Most of what we know about Leonardo da Vinci, we know because of his notebooks. Some 6,000 sheets of notes and drawings survive, perhaps one-fifth of what he actually produced. With an artist's eye and a scientist's curiosity, he recorded in these pages his observations on the movement of water and the formation of rocks, the nature of flight and optics, anatomy, architecture, sculpture, and painting. He jotted down fables, epigrams, and letters and developed his belief in the sublime unity of nature and man. Through his notebooks we can get an insight into Leonardo's thoughts, and his approach to work and life. This selection, organized in seven themed sections, offers a fascinating and informative sample of his writings. Fully updated, this new edition includes some 70 line drawings and a Preface by Martin Kemp, one of the world's leading authorities on Leonardo, who explores the artist's genius and the contents and legacy of his manuscripts. The book also features new notes and a chronology of Leonardo's life.

我们对达芬奇的了解，大部分是通过他的笔记本来实现的。现存的大约6000张笔记和图画，可能是他实际创作的五分之一。他以艺术家的眼光和科学家的好奇心，在这些页面上记录了他对水的运动和岩石的形成、飞行和光学的性质、解剖学、建筑、雕塑和绘画的观察。他记下了一些寓言、诗句和信件，并发展了他对自然和人的崇高统一的信念。通过他的笔记本，我们可以深入了解莱昂纳多的思想，以及他对工作和生活的态度。这本选集分为七个主题部分，提供了一个引人入胜、内容丰富的他的著作的样本。经过全面更新，这个新版本包括大约70幅线图和世界上关于莱昂纳多的权威之一马丁-坎普的序言，他探讨了这位艺术家的天才和他的手稿的内容和遗产。本书还包括新的注释和莱昂纳多的生活年表。