Best Version of da Vinci's Notebooks in Print

Though there are nice, complete versions of Leonardo da Vinci's Notebooks, this well designed, edited, and packaged book presents the most important and pertinent elements from his Notebooks in a single large format hardcover version that is the perfect presentation for the general audience.

This version of da Vinci's Notebooks presents the contents in sections that group like illustrations and text together: "Beauty, Reason and Art" contains such content as da Vinci on painting, the human figures, and art forms; "Observations and Order" covers anatomy, geography, landscape and the sciences; and "Practical Matters" delves into da Vinci's inventions and experiments, architectural studies and metalwork, as well as sculpture.

The illustrations from the original Notebooks are exceptionally well reproduced in this book and the size and presentation are generous and the main focus throughout the book.

Unless you need access to the entirety of the Notebooks for research purposes, Leonardo's Notebooks as edited by H. Anna Suh, would make the perfect addition to your art or scientific library. It would look darn nice displayed on your coffee table as well. ( )

Go straight to the source. Leonardo's diary in his own handwriting (plus translations) and sketches.

This is a very impressive collection. I only wish it contained his drawings as well (very few sketches are included). Instead we see editorial notes like [Drawing here]. This would of course increase the size of this already large volume perhaps too much for it to be practical.

If this book can be said to have one fair failing, it's that there is no index! For something this diverse and meandering, an index is mandatory. This really detracts from its value is a reference work. ( )