Everybody knows Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, drew that famous guy inside a circle, and-oh yeah-has something to do with that code, too. But what about the man behind the myth? Although he's incredibly famous for his artistic achievements, most people don't know much about this genius's life. 101 Things You Didn't Know about Da Vinci takes a fun, fresh look at the master, from his less-than-illustrious origins as an illegitimate child, to his later years hobnobbing with popes, dukes, and kings.

This engaging volume is your ticket to all sorts of off-beat tidbits, including how and why: