Isaacson's biographies are uniformly brilliant and accessible.

He has an extraordinary talent for taking the most complex and arcane twists of a subject's mind and presenting them in a way that is perfectly understandable to the average reader.

If you think you have a good understanding of this revered and somewhat complex character, Dr Franklin, you would be well-advised to read Isaacson's account of his life.

There is a wealth of information and insights in Isaacson's biography that you might not have expected.

It delves deeper into Franklin's thoughts, actions, and relationships, revealing aspects of his personality and life that you may not have known before.

By reading Isaacson's work, you will gain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of this remarkable historical figure.

Excellent biography.

Although I do disagree with Isaacson's assessment and commentary at the end.

Franklin was a great American in many aspects. He made significant contributions in the fields of politics, business, and science. His inventions and discoveries had a profound impact on society.

Yet, as a person, his actions and attitudes towards certain people left a lot to be desired. He had his flaws and moral failings.

I think Isaacson downplays Franklin's moral failings, making them seem unimportant when compared with the incredible political, business, and scientific successes that he had.

We should view historical figures in a more comprehensive and objective way, taking into account both their achievements and their shortcomings.

By doing so, we can gain a more accurate understanding of the past and learn valuable lessons for the present and the future.

Benjamin Franklin was an extraordinary individual and one of the greatest polymaths in history. He was not only a remarkable scientist and a highly successful businessman but also one of the founding fathers of the United States.

He played a crucial role in deftly negotiating with England and France, which led to the recognition of America as an independent nation. Moreover, he ensured that America's policies at the time of independence were not aligned with any European country. Additionally, he was a major force in the Constitutional Convention of 1787, getting representatives of all states to agree on a common ground for structuring the new country from a governance perspective.

Franklin firmly believed in living a life of reasoning and virtue. He had a list of 12 virtues, including temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, and chastity.

Throughout his life, he demonstrated the power of people self-organizing into groups to bring about positive changes in their communities. In fact, he established the first Junto for self-improvement and to discuss topics of common interest as early as the 1700s.

He also started an academy in 1751, which later became the University of Pennsylvania, the first non-sectarian college in America.

Franklin was a great scientist with a penchant for practical applications of science. He made significant contributions such as discovering and taming lightning, calming turbulent waters using minute quantities of oil, and making stoves less smoky. Even if his other contributions to community and nation building had been zero, his scientific achievements alone are exemplary.

He was instrumental in setting up public libraries and neighbourhood constabularies in the USA, both of which were very important civic contributions.

Franklin always stood for the middle class and believed in the innate wisdom of the common citizen. He abhorred the grab of power and influence through heritage. With these principles in his heart and mind, he arguably had the most significant influence on the shaping of American society.

This biography is a highly insightful read about a great person, written by one of the finest authors.

I have gained a wealth of fascinating knowledge about Franklin and the early days of our nation through reading this book. For instance, Franklin had long been reluctant to see America declare independence. He exerted great efforts to persuade England to alter its treatment of the colonies. It was only after all those endeavors proved fruitless that he transformed into a revolutionary. The act of declaring independence and building a country from the ground up is truly an astonishing feat!

This book has not only provided me with valuable information but also offered profound insights into the historical events and the remarkable individuals who shaped our nation. It has deepened my understanding and appreciation of our country's history. I truly relished reading this book and the perspectives it presented.

If Alexander Hamilton is one of the most underappreciated of the Founders, then Benjamin Franklin is one of the most misunderstood. Isaacson concludes his book with a chapter detailing this misunderstanding. Throughout history, each generation has reexamined Benjamin Franklin. As the author notes, Thoreau mocked him, Carnegie adored him, and D.H. Lawrence despised him. So, who was right, and why?

Isaacson, while highlighting his faults and follies, doesn't hide his own admiration for Franklin. An interesting historical test is to consider that Franklin's style and personal life often overshadowed his professional achievements and civic contributions. Because he lived apart from his wife, flirted with women, wrote about the science of farts, and fathered an illegitimate child, the general public has overlooked his historical significance. Instead of donning the frills and wigs of Paris, a trap Jefferson quickly fell into, Franklin deliberately wore plain suits, no wig, and often his famous fur hat. A man who set trends without trying, one of Franklin's greatest gifts was the ability to achieve great things without others realizing it.

His feigned naivete, strategic avoidance of conflict, and simple appearance made him the perfect person to discover electricity and promote the lightning rod; propose a union of the colonies in 1759; negotiate for the repeal of the Stamp Act; secure a treaty with and multiple loans from France; negotiate peace with Britain; advocate for the Connecticut compromise for a bi-cameral legislature, one with representation based on population, the other with equal representation from each state; and propose the complete abolition of slavery.

Isaacson makes it clear, and he is quite convincing, that while Franklin had his flaws, he was revered in his own time, accomplished as much or more than any other Founder, and deserves to be considered as one of America's most historically important statesmen. Franklin's personal creed was that doing good for others was the ultimate form of religion. In life and in death (in his will, he established a trust fund for young tradesmen in Philadelphia and Boston), he dutifully practiced his religion. A religion that we in America would do well to revive.

Walter Isaacson has once again delivered an exceptional biography.

He delves deep into the life of this remarkable individual, uncovering numerous less-known details, both the positive and the negative.

With great skill, he weaves these details together to create a masterpiece that showcases one of our most progressive and forward-thinking founding fathers.

The biography provides a comprehensive and nuanced view of the subject's life, highlighting his achievements, his struggles, and his impact on the nation.

Isaacson's writing is engaging and accessible, making this biography a must-read for anyone interested in American history or the life of this influential figure.

Overall, this is a remarkable work that adds to our understanding and appreciation of one of the great minds in American history.

I'm truly disappointed that this turned out to be an abridged edition. However, what was included within its pages was so remarkably good that I am now firmly compelled to also read the hardcover version.

Benjamin Franklin is far more than just the kindly, almost bumbling looking elder statesman that he is often portrayed as. He was a profound thinker, and I have personally felt greatly benefitted by delving into and learning his unique approach to life. He was a highly practical man, and this is vividly demonstrated by his 13 virtues on how to live a fulfilling life.

I am including them here for your reference:

Thirteen Virtues According to Benjamin Franklin

1. Temperance

2. Silence

3. Order

4. Resolution

5. Frugality

6. Industry

7. Sincerity

8. Justice

9. Moderation

10. Cleanliness

11. Tranquility

12. Chastity

13. Humility

I will leave it up to you to either read or listen to the book to discover even more fascinating details and insights!!

This work is truly an outstanding biography that offers a profound homage to the rich and intense life of Benjamin Franklin.

His scientific achievements, most notably with the famous kite experiment, are remarkable. Through this experiment, he made significant contributions to the understanding of electricity.

Moreover, his "social" inventions, such as the Franklin stove and bifocal glasses, had a profound impact on people's daily lives.

These inventions not only improved the quality of life but also contributed to the unification of the States of America.

This biography is very well-documented, providing a comprehensive and detailed account of Franklin's life.

Although there are a few lengthy passages in some places, they do not pose a significant obstacle to the reader's understanding.

Overall, this is a must-read biography for anyone interested in learning about the life and times of Benjamin Franklin.

I learned a great deal about Franklin from this book, information that was previously unknown to me.

Particularly, it delved into his early years and his work as a printer. I have a deep appreciation for his inclination towards practicality and his firmly held belief that he could best serve God by serving his fellow human beings. He comes across as an extremely practical individual, yet not overly spiritual or affiliated with any particular church.

The book also examined Franklin's personal relationships, which at times seemed rather contradictory. He was known to flirt with women in England and France and spent 15 out of his last 17 years in Europe, away from his wife Deborah who resided in Pennsylvania. At times, I felt a sense of sympathy for Deborah as I read about her situation in the book.

It was also quite interesting to note that this man, who preached tolerance so passionately, had estranged relationships with numerous men who were once his friends, including his own son William, with whom he seemed to have a rather cold relationship. Overall, based on what I read about Franklin in this book, I didn't hold a very favorable opinion of him. However, it must be said that the book was very well researched and detailed, providing a comprehensive look into Franklin's life.

To say that Benjamin Franklin led an interesting life would be the understatement of the century.

Dr. Franklin was the first American to be world famous. He was an American Revolutionary, a theorist on government, a scientist in nearly all fields, and a printer being his first profession. In the end, one can say that there is nothing that the man did not do in his lifetime.

Walter Isaacson brings this extraordinary American to life, allowing the reader to explore the world that was with this incredible human being.

The thirteenth of sixteen children, and a youngest son of a youngest son for five generations, Ben Franklin learned early on that if he wanted to be noticed he would have to work hard. He went to work at an early age as an indentured servant for his brother James's print shop in Boston. Even after getting in trouble with the state legislature and being ordered to print no more work under his own name, he still managed to get his first by-line when his brother James decided to publish everything under his name.

However, life as an indentured servant was no fun even when the master was his own older brother. So, Ben Franklin decided to escape to Philadelphia, where he opened his own print shop. As a printer, he had tremendous success. His paper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, was very popular, and he also published the famous Poor Richard's Almanac. But Franklin did some things that were okay for his time but are now frowned upon. For example, he would sometimes make up stories or write letters to the editor under a pseudonym to express a political point or tell a funny tale.

Ben Franklin was also an accomplished scientist, despite not being formally trained. His work in electricity was revolutionary, just like his later political ideas. His most famous invention outside his stove was the Lightning Rod. He also mapped the Gulf Stream and was always fascinated by oil's effect on water.

Ever a political and social creature, he was a member of local clubs and debating societies. He married Deborah Franklin after her first husband abandoned her and also fathered an illegitimate son who he raised himself. As the colonial postmaster general, he founded the origins of what would become the post office.

Benjamin Franklin spent almost a decade in Britain advocating for the people of Pennsylvania on various issues. He opposed most of the tax laws that Britain made during this time. When letters from the colonial Governor Thomas Hutchinson came to his attention, he leaked them, which led to him being ridiculed by the Privy Council of George III. After this, he went home and joined the Revolution, which caused a permanent break with his son William.

As a member of the Second Continental Congress, he was a strong advocate for American Independence. He was part of the Committee of Five with future presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He was also dispatched to France to form an alliance with King Louis XVI and later took part in the signing of the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolutionary War.

At the end of his life, Franklin did two more incredible things. In 1787, he took part in writing the Constitution of the United States, and two years later, as his life was about to end, he became the president of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and wrote letters to the First Congress urging an end to slavery.

Ben Franklin's incredible life ended on April 17, 1790. He was truly the man who did it all. Everything written in this review and more is covered in Mr. Isaacson's work, and I highly recommend this book to anyone.

Great book! It is truly packed with a plethora of valuable life lessons of an 18th century "superstar", Benjamin Franklin.

Ben Franklin stands as one of the greatest examples in history. He was a lifelong action taker and a self-made renaissance man. His remarkable work ethic and high level of productivity ensured that he remained actively engaged in world affairs well into his 80's, something that can inspire us all.

He began by building a successful printing business from the ground up. Later, his inquisitive mind led him to demystify the properties of electricity. This led to the development of terminology such as positive and negative, battery, neutral, conductor, and many others that we still use today. Eventually, he invented the lightning rod, which made him famous worldwide.

Moreover, Franklin had incredible networking skills, serving as a minister to Britain and France during very difficult times. As he grew older, he didn't settle down. Instead, he played a key role as a representative to the first and second Continental Congress and as a signatory of the Declaration of Independence (which he also helped edit).

All of this took place in the 18th century, and it is truly incredible to think about how far ahead of his time this man was. This was a very inspiring book to read, and I would highly recommend it!

Benjamin Franklin was a truly exceptional man.

This was my first encounter with Franklin's biography, and as such, I am unable to make comparisons with other accounts. However, the perspective presented in this particular work seemed to be fairly balanced.

It was not overly reverential, which might have led to an idealized and one-sided portrayal. Nor was it too iconoclastic, seeking to tear down the great man's reputation for the sake of being different.

I found both the biography itself and the life of Dr. Franklin to be exceedingly inspirational. His numerous achievements in various fields, from science and发明 to politics and diplomacy, serve as a testament to his remarkable intellect, creativity, and determination.

Franklin's story is one that can inspire us all to strive for excellence, to constantly seek to improve ourselves and the world around us.

It shows that with hard work, perseverance, and a bit of ingenuity, we can accomplish great things and leave a lasting legacy.

Overall, I would highly recommend this biography to anyone interested in learning more about one of the most fascinating and influential figures in American history.