4.5 stars

I was completely charmed and thoroughly smitten by this wonderful something. From the moment I laid eyes on it, it had an undeniable allure that drew me in. The details were exquisite, and every aspect seemed to be crafted with the utmost care and precision. It was like a work of art that captured my heart and imagination. I found myself constantly thinking about it, unable to get it out of my mind. The charm it possessed was truly captivating, and I couldn't help but be drawn back to it again and again. It was one of those rare things that just had a special magic, and I feel so fortunate to have experienced it. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something that will leave them completely charmed and thoroughly smitten.

Readers who are in search of a truly readable, engaging, and page-turning account of the least patrician among the Founding Fathers can look no further. Here, they will find a very enjoyable read that delves into the life of Franklin.

This book is filled with his aphorisms and wisdom, yet it never shies away from his failings. His family life, to say the least, was extremely complicated. Despite this, the book comprehensively covers all of his great accomplishments. It details his publications, his remarkable entrepreneurship, his numerous innovations, his diplomatic endeavors, his statesmanship, and finally, his hidden influence behind many of the important phrases and structures in the American government.

It manages to be detailed without being overly exhausting. I would highly recommend this book to readers who have an interest in early American history, and especially those who are particularly fascinated by Franklin. It offers a unique and captivating perspective on his life and contributions, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to understand this influential figure.

The grumpus23

The grumpus23 (23-word commentary)

Remarkable life. Genius. A great patriot on one hand but an unsympathetic family man. This is a complex and multi-faceted individual. The book that chronicles his life is indeed a good one. It delves deep into his various aspects, presenting a detailed picture. However, it's not my favorite Walter Isaacson biography. There are other works by him that I find more engaging and captivating. Maybe it's because the subject matter of this particular book didn't resonate with me as strongly. Nevertheless, it's still a worthy read for those interested in learning about the life of this remarkable person.

Walter Isaacson’s “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life” is truly a remarkable biography.

Isaacson's writing style is fluid and effortless, captivating the reader and making this larger-than-life founding father not only accessible but also highly relevant to the modern audience.

As you delve into this biography, you'll be astounded by how practical, intelligent, and simply wise Ben Franklin was. Isaacson frequently employs Franklin's own words (given that Franklin was a prolific writer), and you'll likely find yourself underlining and annotating numerous passages. The word “practical” appears frequently in the text, as Isaacson emphasizes again and again that this was a crucial attribute of Franklin's and a pervasive philosophy he advocated. Everything from his scientific pursuits to his religious and philosophical ponderings was grounded in the concept of practicality in daily life.

The text is filled with fascinating tidbits of information that will leave the reader in awe. For instance, the fact that Franklin originated the use of the pro/con list. It also features an outstanding section titled “Defining his God,” which is incredibly interesting. Benjamin Franklin had some thought-provoking insights on religion. Additionally, the book skillfully and powerfully showcases Franklin's creation and promotion of the idea of an American middle class, an ideal he supported throughout his life.

However, there is a minor criticism of the book. The section in the Conclusion called “History’s Reflections” could have been omitted. It traces Franklin's reputation from his death to the present. For some reason, I felt it detracted from the main text.

“Benjamin Franklin: An American Life” is an engaging chronological narrative that one cannot read without realizing the enormous impact Franklin had on the American character up to the present day. Walter Isaacson has crafted an engaging and significant biography, and anyone渴望 to know more than the superficial details about Franklin learned in school should definitely pick it up.

Seeking to further my exploration and gain a deeper understanding of the birth of America and its Founding Fathers, I delved into Walter Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin.

The book not only provides an in-depth examination of Franklin as a person but also offers a series of captivating vignettes related to the numerous activities he engaged in throughout his life.

This most eclectic individual, the fifth generation of the youngest son of the youngest son, charmed many he encountered, and Isaacson's presentation is sure to attract a wide range of readers as well.

In Isaacson's analysis, three themes emerge regarding Franklin's persona: a common man, an inquisitive thinker, and a great Founding Father.

Using these themes and Isaacson's engaging narrative, the reader can learn a wealth of information from this one volume, all of which helps to better shape our view of this diverse and influential figure from America's early days.

At no point did Franklin attempt to present himself as anything other than an ordinary man. He led a simple life and was raised in a household with sixteen siblings, where frugality was considered a virtue.

Becoming self-sufficient at a young age, he sought to make a name for himself in the Philadelphia area by becoming a printer and embarking on a career that would make him a household name long before his role as a Founding Father.

He used the written word to educate the masses, from tracts and pamphlets to satirical books, demonstrating the power of the pen to sway opinions as effectively as the sword.

Isaacson humanizes Franklin by discussing his affairs, which led to the birth of a bastard son, William, but also shows that he did not shirk from his responsibilities.

Franklin did marry and have a legitimate family of his own, but they often took a backseat to his work and, eventually, his curiosities.

Despite his political involvements, Franklin remained firmly rooted as a common man, distinguishing himself from the likes of military leader Washington or highly political Jefferson.

To the very end of his days, he always sought the best for his fellow man without pretension or a sense of entitlement.

The fact that Franklin was constantly thinking is a recurring theme in Isaacson's narrative. He never ceased to wonder about the world around him and what might be possible.

Even from an early age, when he began publishing, he sought to improve the lives of those around him by challenging the status quo and expressing a desire for growth.

He printed his stories and ideas to encourage the common man to think about life and how they presented themselves, hoping to open their minds to new ideas and better ways of living.

Isaacson illustrates Franklin's many ideas, including fire brigades, property insurance, and public lending libraries. He saw opportunities and needs and presented practical plans that, in the context of Philadelphia, blossomed into institutions that are now taken for granted.

In the realm of science, Franklin had a greater interest in exploring new avenues of thought, but always with a practical bent rather than the esoteric or theoretical.

He made significant contributions to the understanding of electricity, including the discovery of electrical conversion and conservation, and paved the way for future scientists to build on his ideas.

Isaacson presents Franklin's ideas in a way that elevates his status without making the reader feel that he was superior to others, a feat that some biographers of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson have failed to achieve.

Franklin's actions were driven by curiosity and a desire to help those around him, and his ideas have become so deeply ingrained in our daily lives that learning about their origin can be truly awe-inspiring.

Franklin's concern for the common man and his innovative mind led to a retired life in which politics played a central role.

Early in the book, Isaacson mentions that Franklin was the only Founding Father who had a hand in all of the documents related to America's eventual sovereignty.

Although he was initially loyal to the British Crown, he also recognized some of the issues faced by his fellow colonists, particularly in the areas of taxation and local control.

Isaacson discusses Franklin's plan for a form of legislative agreement that could have potentially avoided the need for the Revolutionary War and led to a more Canadian-style solution to the colonial problem.

However, this plan failed, and Franklin stood firm with his colonial brethren in the fight for equality and representation.

He was elected to represent Pennsylvania in negotiations with the British in London, but his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful in swaying King George III.

This failure precipitated the War of Independence, and Franklin played a crucial role in securing support from European allies and tempering the issues that arose during the war and the subsequent peace negotiations.

Isaacson does an excellent job of presenting Franklin's diplomatic activities and arguing that he was likely the one person who could have quelled the intensity of the British resistance during this period of colonial separation.

The number of historical figures that Franklin interacted with and influenced is truly astounding, and Isaacson does not shy away from exploring this aspect of his life.

After the war, Franklin was involved in the drafting of the constitutional documents, and although he was elderly and not the most eloquent speaker, his ideas were firmly rooted in democratic principles and aimed at benefiting the people.

Some of his ideas were met with skepticism by the more experienced politicians, while others were given serious consideration and ultimately incorporated into the final documents.

To say that Franklin was an important figure in the political history of America is an understatement.

While Franklin展现了多样且令人愉悦的激情一面，但在整本书中还出现了一个几乎可以算作第四个主题的内容：他完全抛弃了自己的家庭，尤其是女性成员。

富兰克林在殖民地和欧洲四处游荡，很少考虑他的妻子黛博拉，只是偶尔给她写信，还在信中提到他在伦敦工作时同住一个屋檐下的女人与他变得多么亲密。

当他得知黛博拉中风时，他没有回来，她去世时他也没有匆忙赶回去。富兰克林似乎完全脱离了他作为丈夫的责任，而且对此毫不在意。

虽然他会给女儿和她的丈夫写一些亲切的信，但他也很少努力去参加女儿的婚礼或在她婚前的生活中扮演任何角色。

就像那个总是在车库里捣鼓的人一样，富兰克林有太多的事情要做，而留给身边人的时间却太少，除非他们也完全沉浸在他的行动中。

除此之外，前面提到的他的私生子威廉成为了新泽西的皇家总督，这使得他们在威廉成年后的大部分时间里都处于对立的立场。

有趣的是，正如艾萨克森在书中所展示的那样，富兰克林与他的孙子孙女们有着很好的关系，尽管他对自己的孩子很不好。

这是一个有趣的主题，即家庭遗弃，而且我在之前读过的任何一本关于开国元勋的传记中都没有看到过。这一点非常深刻，并且与富兰克林一生中所做的所有好事形成了很好的平衡。

艾萨克森对富兰克林的传记描述既全面又有趣，让读者远离了平凡的琐事，同时又没有忽略关键的方面。

书中充满了精彩的见解，展示了艾萨克森在撰写这本书时所付出的关注细节和广泛研究的努力。

通过强大的主题和异常独特的观察（比如富兰克林生下威廉导致了另外两代私生子的产生），让读者充满兴趣和敬畏地不断阅读下去，而不是出于一种必须的感觉。

就像我之前读过的艾萨克森所写的另一个人物（史蒂夫·乔布斯）一样，富兰克林通过作者精彩的文笔跃然纸上。

艾萨克森先生，为你这本精彩的传记点赞。我迫不及待地想深入阅读你写的其他政治巨头（基辛格）或科学家（爱因斯坦）的传记了。

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Isaacson is currently garnering a great deal of attention and readership for his Steve Jobs biography. Interestingly, there is a certain symmetry in his biography of Franklin, who was surely the Steve Jobs of his era. (This comparison is, without a doubt, favorable to Jobs.)

Isaacson does an outstanding job of situating Franklin within his remarkable historical context. Ben Franklin was ancient! When he was born, time was reckoned by a different calendar - the Julian instead of the Gregorian. He was a contemporary of such olden Puritan greats as Cotton and Increase Mather. The Salem Witch Trials had taken place just 14 years before his birth. (Witchburning was as recent in his past as Beatlemania was in mine.) The America in which he came of age was a truly distinct place from what it was for men like Washington and Adams. Thomas Jefferson was young enough to have been his grandson!

Isaacson does an excellent job of bringing this almost exotic American to life and enumerating his numerous unique accomplishments and contributions to American and world culture. I cannot do justice to it here, but Isaacson explains how many of Franklin's scientific achievements (he coined the term "battery" for electrical storage and also came up with the concepts of "positive" and "negative" charges) remain impressive and even crucial to today's scientific understandings.

Isaacson also demystifies much of the lore surrounding Ben Franklin's sexual reputation. He was no saint, but he was nowhere near the libertine his enemies made him out to be. His advanced age and severe gout would have prevented him from engaging in the kind of shenanigans he was famous for in France.

Isaacson also devotes space to Franklin's constantly evolving spiritual understanding. He was certainly not an orthodox Christian by any means, but neither did he die as the Deist he was renowned for being in his younger days.

Isaacson concludes with a captivating essay on Franklin's significance to American and even world history. There are perhaps none as versatile and as widely accomplished as Franklin in the annals of any nation.

Benjamin Franklin was truly a remarkable figure, far ahead of his time in both thought and action.

He had an incredibly diverse and eventful life. From building a successful media conglomerate to retiring at a relatively young age of 42 and then delving into the world of science. He witnessed the actions of the British towards the Irish and was determined that America should not suffer the same fate. In his 70s, despite suffering from gout, he traveled to France to persuade them to fund the American Revolution. He even found himself on opposite sides of the war from his own son.

One of his notable contributions was in the realm of communication. In his witty piece “On Conversation,” written shortly after forming the Junto, he emphasized the importance of deferring to others or at least giving the appearance of doing so. He believed that even the smartest comments could cause envy and disgust if not presented properly. His advice on how to win friends and influence people was similar to what would later be taught in Dale Carnegie courses.

Franklin also cataloged the most common conversational sins that cause dislike. Talking too much was at the top of the list, as it always seemed to excite resentment. He humorously described the encounter of two such talkative people, highlighting their impatience and eagerness to interrupt each other.

His beliefs about the role of printers were also quite progressive. He thought that when men differed in opinion, both sides should have the opportunity to be heard by the public. He ended his “Apology for Printers” with a fable about a father and son traveling with a donkey, illustrating the folly of trying to avoid all criticism.

Franklin was also a keen observer of nature. Among his many discoveries was the understanding that northeasters, the big East Coast storms with winds from the northeast, actually move in the opposite direction. His inquiries into the timing of storms led him to this “very singular opinion” and is considered the beginning of the science of weather prediction.

In addition to his scientific and literary achievements, Franklin was also involved in politics. He came up with the idea of the matching grant, showing how government and private initiative could work together. He believed in volunteerism and limited government, but also recognized the legitimate role of government in promoting the common good.

Franklin was not afraid to speak his mind, even when it came to controversial topics. He criticized Britain’s practice of expelling convicts to America and proposed a rather humorous solution. He also had strong views on welfare and the economy, warning against welfare dependency and promoting a version of the trickle-down theory.

His experiences in France during the American Revolution were also quite interesting. He had the honor of standing next to the haughty Marie-Antoinette, who seemed to have little appreciation for his humble beginnings as a printer’s foreman. And during his late-night chess matches in Passy, he showed his competitive spirit, even when it meant bending the rules of the game.

Overall, Benjamin Franklin was a man of many talents and ideas. His contributions to science, literature, politics, and society continue to be relevant and influential today.

This was truly an enjoyable read. I completed it in 2008, several years prior to the release of this author's Steve Jobs book. I'm fairly certain it's the same author, isn't it?

Anyway, within these pages, you'll obtain good information regarding this man's life. I found the writing to be of a decent quality, yet it wasn't overly spicy or captivating.

I have a suspicion that delving into this man's autobiography would be a far better option. It would likely offer a more in-depth and personal perspective on his life, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of his experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

Perhaps the autobiography would contain the kind of details and insights that were lacking in this particular book, making it a more engaging and worthwhile read.

Isaacson's Benjamin Franklin is truly a classic. It is an absolute must-read for anyone who has a keen interest in American history and democracy.

Franklin, a remarkable figure, once had an encounter with a lady who inquired at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention what form of government the U.S. would have. His response was profound: "A republic, Madam, if you can keep it."

Fast forward to 2024, Franklin's reply still holds great significance. On November 5, 2024, it will be a crucial moment to determine whether the U.S. manages to remain a democratic republic or unfortunately veers towards becoming a dictatorship.

It is of utmost importance that every citizen votes the full ballot with the intention of safeguarding a democratic republic. This is not just a matter of political preference but a fundamental choice that will shape the future of the nation.

We must all take this responsibility seriously and ensure that the principles of democracy and the republic are upheld for generations to come.

Superb! This is a very readable and highly recommended biography of Franklin.

I'm kind of surprised that I never read one on him before, but his life is truly fascinating. He was the oldest of the 'Founding Fathers' and perhaps the most interesting, with his forays into science and the natural world, along with all he accomplished both early and late in life.

He was the only man with his name on the four crucial documents that got the country underway: the Declaration of Independence, the treaty with France, the peace with Britain, and the Constitution.

I won't try to summarize much here, although the material dealing with John Adams shows a different (and not very flattering) side to the man extolled so well by David McCullough.

Might be fun to reread the sections in that book on Franklin, because it has to be a far different view.

Getting to a 5-star bio is where Caro and maybe a few others live, and that is a different level. This biography of Franklin is definitely a great read and offers a unique perspective on this remarkable man.

I find this a difficult book to review.

First, it is a 24-hour audible book, which makes it extremely long. I wonder if I would have ever managed to get through a paper copy! It just didn't grab my attention initially, but when you're listening, it keeps progressing.

I did learn a few things about Benjamin Franklin. He retired from work at the age of 42. He had amassed enough wealth from his work as a printer and other sources. He wasn't born into a wealthy family and liked to consider himself a member of the middle class.

He owned two slaves as servants. One of them ran away when he was living in London, and he didn't attempt to recapture him. It wasn't until later in his life that he took an active anti-slavery stance. His relationships with women were somewhat mysterious. During the many years he lived in Europe, his wife remained in the US. The author suggests that his several significant relationships with other women while he was married might have been romantic but not sexual.

The last chapter of the book probably merits more attention than I was able to give it. In this chapter, the author attempts to analyze Franklin's character based on the writings of various other authors who wrote about him after his death. He definitely attracted a lot of attention, and there was no consensus in either his praise or criticism. The author of this book predominantly views him as a positive character.

The life of Franklin provides a unique perspective on the founding of our country since he spent a significant amount of time in London and Paris. Significant life experiences began at a young age for many of the important men of that era, and Franklin was no exception. He was writing for publication as a teenager. One of the challenging aspects of writing about the historical Franklin is that he adopted several alternative personas in his writing that weren't exactly him. The author even tries to describe the character that Franklin created while writing his autobiography. It's strange to think of someone writing their own story in the guise of another character. This was, of course, an era where much of the history was told and explored through the numerous letters that people wrote.

I thought one of the interesting things I learned from the book was that Franklin held out hope that the colonies would remain part of England in some way until very late, even until 1775. But once he changed his mind and decided that it wasn't going to happen, he became one of the more ardent spokespeople for independence and never looked back. And although he associated with kings in England and France, he never became an elitist, continuing to advocate for the middle class throughout his life.

I enjoy providing background in my reviews of how I’ve acquired or read a book, because I believe it helps to paint a picture of my tastes, desires, and it might even give you more information about me. In other words, maybe the books I read act as my own autobiography.

I bought this highly anticipated book only a short time after getting a new job as a store manager with FranklinCovey. Having made good friends with the store manager of the Waldenbooks store down the hall from my old store, I spent a fair amount of time in her store. I would learn about new and hot books, as well as best sellers as events unfolded.

Four elements, therefore, led me to this book. FranklinCovey, at that time my new employer, was formed by Hyrum Smith and Stephen Covey. Both men have been leaders in business thought and self-improvement fields and both credit their philosophies, in large part, to the “Moral Improvement” project that Ben Franklin crafted to focus his own life. I was attracted to the book, first, because of my new company and their principles and philosophies.

Second, I am a fan, if not a well read one, of American history. To me, the founding of our country is the ultimate action story. Winning our independence was so improbable and so hard fought, that it made for great theater and epic stories of adventure and heroism.

Third, I try to read as much nonfiction as possible. The older I get, the more I come to understand that it’s a total imperative to learn about the world in which I live. I also see that there is more out there in this world that I don’t know, than the sum of what I do know.

Lastly, spending time on my lunch breaks, browsing books down at Waldenbooks meant I saw books before most people could. When the first copies of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life arrived, I couldn’t resist the temptation to pick up a copy.

Despite my intentions, though, it sat on my bookshelf, untouched for years. It’s an imposingly thick book and I could never seem to find the time. Flash forward three years and to a different FranklinCovey store; my staff was comprised of avid readers. In down times, they were commonly seen to pull out a book. Since they were diligent about hiding their books when a customer would walk in, there was no reason for me to deny them the freedom to read.

It dawned on me that there were many books on my shelf, begging to be read. I always complained about a lack of free time to read; yet I usually had at least half an hour or more of free time every day. If my staff could pull out a book, why couldn’t I? With that in mind, I brought in the book I’d bought three years earlier.

After having read and reviewed “Ernie Pyle’s War” last year and having reconsidered my earlier opinion, it occurred to me that reviewing a biography didn’t necessarily involve reviewing a human life. Instead, my reviews, I hope, are a reflection of how I’ve perceived how the book’s author has presented that human life. With that in mind, Walter Isaacson, former CEO of CNN, paints a loving and admiring, as well as a fair view of the life of a truly epic founding father.

This book, by and large, is a chronological history of the life of a man who accomplished more than entire branches of many family’s trees. Mr. Isaacson crafts an unmistakably clear depiction of the growth and maturation, as well as the mental and emotion development of this founding father, showing how Ben Franklin’s experiences as a youth and young professional would affect his opinions and roles as a reluctant revolutionary.

Ben was born almost three hundred years ago, as I write this, to a typically large family. Without writing a mini version of a great biography, along the way, we travel the world with Ben as he debates philosophy of the common man as a publisher, steals inspiration from future generations as an inventor and scientist, and ultimately acts as the greatest diplomat that America and maybe the world, has ever seen. That statement would be hard to classify as hyperbole.

Ben’s story, as presented by Mr. Isaacson, is almost too fantastic and too seemingly superhuman to have happened, but the biography is supremely detailed and referenced up one side of the book’s 500+ page length, and down the other.

The book, to be fair, is written on such a high reading level, that it wouldn’t be considered as a quick read by a person with less than an advanced postgraduate degree. Most readers of my reviews almost certainly know that I fall south of that mark, so this book took me much of a year to get through, after fits and starts of reading passages as time allowed. I should have known I was up against a seriously toned book when I learned that Supreme Court Justice Stevens was listening to this book as a book on audio. At least my reading list puts me in the highest company!

Mr. Isaacson suggests that Benjamin Franklin’s philosophy matches him to no current major political ideology. Ben was way too complex of thought, but pure of philosophy than either of the two major political parties today would encourage. As a decided partisan myself, I find this a particularly refreshing discovery about the man who both invented bifocal glasses and mediated the constitutional congress of 1787 (and so much more, to be fair). This biography also frames Benjamin Franklin as a very, very likeable, but not perfect man. Mr. Isaacson resorts to none of the fan-boy tactics that many biographers might be inclined to use. He displays Ben’s greatness as well as his foibles and warts, so that the reader is free to bring their own judgments to the events of Franklin’s life.

This book is a solid, enjoyable overview of a man who can be described as one of the first truly great Americans. If the style and presentation of this tome had been directed towards a lesser figure, it might have been an even more difficult read, but no fair, complete, and accurate telling of the life of Benjamin Franklin would allow for any such boredom or indifference. The greatness of the book’s subject raises my grade of this book by a single star.