Walter Isaacson

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon on October 14, more than 1700 people came to see Walter Isaacson speak about Leonardo da Vinci at the Arlington Theatre. As part of TLI, 100 people received a free copy of Isaacson’s most recent book, Leonardo da Vinci: The Secrets of History’s Most Creative Genius. Lines started forming outside the theatre before 12:30! During the illustrated presentation, Isaacson revisited many of da Vinci’s famous paintings and and why his mastery of painting was so notable. Da Vinci loved curls and swirls repeatedly appeared in his drawings, his paintings, and even in the depictions of his young lover’s hair. Da Vinci, a master of blending art and science, shows his in-depth knowledge of anatomy and optics in many of his paintings. Isaacson described some of da Vinci’s famous drawings of himself being a public statement of his life being meaningful. In terms of creating a meaningful life, Isaacson mentions the key component of not only being smart, but also being creative and in touch with nature.

• Da Vinci made public statements of his meaningful life through drawings of himself. How do you show others that your life is meaningful?
  
• What components of yourself and your personality do you try to cultivate to create meaning in your life?
  
• Do you have a creative outlet that cultivates meaning in your life?
  

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