22,000 --> 01:03:25,200
Have you read a counterargument to this one?

1168
01:03:25,200 --> 01:03:26,160
Where?

1169
01:03:26,160 --> 01:03:28,040
Weigh it all up.

1170
01:03:28,040 --> 01:03:33,520
Get into the habit of skimming and scanning before you read in depth.

1171
01:03:33,520 --> 01:03:35,680
Look at the titles and subtitles,

1172
01:03:35,680 --> 01:03:37,480
labels or diagrams,

1173
01:03:37,480 --> 01:03:38,400
graphs,

1174
01:03:38,400 --> 01:03:39,320
and so on.

1175
01:03:39,320 --> 01:03:44,320
Try to understand a piece in the broadest terms first,

1176
01:03:44,320 --> 01:03:45,240
then dig in,

1177
01:03:45,240 --> 01:03:50,360
summarizing each section and even paragraph for its main point.

1178
01:03:50,360 --> 01:03:53,120
Read bibliographies.

1179
01:03:53,120 --> 01:03:58,600
Follow references made by authors you like to see who they are reading.

1180
01:03:58,600 --> 01:04:02,240
It’s not going to recreate Renaissance Europe,

1181
01:04:02,240 --> 01:04:07,080
but it’s a surprisingly effective way to enter into certain ideological

1182
01:04:07,080 --> 01:04:11,840
networks where you can really begin to grasp more wide-reaching themes.

1183
01:04:11,840 --> 01:04:14,520
Summary -

1184
01:04:14,520 --> 01:04:19,720
• Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance-era polymath,

1185
01:04:19,720 --> 01:04:20,680
painter,

1186
01:04:20,680 --> 01:04:21,520
inventor,

1187
01:04:21,520 --> 01:04:22,360
scientist,

1188
01:04:22,360 --> 01:04:23,320
artisan,

1189
01:04:23,320 --> 01:04:23,960
draughtsman,

1190
01:04:23,960 --> 01:04:24,480
philosopher,

1191
01:04:24,480 --> 01:04:25,080
botanist,

1192
01:04:25,080 --> 01:04:26,040
sculptor,

1193
01:04:26,040 --> 01:04:26,960
and musician.

1194
01:04:26,960 --> 01:04:29,680
By studying his life and philosophy,

1195
01:04:29,680 --> 01:04:35,080
we can imbue our own lives with a little of his famous curiosity.

1196
01:04:35,080 --> 01:04:39,520
•The first step is to secure an appropriate mentor.

1197
01:04:39,520 --> 01:04:42,240
Born to humble beginnings,

1198
01:04:42,240 --> 01:04:48,560
da Vinci was self-taught and apprenticed himself at the age of fourteen to a

1199
01:04:48,560 --> 01:04:50,520
master painter who tutored him.

1200
01:04:50,520 --> 01:04:54,080
He was diligent and deferred to him in all things,

1201
01:04:54,080 --> 01:04:58,280
understanding the importance of consistent practice and training.

1202
01:04:58,280 --> 01:05:02,280
•Follow the correct mentoring process,

1203
01:05:02,280 --> 01:05:06,080
beginning with deep observation (passive mode),

1204
01:05:06,080 --> 01:05:09,640
then skills acquisition (practice mode),

1205
01:05:09,640 --> 01:05:13,440
and finally experimentation (active mode).

1206
01:05:13,440 --> 01:05:18,680
•A good mentor should be a genuine expert in their field,

1207
01:05:18,680 --> 01:05:21,640
know how to get the most from their students,

1208
01:05:21,640 --> 01:05:24,440
and not be threatened if the student surpasses them.

1209
01:05:24,440 --> 01:05:29,240
They should be able to demonstrate open-mindedness to approaches other than

1210
01:05:29,240 --> 01:05:33,520
their own and be able to point to past students who have excelled.

1211
01:05:33,520 --> 01:05:36,880
•Be mindful of your environment,

1212
01:05:36,880 --> 01:05:38,760
which is also a kind of tutor,

1213
01:05:38,760 --> 01:05:42,240
influencing the character and development of your thought.

1214
01:05:42,240 --> 01:05:46,960
Seek a diverse and open environment where bustle,

1215
01:05:46,960 --> 01:05:48,200
competition,

1216
01:05:48,200 --> 01:05:49,240
cooperation,

1217
01:05:49,240 --> 01:05:49,720
newness,

1218
01:05:49,720 --> 01:05:51,640
and difference are the norm.

1219
01:05:51,640 --> 01:05:55,760
Be welcoming to outsiders and outsider thought,

1220
01:05:55,760 --> 01:06:00,840
embracing interdisciplinarity with others unlike yourself.

1221
01:06:00,840 --> 01:06:03,720
Find ways to collaborate and connect.

1222
01:06:03,720 --> 01:06:06,960
•To be a Renaissance reader,

1223
01:06:06,960 --> 01:06:11,280
develop a consistent habit of both reading and note-taking.

1224
01:06:11,280 --> 01:06:16,480
Build daily routines based in a well-crafted learning environment,

1225
01:06:16,480 --> 01:06:18,880
and actively engage with the text,

1226
01:06:18,880 --> 01:06:22,680
continually comparing it against your goals and intentions.

1227
01:06:22,680 --> 01:06:24,400
Read widely,

1228
01:06:24,400 --> 01:06:25,720
diligently,

1229
01:06:25,720 --> 01:06:30,040
and strategically ...and do it every single day.

1230
01:06:30,040 --> 01:06:34,040
This has been

1231
01:06:34,040 --> 01:06:37,440
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mental Models:

1232
01:06:37,440 --> 01:06:46,240
Secrets of the World’s Most Famous Polymath (Learning how to Learn Book 26)

1233
01:06:46,240 --> 01:06:50,920
By Peter Hollins,  narrated by russell newton.