The Tim Ferriss Show #273: Lessons from Steve Jobs, Leonardo da Vinci, and Ben Franklin
Cross-Disciplinary Curiosity Breeds Creativity
- Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, and Steve Jobs shared a key trait: broad curiosity across disciplines.
- Combining art, science, and humanities fosters greater creativity and innovation.
Power of Seeing Originals
- Walter Isaacson experienced deep awe upon viewing Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man in person.
- Seeing original artifacts connects us emotionally and humanizes historical figures.
Write Chronologically, Tell Stories
- Write chronologically to keep narratives clear and engaging.
- Tell stories as if speaking around a dinner table to make biographies relatable and memorable.
Walter Isaacson (@WalterIsaacson) is a professor at Tulane University, and the president and CEO of The Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan educational and policy studies institute based in Washington, DC. He has been the chairman and CEO of CNN and the editor of TIME magazine. He is the author of many biographies I have recommended to thousands of people, including The Innovators, Steve Jobs, Einstein: His Life and Universe, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, Kissinger: A Biography, and his most recent, Leonardo da Vinci.
In this episode, you learn life lessons and tactics from not just one person -- because Walter has lived a fascinating life -- but also from Steve Jobs, Ben Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, and more. Walter ties it all together beautifully.
We had a lot of fun in this conversation, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
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