This book tells Leonardo's life story from his childhood near the Italian town of Vinci to his role as 'First Painter, Architect and Mechanic' of France during the reign of King Louis XII. It looks at his investigations into flying machines, submarines, tanks and hundreds of other devices centuries before they were invented. His method of working paved the way for modern science and the book explores the impact this had on world history. The science behind his investigations is explained with interesting diagrams, and quotes from Leonardo and his contemporaries give an insight into this 'Renaissance man's' mind.