Review: The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper

The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tyler Cowen once said that a great challenge for economists is to try to identify the causes of the Renaissance, so they can be replicated in this time and throughout the world (I'm paraphrasing and probably misremembering part of it), and I would argue that this book might have done exactly this.

The argument that plentiful paper helped Giotto and Cimabue for their sketching, and then renaissance bankers for their double-entry book keeping, isn't all that far-fetched.

The rest of the book follows in the same vein, and it inspired me to buy a notebook on my latest outing. We'll see how that goes.

All in all a unique and interesting read.

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Review: Botticelli's Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance

Botticelli's Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance by Joseph Luzzi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My impression is that this would have made a fascinating article. As a book it was a tad long-winded. Part of this is probably my fault, since I listened to the audiobook, and I understand the physical book contains the illustrations in question. 

This is basically a short primer on Dante, on Botticelli, and then the interesting journey that Botticelli's Divine Comedy illustrations. 

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Review: Hypnerotomachia Poliphili: The Strife of Love in a Dream

Hypnerotomachia Poliphili: The Strife of Love in a Dream by Francesco Colonna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was supposedly written by a priest, and I can only imagine he wasn't a very good priest, seeing as how the only God mentioned in the book are Greek, Roman and Egyptian Gods. Also, it is a story about love for a woman, and describes lots of beautiful women, naked women, phallic symbols, breasts, and the like (not to mention naked nymphs hugging and kissing "open mouthed"). 

He must have been a very interesting person, however, since his knowledge of botany and foods and trees seems immense, and many of the architectural wonders he describes were probably merely fantasies for people during the renaissance. Much of it probably stemmed from still living in a time when Ancient Roman wonders were around (such as the pantheon, and aqueducts) which, although created over 1,000 years prior, were not understood by contemporary engineers and experts. It is fascinating to read about a fountain that only sprays water when you go near it, and to find that is happens based on having stepped on a certain stone, through a mechanism he describes and was probably science fiction at the time. Likewise other inventions, like the wheeled basin continuously pouring out water, collecting it, and pouring it back out again.

Having said that, it really drags out in places, and I found myself skimming over some of the more elaborate descriptions (of ardor, of building, of scenery, etc.)

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Review: Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture

Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fascinating read. At times a bit too technical for me, but it makes sense, seeing as how Brunelleschi was a genius engineer and architect of his time. I had to remind myself several times that this was before the renaissance, and they were really working with rudimentary tools, some of which hadn't changed in almost 2,000 years.

Apparently, in 1421, Brunelleschi received the world's first ever patent for an invention. And some of the inventions he created for hoisting supplies up to the dome were incredible.

And the hoax Brunelleschi played on a man he didn't like (P. 80) was excellent.


4.5 stars

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Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de' Medici by Miles J. Unger

Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de' Medici by Miles J. Unger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm surprised this is the first time I've come across a biography of this man that I've been hearing of my whole life. A very interesting man, who obviously loved art and poetry, was thrust into the political intrigue of renaissance Florence, and succeeded with flying colors, always regretting the fact that he couldn't spend more time on his art. The book does a great job of detailing his life, as well as Renaissance Florence, with appearances by Ficino, Verrocchio, Davinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Savonarola, Macchiavelli, etc. etc.

Also, apparently Piero de Medici once asked Michelangelo to sculpt him a snowman. Michelangelo refused.



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