The Use and Abuse of Books: De Commodis Litterarum atque Incommodis

by Leon Battista Alberti

A classic of Italian literature! Translator Renee Watkins has captured the essence of Alberti's feelings as he contemplates the plight of one who chooses a scholarly profession in Renaissance Florence. According to Alberti, the world does not reward an individual who acquires knowledge from books. Why, then, would one become a scholar, devoted to a life of books? Alberti's well-organized and engaging analysis, as unfolded by Watkins' graceful translation, immediately will capture readers' attention. Although Alberti's context is Renaissance Florence, his enlightening arguments cross boundaries of time and place, striking a chord in all who wish to gain insights into life during this important time in history.

55 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Influential treatises on painting, architecture, and sculpture of Italian writer Leon Battista Alberti introduced classical ideas into Renaissance art.

This author, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher, cryptographer, and general humanist polymath, often characterized exclusively, as James Beck observed, "to single out one of Leon Battista's 'fields' over others as somehow functionally independent and self-sufficient is of no help at all to any effort to characterize Alberti's extensive explorations in the fine arts." Giorgio Vasari described life of Alberti in Vite de' più eccellenti pittori, scultori, e architettori or "Lives of the most excellent painters, sculptors and architects."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Ba...