What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLeonardo da Vinci
Walter Isaacson · Book · 2017
If you loved Leonardo da Vinci, start with Da Vinci's Demons (David S. Goyer, 2013) — a series on the same thread. Below: 3 films, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Leonardo da Vinci across media.
If you loved Leonardo da Vinci, you are drawn to the intersection of relentless human curiosity and the mechanics of genius.
Films on the same thread
Steve Jobs
Danny Boyle · Film · 2015
Explores: Genius and Flaws, Father-Daughter Relationships, Visionary Leadership.
Like the subject of Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs examines the turbulent intersection of innovation and personality, focusing on the obsessive nature required to reshape the world through original vision.
The Da Vinci Code
Film · 2006
Shares a thread with Leonardo da Vinci: Art history.
This thriller echoes the fascination with cryptic intellect found in Leonardo da Vinci, turning his historical artistic masterpieces into the essential keys for unlocking a modern-day high-stakes secret conspiracy.
Life Is Beautiful
Roberto Benigni · Film · 1997
Explores: Father-Son Relationship, Imagination as Resistance, Innocence in Wartime.
The protagonist mirrors the imaginative spirit celebrated in Leonardo da Vinci, using his inventive mind and creative storytelling as a vital tool to navigate and survive an impossible reality.
Series on the same thread
Da Vinci's Demons
David S. Goyer · Series · 2013
Explores: Renaissance Italy, Genius Inventor, Conspiracy.
This series expands on the early life of the figure in Leonardo da Vinci, dramatizing the restless, multifaceted genius of a young man struggling to transcend the limitations of Renaissance.
Genius
Kenneth Biller · Series · 2017
Explores: Biographical, Intellectualism, Struggle for Recognition.
Much like the biographical deep dive in Leonardo da Vinci, this series explores the complex personal lives and intellectual obsessions that drive history's greatest minds toward their most significant discoveries.
Podcasts on the same thread
How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz | Wondery · Podcast · 2026
Explores: failure and resilience, innovation processes, corporate origin stories.
This podcast mirrors the focus on innovation processes in Leonardo da Vinci, providing an intimate look at the persistence and doubt that define the journeys of modern creative visionary founders.
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold historical anecdotes, curiosity-driven learning, American cultural history.
The show captures the same curiosity-driven spirit found in Leonardo da Vinci, unearthing obscure historical anecdotes that highlight the fascinating, hidden complexities behind the lives of exceptional human figures.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson based on primary sources?
Yes, Walter Isaacson wrote Leonardo da Vinci using thousands of pages from Leonardo’s own astonishing notebooks. The biography also incorporates new discoveries about his life and work to provide a detailed narrative that connects his artistic achievements to his scientific research.
Does Leonardo da Vinci explore the connection between his art and science?
Yes, the book Leonardo da Vinci specifically weaves a narrative that connects his art to his science. Walter Isaacson shows how the genius of Leonardo da Vinci was based on specific skills that we can improve, rather than just innate talent.
Who is the author of Leonardo da Vinci?
The biography Leonardo da Vinci was written by Walter Isaacson. Isaacson is an acclaimed author known for his previous bestsellers about historical figures including Steve Jobs, Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin.
Does Leonardo da Vinci explain how his genius worked?
In Leonardo da Vinci, Walter Isaacson analyzes the notebooks of the artist to demonstrate that his genius was based on skills we can improve. The book illustrates how he integrated his scientific curiosity with his artistic practice throughout his life.