While this biography isn't a quick, light read, it is as interesting and complex as the man himself must have been. Isaacson goes far beyond the cartoonish image that many of us have of an old guy flying a kite in a thunderstorm. He delves deep into the life of Benjamin Franklin, uncovering the real person, with all his virtues and vices, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Franklin had a tremendous influence on the formation of the United States. The book comprehensively covers the politics of his time, Franklin's friends and enemies, and the negotiation and compromises that were essential for him to achieve so much. Equally interesting was Franklin's personal life. He was a charming man who had ladies fawning over him, sometimes for decades. However, he was often cold and overly judgmental towards his own family, essentially abandoning some of them. As Poor Richard, he penned numerous well-known homilies, yet he didn't always adhere to his own advice. His inventions were based on practical considerations rather than theoretical ones, and he was always eager to learn more.

Mr. Isaacson has included quotes from more obscure sources as well as documents that are familiar to almost all Americans. All in all, the book is well-researched, informative, highly entertaining, and very readable. It provides a fascinating and detailed portrait of one of America's most important and complex founding fathers.

Benjamin Franklin is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of the United States. He is not only known for his significant contributions to the nation's foundation but also for his charming personality. Americans take great pride in the values that Franklin instilled, such as industry, innovation, service, and tolerance. These values have become an integral part of the American identity and continue to inspire generations of people.

Franklin set a high standard for the country, one that it will always strive to achieve. His practical approach to life and good sense of humor are also qualities that many admire. Despite his flaws, such as being an incorrigible flirt and having some emotional unavailability, he was still able to accomplish great things.

In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin is a remarkable figure in American history. His contributions to the nation and his unique personality make him a beloved and respected individual. We can all learn from his example and strive to live up to the values that he championed.

He is truly an icon of the American spirit.

One of my heroes has always been Ben Franklin.

Issacson's treatment of him here is an honest account. It details his numerous great triumphs and successes. He achieved remarkable feats in various fields.

However, the author does not shy away from his many faults and foibles. Franklin was not a perfect man. He had his flaws and weaknesses.

Franklin was a deep and complex character. He had a wide range of interests and abilities. This book does a good job of exploring the many facets of that character. It delves into his personality, his beliefs, and his actions.

By presenting a balanced view of Franklin, the book allows readers to get a more complete understanding of this remarkable individual. It shows that even heroes have their imperfections and that it is through understanding both the good and the bad that we can truly appreciate their achievements.

Overall, Issacson's account of Ben Franklin is a fascinating and engaging read that offers valuable insights into the life and character of one of America's greatest founding fathers.

A thorough, well-written and engaging biography on America’s most colorful founding father, Benjamin Franklin, takes readers on an enthralling journey. Franklin’s genial and avuncular personality shines through the pages.

Isaacson deftly handles the twists and turns of Franklin’s political life with understanding, affection and sensitivity. Although he covers the main events of the American Revolution, a favorite historical period of many, he doesn’t digress from Franklin’s biography (1705 - 1790). The focus seems to be on Franklin’s multifaceted personality, diverse hobbies, numerous accomplishments, complex relationships and pithy maxims.

Franklin was an incredibly versatile individual. He was a printer, postmaster, and the founder of a library and a university. He devised daylight savings, the Philosophical Society, a fire company, bifocals, a stove, and the lightning rod. He was also an abolitionist and played a crucial role in the creation of democratic constitutions.

His maxims are not only profound but also applicable even today. For example, his emphasis on silence, industry, charity, and moderation. He believed that "Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation." and "Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."

The biography also highlights Franklin’s unique approach to various aspects of life. He had a talent for irony, allegory and fable, which he used skillfully to promote moral and political truth. He was a master of that infantile simplicity which the French call naiveté, which always charmed those around him.

Overall, this biography is a fascinating read that provides valuable insights into the life and times of one of America’s greatest founding fathers. It is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, politics, or philosophy.

4/5. August 2024 (published in 2003. If you live in Philadelphia, be sure to read this bio. I graduated from Penn in 2010 and regret not visiting many of the places referenced in the book. The epilogue is also a must read as Isaacson objectively defends Franklin’s critics who fail to understand the brilliance of his pragmatism.)

An excellent biography of America's greatest statesman.

As told in this litany by Isaacson, it was astonishing to learn that so many principles of our government and constitution are in whole or in part Franklin's ideas or were ideas that Franklin advocated for.

Benjamin Franklin was a remarkable figure, and this biography does a superb job of capturing his essence.

The first half of the book details his early life and the many accomplishments that led him to become the influential statesman he is known as today.

However, it is the second half, Franklin as the elder statesman, that truly shines.

Here, we see him using his wisdom and experience to guide the nation through some of its most crucial moments.

The author's portrayal of Franklin is both vivid and engaging, making this biography a must-read for anyone interested in American history or the life of this great man.

I would say that the second half of this book was as perfect a biography as I have read, and it left me with a deep appreciation for Franklin's contributions to our country.

Overall, this is an outstanding work that I highly recommend.

Meh - I've read better.

This piece of writing is rather jumpy. It seems to lack a smooth flow, constantly skipping from one point to another without proper transitions.

Moreover, it is not very thorough. The ideas presented are rather superficial and do not go into much detail.

There is a lack of depth and substance, making it difficult for the reader to fully understand and engage with the content.

Overall, it fails to meet the expectations of a well-written and comprehensive article.

It could benefit from more careful planning, better organization, and a more in-depth exploration of the topics at hand.

Perhaps with some revisions and improvements, it could become a more engaging and informative read.

This book takes readers on a truly captivating journey through the remarkable life of one of America's most iconic figures. Isaacson, with his meticulous research and vivid storytelling, crafts a comprehensive portrait of Franklin.

Starting from his humble beginnings, the book follows Franklin's ascent to pivotal roles in shaping American independence and diplomacy. Through a series of engaging anecdotes and profound insights, it delves into Franklin's multifaceted personality.

We see his brilliance as a scientist and inventor, with his numerous groundbreaking discoveries and inventions. At the same time, his wit as a writer and statesman shines through, making him a truly remarkable individual.

Isaacson skillfully navigates the complexities of Franklin's character, presenting a nuanced account that both celebrates his achievements and acknowledges his flaws. This engaging and enlightening biography offers readers a profound understanding of Franklin's enduring legacy and his timeless contributions to the American ethos.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, the life of an extraordinary individual, or the power of perseverance and innovation.

This book truly provided me with a far more extensive perspective on Benjamin Franklin.

In junior high, I had read his autobiography and was completely enamored by it. I firmly believed that he was the kind of person with whom I would have relished having a friendship.

The reason being that in many aspects, his thinking paralleled mine. I even adopted several of his ideas as they seemed to resonate with me.

Although I held him in high admiration, this book presented a more comprehensive portrayal of who he truly was, including his flaws.

Now that I am an adult, it felt appropriate to gain a more complete understanding of this character whom I thought so highly of.

I uncovered that he was a person who thrived on words of affirmation. He had a penchant for a good practical joke.

He was witty, yet he struggled with humility and often endeavored to feign it. I discovered that there were aspects of him that would drive me insane and even some that I would never respect.

The book also elucidated the little connections to my New England roots that I took great pleasure in learning about.

It inadvertently disclosed how I am related to Benjamin, which was an extremely exciting revelation for me.

My overall first takeaway was that Benjamin Franklin was human, just like the rest of us.

But secondly, it made me realize that it is often human nature to place on a pedestal those who achieve great things.

However, in reality, great things are accomplished by human beings, with all their flaws and imperfections.

A passionately written biography of a brilliant man has emerged, offering a captivating account of his life. However, it is bogged down in parts by a bit too much subjectivity. Despite this flaw, it is elevated by its heartfelt and vivid depiction of one of America's true founders.

This remarkable book has the power to dispel many of the popular yet often inaccurate notions about Franklin. For instance, it challenges the perception of him as a womanizer. While it is partly true that he had a certain charm and was admired by many women, he was never actually unfaithful to his wife. Additionally, it also corrects the idea of his so-called "simple-minded" ideals, revealing the depth and complexity of his thoughts and beliefs.

It is an undeniable fact that U.S. history cannot be fully understood without a comprehensive understanding of the country's founding fathers. And this book serves as a fantastic starting point or a means to deepen that understanding. With its engaging narrative and valuable insights, it earns a well-deserved 4.5 stars.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in American history and the life of this extraordinary figure.

ETA: I decided to change this to four stars since I enjoyed the author's Einstein even more, and I gave that four.

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Why do YOU want to pick up a book about Benjamin Franklin? If you want his biographical details, you need not even read a book. Just check out Wikipedia. But I wanted more. I wanted to understand his soul. I wanted to get under his skin. I wanted all the historical details in Wikipedia and more. And I got what I wanted. Benjamin was an amazing person. People have only a superficial idea of who he really was. He is the guy who invented the lightning pole, that jolly fat man with a twinkle in his eye. He is the only person to have signed (and extensively worked on) the Declaration of Independence, the Peace Accord with England, the Treaty with France following the Revolution, and the American Constitution. So this is a man of politics, you surmise. Yes, he was, but he was so much more. It is the breadth of all that he did that is so amazing. This is a man who changed history in not one way or two ways or merely ten ways. The world would not be the same today without this man. He has shaped the American character, given us wide-ranging inventions, and, yes, signed all those documents.

This is not a review of who Benjamin is. For that, read this book. It is thorough. It is interesting. It is funny, and this is because Benjamin has made some outrageously amusing comments. He was a fantastic storyteller. We are not only told this but given numerous examples. The book follows a chronological path from birth to death and is concluded with a fantastic epilogue that synthesizes all the diverse threads. The book has everything you may want to know about this man, but not too much either! That is quite a feat.

I have one complaint, but it does not warrant the removal of the fifth star. My gut feeling is that the book is amazing. The author clearly admires Benjamin, and yet he does clearly point out his weak characteristics and mistakes. I quite simply wish he had more emphatically underlined the fact that although Benjamin extolled virtue and the merit of helping others, he failed so miserably in how he treated those of his family. He had all these rules of good conduct and yet he failed to be a good father and husband. The author doesn't hide his failings, but I wanted a stronger statement that revealed the disparity between what he preached and what he did! There I have said it. Benjamin was in fact a very cruel person in relation to his family, and sometimes he was very selfish and ungenerous. Why did he abandon his family and remain in Europe for fifteen years? In my mind, it was only when he finally realized he would be given neither the Ohio land grant nor the coveted office in charge of the colonies, that he returned. His reasons for remaining in Europe had been very selfish. I wanted that to be said clearly.

The narration of the audiobook by Nelson Runger was good but not excellent. He spoke clearly and slowly. I like slow narrations, but I was slightly irritated by his need to audibly swallow the saliva in his mouth. Neither do I think his female intonations were appealing. I am being very picky. These criticisms should not deter you from listening to the audiobook!

An excellent book about Benjamin Franklin. You will be surprised at learning this is a man who has much more depth and importance than you ever imagined.

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Through chapter four

Having listened now through chapter four, I am beginning to see both Benjamin's good and bad personality traits. This only makes the book MORE accurate. Parts tend to be a bit preachy. Lists of the adages printed in his Poor Richard Almanacs drone on a bit too long. These almanacs were profitable, definitely a financial success. The moralizing about how to achieve virtue is a bit boring. Benjamin has even devised a "Moral Perfection Project"! He seems sometimes a bit inflated. OK, he also admits to his tendency of being too proud and adds the rule that one must try to remain humble. Anyhow, all this moralizing gets a bit hard to swallow. Enough!

The author also makes it very clear that Benjamin employs humor to achieve his goals, but his humor can become quite nasty. He adds gossip columns to his paper. Sex tidbits and crime always attract readers, so they are added too. Somehow all the moralizing about proper behavior is explained away when profits are to be made. Yes, Benjamin is a pragmatist. He usually can find a convenient explanation for why what he does is acceptable. He states that gossip leads to virtue since it puts an end to improper behavior! He does admit though it must be used with discretion.... I am not looking for a fairy tale about Benjamin but the real truth, so I am not complaining.

Only through chapter two:

Finally a book that really draws my attention and makes me happy to be reading!!

I am quite sure that this book will please. The information is clear and the author mentions details that are interesting. I am reading this book because I want to know who Benjamin Franklin was. By that I mean what kind of personality did he have, how would he instinctively react in a given situation, and what are his weakness and charms. I want to know him as a blood and flesh friend; friend because I am already enchanted by his directness, dislike of elitism, humor, industriousness, and ability to "bend rules".

Books were important to Benjamin. He was a youth of the Enlightenment, which appeals to me too. He lived from 1706 - 1790. He enjoyed Daniel Defoe's writing and shared his principles. Here is an amusing detail: Defoe thought there should be established institutions for the mentally retarded. The amusing part is that he felt a tax should be levied on authors to pay for these residences. Why? Because clearly authors had been blessed with more brain matter than the retarded. They should thus care for those more poorly endowed!

Benjamin was a vegetarian, at least for a while. He was not a vegetarian for moral reasons. By saving his money, eating less expensively, he could buy more books. Again, books are important! But then, on a boat trip, the cod sizzling on the grill smelled "mmmm" so good! When filleting the fish, smaller fish had been found in the gut of the larger one, the one being cooked. He then conveniently reasoned: "If you eat one another, I don't see why we cannot eat you!" That ended his vegetarianism. Also, he was on his way to a better paying job.

Clearly it helps that I like Benjamin's ability to poke fun at both himself and what he saw around him. I enjoy his tendency to rationalize, albeit in a manner that is "convenient". He knew quite well he was simply finding a convincing reason for doing exactly what he wanted.

I like this book because almost every paragraph throws in extraneous information that interests me. I didn't know that Puritanism was an effort to cleanse remnant Catholic practices from Protestantism. Puritans wanted to "purify" Protestantism. Reading this book, I am given much more than mere facts about Benjamin Franklin's life.

I am listening to the audiobook narrated by Nelson Runger. He speaks clearly and very slowly. This allows one time to take small introspective excursions as you listen, and this I like to do. If you do not like glacial narrations, perhaps you should read the paper form of the book. Listening to a book often takes longer than reading the book.

Benjamin Franklin has long been a figure of intrigue, especially with his presence on the $100 bill. Many of us have a basic understanding of him, but there's so much more to uncover.

His intuitions around socializing were remarkable. He knew that to have people admire your work, you must avoid making them jealous. He also emphasized the importance of self-deprecating humor, a gentle demeanor, and listening more than speaking.

However, he wasn't without his conversational sins. He cautioned against seeming uninterested, talking too much about oneself, and telling long, pointless stories.

Franklin's views on slavery were complex. He questioned it throughout his life, yet he owned slaves. He finally took a more public stance against it later in life, but his early writings on the subject were flawed.

France's role in securing America's independence was also a revelation. Their support, though not entirely altruistic, was crucial.

Franklin's ideals of individualism and hard work are at the core of the American dream. But he wasn't perfect. He had critics and was a less-than-stellar family man.

Despite his flaws, there's no denying his impact on history. His vision for a new nation was revolutionary, and his ability to get others to agree was a testament to his social skills.

In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin was a remarkable figure who shaped the course of human history. We owe a great deal to his lifetime achievements.

And a special shoutout to Walter Isaacson, the author of this excellent biography. His writing brings Franklin's life to life and makes us appreciate his contributions even more.

In America, "people ask not who he is, but what he can do" or "America is a haven for those who love freedom" … With such very accurate phrases and his external appearance (of a rural sage :)), Benjamin Franklin, at the end of the 18th century in Paris, step by step, created the image of AMERICA - a healthy and enlightened state, where at the cornerstone stand the labor and diligence of a person, not his innate title. He did this so skillfully that over time the image has hardly changed.

The book very detailedly and thoroughly reveals the character traits of the great diplomat, hiding nothing and not justifying anything. After reading the book, the following image of BF was formed in my mind:

Curious (experiments in electricity made him famous as an inventor long before his diplomatic missions);

Practical, rational ("… it is convenient to die rational, it gives the opportunity to find an explanation for any action");

Active and hardworking, selfish (in relation to his family), diplomatic and flexible (the diplomatic mission in France became one of the catalysts for America's independence), wise.

The book will be interesting to all those who are interested in the history of America - one of the most important periods of American history, the 18th century, is excellently revealed.

One of those books that gives both knowledge, and emotions, and a plan of action!