Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Da Vinci Curse summary
Leonardo Lospennato
Life Design for People With Too Many Interests and Talents
12 mins
Brief summary
"In 'The Da Vinci Curse' by Leonardo Lospennato, the author explores the mysteries surrounding the famous artist's life, and sheds light on the lesser known aspects of his works and persona. A captivating read for art enthusiasts and history buffs alike."
Table of Contents
The Da Vinci Curse
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Multi-talented people don’t fit into a world focused on specialization.
Doctors who specialize in spinal surgery, psychologists with expertise in adolescent schizophrenia, physicists who study gravitational waves: The list of specialists in today’s society is long – and for good reason.
In fact, specialists have never been more important than today.
This is because knowledge has been rapidly growing since Da Vinci’s era in the sixteenth century. And as knowledge accumulates, expertise becomes more and more important.
Take the spinal surgeon. The intricacies of the spine demand absolute precision during surgery. That’s why it requires years of specialized training to acquire the expertise necessary to not make a single mistake.
This means that someone who is interested in spinal surgery, but also wants to be a maestro on the violin and become a top chef, will have to make a tough decision: if you want to master a highly complex skill, you can only dedicate yourself to one thing.
Indeed, this is the struggle of all multi-talented people.
Multi-talented people feel a strong drive to realize all their talents, but fear that they don’t have enough time. Furthermore, they are typically highly curious, but struggle to commit to the practice that mastery requires. They get fascinated by a new field and dive into it with a passion. But once they’ve mastered the basics, the initial appeal fades away.
Take the author as an example. He fell in love with classical music when he was 18 and began learning the violin. But only a few months later, his interest vanished, he stopped going to classes, and he moved on to something else.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Da Vinci Curse?
Key ideas in The Da Vinci Curse
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Da Vinci Curse about?
The Da Vinci Curse (2012) plagues people who have too many talents and interests: they are always learning, but never invest enough time and energy into one thing. They are always swapping their job, their hobbies or even home and never become fully engaged in the many domains to which they’re drawn. These blinks describe their particular problems, analyzes the causes and provides a powerful systematic approach to combat the curse.
The Da Vinci Curse Review
The Da Vinci Curse (2021) is a captivating exploration of the mysteries surrounding Leonardo da Vinci and the supposed curse that follows his works. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- This book uncovers fascinating secrets about da Vinci's life and art, shedding light on his enigmatic genius and the hidden messages within his works.
- Through meticulous research and analysis, the author presents compelling evidence that challenges conventional beliefs and provides a fresh perspective on da Vinci's enduring legacy.
- The book's blend of history, art, and mystery keeps readers engaged and intrigued, ensuring it is an enthralling read from start to finish.
Best quote from The Da Vinci Curse
The less specialized you are, the farther you are from the top of a given field or market.
—Leonardo Lospennato
Who should read The Da Vinci Curse?
- Everyone who feels drawn to many fields but can’t choose one
- Those who change their hobbies and jobs constantly and struggle to finish projects
Categories with The Da Vinci Curse
Book summaries like The Da Vinci Curse
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.8 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
35 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Da Vinci Curse FAQs
What is the main message of The Da Vinci Curse?
The main message of The Da Vinci Curse is... (answer goes here)
How long does it take to read The Da Vinci Curse?
The reading time for The Da Vinci Curse varies... (answer goes here). The Blinkist summary can be read in just (answer goes here) minutes.
Is The Da Vinci Curse a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Da Vinci Curse is worth reading because... (answer goes here)
Who is the author of The Da Vinci Curse?
The author of The Da Vinci Curse is Leonardo Lospennato.
What to read after The Da Vinci Curse?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Da Vinci Curse, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Myth of Multitasking by Dave Crenshaw
- How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael J. Gelb
- The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
- Either/Or by Soren Kierkegaard
- The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
- The PLAN by Kendra Adachi
- The Arthashastra by Kauṭalya
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg