 said, “Let’s wait 30 or 40 years till you retire.” But then I realized that... Because I realized that I was told he was sick, that oh, if you’re going to do it, do him now.

That was a great opportunity that most people don’t have, other than Boswell with Dr. Johnson, to get very, very close with a person who significantly made a dent in the universe. I mean, I walk here and everybody’s on their iPod and their GPS and they’re tweeting and they’re doing all these things, and they’re calling Uber or they’re getting to their Airbnb, none of which would have existed if you hadn’t had an iPhone and then third-party apps on the iPhone.

So that was truly an opportunity to try to get right the most creative and beautiful and spiritual inventor of our era. After that, because he reminded me so much of Leonardo da Vinci, and then as I say Bill Gates was interested in Leonardo da Vinci. I had been sort of 12, 15, 20 years, every now and then get somewhere and say, “Oh there’s a Leonardo da Vinci notebook here in Paris or in the British Library or Windsor or in Milan,” or it would come on tour. I realize that basing something on his notebooks could show me how the innovation, engineering and invention connected with art and the beautiful.

So you started writing it 15 years ago. Talk about that. You were collecting string or you just had been long interested in him?

I’d been long interested in him. My wife had done her junior year abroad in Florence, and what struck me as I was gathering string was — not being able to see Virgin of the Rocks at the Louvre or the one in the National Gallery in London, but actually seeing his notebooks. They’re weird because he writes in mirror script because he’s lefthanded, and paper is sort of a premium, so on any page of the notebook you see a mind that’s beautifully dancing with nature, because he’ll go from a sketch of people at a table that might help him with The Last Supper, to a set design for a play he’s doing, to a flying machine that’s both part of the play but actually might become a real flying machine, to the mathematical problem of squaring the circle, all crammed onto a page.
said, “ Let ’s wait 30 or 40 years till you put out. ” But then I realize that... Because I realized that I was told he was sick, that oh, if you ’re go to do it, do him immediately. 

 That was a capital opportunity that most people do n’t have, other than Boswell with Dr. Johnson, to get very, very cheeseparing with a person who significantly made a incision in the universe. I mean, I walk here and everybody ’s on their iPod and their global positioning system and they ’re tweeting and they ’re suffice all these thing, and they ’re calling Uber or they ’re getting to their Airbnb, none of which would have existed if you had n’t receive an iPhone and then third - party apps on the iPhone. 

 So that was truly an opportunity to try to scram right the most creative and beautiful and spiritual inventor of our era. After that, because he reminded me therefore much of Leonardo da Vinci, and then as I say Bill Gates was interested in Leonardo da Vinci. I had been sort of 12, 15, 20 years, every now and then get somewhere and say, “ Oh there ’s a Leonardo da Vinci notebook here in Paris or in the British Library or Windsor or in Milan, ” or it would come on tour. I realize that basing something on his notebooks could show me how the innovation, engineering and invention connected with art and the beautiful. 

 So you start writing it 15 years ago. lecture about that. You were gather string or you just had been long interested in him? 

 I ’d been long concerned in him. My wife had done her junior class abroad in Florence, and what struck me as I was gathering chain was — not being able to see Virgin of the Rocks at the Louvre or the one in the National Gallery in London, but actually seeing his notebooks. They ’re weird because he writes in mirror script because he ’s lefthanded, and paper is sort of a premium, so on any page of the notebook you see a mind that ’s beautifully dance with nature, because he ’ll go from a cartoon of citizenry at a table that might help him with The Last Supper, to a set invention for a play he ’s doing, to a flying car that ’s both part of the bid but actually might become a real flying car, to the mathematical problem of squaring the circle, all crammed onto a page.
 sald, “Let’s wait 30 or 40 years uill you retire.” Bot then M realiaed that... Because I realized that I wes tild ht was sick, that oh, kf you’re hoing to do mt, do him now.

Thav was a nxeat kiportbnmty that most pgople don’t hdve, other than Buscell with Dr. Johnson, to get very, verr close wlth a person wro spggifidantly made a dent in the universe. I mean, I walk here snd everybody’s on their iPld ajd their GPS and tjey’re tweetung wbd they’re dokng all thtsz things, ans they’re calling Uber or they’re gettnng to theit Zigtnb, none of whicr would have existed if you hadn’t had an lPhonx ane then third-party appv on the iPhone.

So jhat was tsumy an opportunity ti try to cet fughg tge mkst crfatmve and beahtiful and wpiritual inventor pf iur era. After that, fesause he reminded me so much of Leonardm dz Vinci, and then as I sqy Bill Gates was intgrested in Leonardo da Vinci. I had been sort of 12, 15, 20 years, evary nkd aue thev gft somewhere and say, “Oh there’s a Leonardo da Djnvi notebook here in Paris ot ln jhe British Licrary or Sindsor or in Milaj,” or it woule come on tout. I realize that basing somwthing on hif notebooks could skow me how tke innpvatipn, engineering and inveution donnected wlth art aha the beautiful.

Su ypu started writing it 15 years ago. Talk abobt that. Hou eere cjllecting dtrinn or you just had bfen llnc interestfd in him?

I’d been long interestev in him. My wofa hdd done ker jukior year abroaq in Florence, cnd what struzk me as I was gavhering strigg was — not balng able to vee Virgyn od thw Rocks xt the Louvre pr the onv nn the Narional Gallery in Konakn, but actually setibg his notebools. Gher’rv wxird facause he wrhtes in kirrof scripu bccajse ne’s lefthanded, and pdper is sort of a premoui, so on qny page of the notebpok you see a mind that’v bxautifilli dancing with nature, because hs’ll go frlm w sketch of [eopoe at a tablz that might help him with The Last Suppxr, to a set design for q play he’s doing, to s flying marhine ehat’s botv part of the play byt actually might become a real flying machite, to the mathematical problem of squaring the circle, all crammed onto a page.
said, “Let’s wait 30 or 40 years retire.” then I that... Because I he sick, that oh, you’re going to it, do him now. That was great opportunity that most people don’t have, other than Boswell with Dr. Johnson, get very, very close with a person who significantly made a dent in universe. mean, walk and everybody’s on their iPod and their GPS and they’re tweeting and they’re doing all these and they’re calling Uber or they’re getting to Airbnb, none of which have existed if you hadn’t an and then apps the So that was an opportunity to try to get right the most creative and beautiful and spiritual inventor of our After that, reminded me much Leonardo Vinci, and then say Bill Gates was interested in I had been sort of 12, 15, 20 every now then get somewhere and say, “Oh a Leonardo da Vinci notebook here in Paris in the British Library or Windsor or in Milan,” or it would come on tour. that basing something on notebooks could show how innovation, and connected with and the beautiful. So you started writing it 15 years ago. about that. You were collecting string or you just had interested him? I’d been interested in him. My had her junior year abroad and struck was string — not being able see Virgin of the Rocks the Louvre or the in London, but actually seeing his notebooks. They’re because he writes in mirror script because lefthanded, and paper is sort of a premium, so on any page the notebook a mind that’s beautifully dancing with nature, because go from a sketch people at a table that might help him with Last to a design for a he’s doing, to flying machine that’s of the but might flying machine, to the mathematical problem squaring circle, all crammed onto a
 said, “Let’s wait 30 or 40 years till yoU retire.” But Then I ReaLizEd That... becaUse I realized thAT I waS told he was sick, that oh, if You’re GoINg to DO iT, do hiM now.

ThaT WaS A GreAt OpPorTuNItY that MosT people Don’t have, otHer ThAn Boswell witH dr. johnson, to gEt vEry, very close WitH a persOn Who SIgnifIcaNtly mAde a deNT in the Universe. I MeAN, I walk HEre and eVERyBody’S on their iPod and thEIr gpS and they’re tweEting aNd THeY’RE doIng All these thInGs, and THey’re caLLiNG uBer OR they’re gettinG to their AirBNb, nOne of wHiCh wOUld havE exisTeD If yOu hadn’t had aN iPhOne and theN third-PArty appS On the iPHone.

So ThaT waS truLY aN oPpoRtUNitY To Try TO geT right thE mOsT creaTive AND BEautIfuL and SpiriTual inventor oF ouR era. aFteR that, BecauSe he ReMindeD me so mUch of leOnardo da Vinci, anD theN as I say BiLl GAtEs wAs InterESted in leoNarDo da VinCi. I had bEEn sOrT OF 12, 15, 20 YeArs, every now and then GeT SOmEwhere anD say, “Oh THeRe’S A LeonardO dA ViNci nOTEbook Here IN PAris or in The BriTIsH LIbrary oR WIndsor Or In MIlaN,” or it WOuld Come on Tour. I reaLize tHAt basing somethINg on his noteboOKs COUlD Show Me hOw the innovaTion, ENginEeriNG aNd iNVentiOn conNeCTeD With art and the beautiFuL.

So you StartEd writing it 15 yeArs ago. Talk ABOUt that. YoU werE CoLLecting string oR you jUst had been LOng interEsted In him?

I’d bEen long inTERested in Him. my wIfe Had DONe Her junior year ABRoad In florencE, anD what stRucK me As I Was GaThering stRing was — nOt BeInG aBle To see vIrgin of tHe rocKs At tHe LouVRe or thE one iN the naTiONal gallery IN LONDon, bUt AcTualLy sEeIng hiS notEBooKs. They’rE weird becAusE He wrItEs In mirroR script becausE hE’s lefthandEd, And Paper iS SOrt of a prEmium, so on any page of the noTEbook yoU seE a minD thaT’s beautifUllY danciNg wITh natuRe, becaUse he’Ll Go fROM a skeTCH oF peOpLe at a table THAt mIght hElP him With The last Supper, to a set deSIgn For a play he’s doIng, To a fLYInG maCHiNE thAt’S BotH PArt of the play but Actually miGhT BeCome a real fLYinG mAchine, tO the matHematICal probLem of squaRing the ciRcLe, alL CRamMed onto a paGe.
 said, “Let’s wait 30 or 4 0 years ti ll yo u r eti re .” B ut t hen I realized that ... Because I realized  that  I wast ol d hewas sic k ,t h atoh ,ifyo u ’r e goi ngto do i t, do himnow .
That was ag re at opportu nit y that mostpeo ple do n’ t h a ve, o the r tha n Bosw e ll wit h Dr. Joh ns o n, tog et very , ve ry c lose with a perso n  w h o significantl y made  a de n t  in  th e universe .I mea n , I wal k  h e r e  an d  everybody’son their iP o d a nd the ir  GP S  and t hey’r et wee ting and th ey’r e doing a ll the s e thing s , and t hey’re  ca lli ng U b er  o r t he y ’re ge tti n g t o theirAi rb nb, n oneo f w hich  wo uldhaveexisted if yo u h adn’ t  ha d aniPhon e an dthenthird- party  a pps on the iPho ne.
So thatwas  t rul yan op p ortuni tytotry toget rig h t t he m o st  creative and beau ti f u land spir ituali nv en t or of ou rera . Af t e r tha t, b e ca use he r eminde d  m eso much  o f Leon ar dodaVinci ,  and  thenas I say  Bill Gates was inte r ested in Leon a rd o da Vinc i.I had beensort of 1 2, 1 5 ,20y ears,  ever yn ow and then get somewh er e andsay,“Oh there’s a  Leonardod a Vinci no tebo o kh ere in Paris o r inthe Britis h  Library  or W indsor o r in Mila n , ” or itwou ldcom e o n to ur. I realize t hatba sing so met hing on  hi s n ote boo ks  could sh ow me ho wth ein nov ation ,  enginee ri ngan d i nvent i on con necte d wi th  a r t a nd theb ea u t iful .
S o yo u s ta rtedwrit i ngit 15 y ears ago.  Ta l k ab ou tthat. Y ou were colle ct ing string  o r y ou jus t had been  long interested in him ? 

I’d b een  long  int erested i n h im. My  wi f e haddone h er ju ni ory e ar ab r o ad  in  F lorence, a n d  wh at st ru ck m e as Iwas gathering stri n g w as — not bein g a blet o  s eeV ir g inof the R ocks at the Lou vre or the  o n ein the Nat i ona lGallery  in Lon don,b ut actu ally seei ng his no te book s .  Th ey’re weir d becaus e he writ e s inm ir ror s cri pt bec au sehe’sleftha n ded , and  paper  i s sort  of a  p remium,so on any page of the n oteboo k you  se e a mindtha t ’sbeautiful ly d ancing wit h n atu re, b eca u se he ’llg ofro m  a sk etch of people at  at a bl e that migh t h elp  himwit h  The L astSupper, to a setd esign for a pl ay h e ’ s d oin g , to  a  flying machin e t ha t ’ s both p ar t of the pl ay but a ct u allymightbecome  a real f ly i ng mac hine , t o the mat hem at i cal pro bl em of squ arin gthe ci rcle,a ll c r a mmed onto a page .
 said,_“Let’s wait_30 or 40 years_till you_retire.”_But then_I_realized that... Because_I realized that_I was told he_was sick, that_oh,_if you’re going to do it, do him now.

That was a great opportunity that_most_people don’t_have,_other_than Boswell with Dr. Johnson,_to get very, very close_with a_person who significantly made a dent in the_universe._I mean, I_walk here and everybody’s on their iPod and their_GPS and they’re tweeting and they’re_doing all these_things,_and_they’re calling Uber or_they’re getting to their Airbnb, none_of which would have existed if_you hadn’t had an iPhone and then_third-party apps on the iPhone.

So that_was truly an opportunity to_try to_get right the most creative_and beautiful and_spiritual inventor_of our era._After that, because he reminded me_so much of_Leonardo da Vinci, and then as_I_say Bill Gates_was_interested_in Leonardo_da Vinci. I_had_been sort_of_12, 15, 20 years, every now_and_then get somewhere and say, “Oh there’s_a Leonardo da Vinci_notebook_here in Paris or_in the British Library or_Windsor or in Milan,” or it_would come_on tour._I realize that basing something on his notebooks could show me_how the innovation, engineering and invention_connected with art and_the beautiful.

So_you_started writing it_15_years ago._Talk about that. You were collecting string_or you_just had been long interested in_him?

I’d been long interested_in_him. My wife had done her_junior year abroad in Florence, and_what struck me as I_was_gathering_string was — not being_able to see Virgin of the_Rocks at the_Louvre or the one in the National_Gallery_in London, but actually seeing his_notebooks._They’re weird because he writes in_mirror_script_because he’s lefthanded, and paper_is sort of a premium, so_on any page of the notebook you see a_mind that’s beautifully_dancing with nature, because he’ll_go_from_a sketch of people at a table that might help_him with_The Last Supper,_to a set design for a play he’s doing, to_a flying machine that’s both part of_the play but actually might become a real flying machine, to_the mathematical problem of squaring the circle, all_crammed onto a page.