Fly-Fishing with Leonardo da Vinci

“A journey into the mind of Leonardo da Vinci, David Ladensohn’s book captures Leonardo’s love of nature and his obsession with understanding all there is to know about water, while making a compelling case that he would have been the world’s greatest fly-fishing guide. Just as Leonardo saw no boundaries between disciplines, Ladensohn masterfully intertwines the science and art of fly-fishing into a marvelous book that’s part biography, part manual, and part meditation on the abiding power of observation.”— Ken Burns

“Fly-Fishing with Leonardo da Vinci is a delight! It left this reader with a new appreciation for both da Vinci’s genius and the nuances of fly-fishing. Ladensohn combines a naturalist’s eye with an angler’s treasure trove of aphorisms and maxims that are as much about life as they are about art or sport. The beautiful illustrations enhance the text.”— Abraham Verghese, author of The Covenant of Water

​“Approachable and inviting, Fly-Fishing with Leonardo da Vinci combines biographical research and memoir elements to deliver a charming exploration of water, invention, and lives led by curiosity.”— Mike Good, Foreword

“Filled with vibrant images of idyllic streams, drawings by da Vinci, and fishing concepts, this self-deprecating, jocular text includes lofty, poignant explorations of life and nature.”— Mike Good, Foreword

David Ladensohn is a mediator, retired executive, and entrepreneur. He was recently a Next Horizons Scholar at Oxford University. He lives in San Antonio, Texas, and outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico.