A comprehensively researched and well-balanced biography, it is in very similar territory as McCullough's highly recommended treatise on John Adams. Isaacson's 'Benjamin Franklin - An American Life', published in 2003, captures the extraordinary and multifaceted eighty-four-year life of this founding father. He is a caricature that would be instantly recognizable in The Simpsons. This biography vividly portrays the man, his times, family, morals, scientific enquiry, and political journey.

I have long desired to read Franklin's 'Autobiography', but it doesn't seem to be available in my local library. So, I picked this New York Times Bestseller. Approaching five hundred pages, it comes with almost fifty pages of detailed Notes, a very useful alphabetic cast of characters list, and a chronology from 1706 to 1790.

A chess-playing propagandist, his moves snatched a king off the board and gave Lord North a rook and two pawns for change. Franklin's life was filled with remarkable achievements and adventures, and this biography does an excellent job of presenting them in an engaging and accessible way.

I’ve always had a passing interest in the American Founding Fathers in general and in Benjamin Franklin in particular.

This interest was rekindled by a recent visit to Philadelphia. There, I thoroughly enjoyed Franklin’s house, museum, and print shop.

Then I saw the very good Apple TV series featuring Michael Douglas as Franklin. So I got curious and picked up this biography by Walter Isaacson. It has been one of the best reads of the year.

I discovered and re-discovered so many things about Franklin’s life and times. I developed a new understanding and awe for him. I dare say that he is an excellent contender for the title of most consequential American ever. He is certainly a quintessential example of all that is positive and refreshing about the American experiment.

(I will leave to others to guess who may represent the most negative and despicable aspects of that experiment.)

Franklin’s contributions to the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, his diplomacy with France in support of the War of Independence, his scientific experiments, his practical philosophy, and finally his campaign against slavery truly put him in a league of his own.

This biography renders justice to one of the pivotal figures not only of modern American, but of world history. It shows us the many facets of Franklin’s remarkable life and the profound impact he had on the nation and the world.

A great biography indeed, perhaps of the most interesting founding father of the United States. I was truly captivated by how Walter Isaacson masterfully paints the whole picture of a person. He presents not only the positive aspects but also the negative attributes, or at least what his detractors claim.

One nice anecdote that really stuck with me is the story of how Franklin borrowed a book from someone he wasn't on good terms with. However, he returned the book without even reading it. Surprisingly, after this incident, the man started getting along with him much better. The rationale behind this is quite fascinating. When someone does you a favor, they have to justify in their mind that you must not be so bad, because they did you a favor. This simple act of borrowing and returning a book had a profound impact on their relationship. It shows how small gestures can sometimes have a big influence on how people perceive and interact with each other.

This biography not only provides a detailed account of Franklin's life but also offers valuable insights into human nature and relationships. It is a truly engaging and thought-provoking read.

Ben Franklin is indeed one of the most misunderstood Founding Fathers.

Undoubtedly, this is because his personality was often elusive. He frequently used satire and misdirection in his arguments and even created fictional characters to express his opinions.

Our current image of him is somewhat like that of a wise old favorite uncle, always ready with a wink, a nudge, and a humorous aphorism.

However, Franklin's place in history has been far more contentious. His revolutionary fervor was questioned by his contemporaries. True to his nature, he sought a compromise to preserve the British empire long after it became politically impossible.

His decidedly Enlightenment, middle-class values were regarded skeptically by the Romantics and despised by subsequent generations of Marxists and other radicals.

Understanding these passionate reactions to Franklin helps us grasp his central role in American history. He was the chief advocate and even the creator of a distinct aspect of the American character: a uniquely middle-class ethos of hard work, frugality, community-mindedness, pragmatism, and tolerance.

Franklin's great contribution to the American character was to separate the positive social aspects of Puritanism, such as equality, pragmatism, and hard work, from its destructive religious vices.

Isaacson does an excellent job of detailing Franklin's extraordinary influence while wisely presenting the contradictory aspects of his personality for the reader to judge. The book enables us to see Franklin as his contemporaries must have seen him - a brilliant and pragmatic man who, while fully and energetically engaging in life, always maintained a discreet distance.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Franklin museum in Philadelphia. I was truly astonished by the wide range of Franklin's contributions, not only to the new nation but also to the field of science. The commonly known image of him is that of a bald man flying a kite in dangerous conditions, while at the same time dispensing cheerful advice about thrifty and efficient living. At that moment, I made up my mind to learn more about him. Besides, I have always been a fan of historical biographies.

The chapters on Franklin's early years seemed a bit slow-paced. Perhaps there is simply not enough known information to flesh out those chapters into a more lively narrative. However, the basic facts are there - the spirited and opinionated printer, and the probing scientific mind that marked him as an extraordinary thinker. When he retired from his Philadelphia print shop as a prominent, and sometimes controversial, citizen, he entered a larger arena and eventually became the Postmaster General for the colonies. Along the way, he made some remarkable discoveries about electricity.
The book really took off for me about a third of the way through, when we began to see Franklin at the center of the ferment in the colonies. He spent many years in England on two occasions as an agent for the Pennsylvania Assembly. The Assembly was particularly handicapped by the fact that Pennsylvania was still a proprietary colony, in the hands of the Penn family. While the founder, William Penn, was regarded as admirable, his sons were more difficult to deal with, denying the Assembly the kind of decision-making power that Franklin hoped for. He had already begun to move towards the idea, even as a young man, that the colonists - who were British subjects - should have some form of parliamentary power. He was also interested early on in a high level of cooperation among the separate colonies. As Postmaster General, he had come to appreciate the value of some degree of unity.
But he was no separatist. He was loyal to the crown, hoping for Pennsylvania to receive a royal charter like those of other colonies. He also hoped for a personal grant of Ohio land. However, the crown (and Parliament) were deaf to these pleas. They were equally unresponsive to warnings that Britain's strict rules were leading to disaffected colonists. Although Franklin was instrumental in helping to repeal the Stamp Act, he was less successful in other areas. He particularly hoped for permission for colonists to manufacture goods; for example, they were not allowed to weave their own cloth. He was still in England when the infamous Tea Party occurred. Franklin was somewhat dismayed by this action, as seen from the other side of the Atlantic. He may not have liked the elites, but he also had no patience for the rabble.
While he became a political outcast in England, the renowned Mr. Franklin still enjoyed the company of very influential thinkers and scientists, such as the philosopher David Hume and the scientist Joseph Priestley - a veritable who's who of the 18th century. So there he was, loving his life in England, enjoying the company of great men and adoring women, not eager to return to Philadelphia, and hoping for Britain to recognize colonial rights. But his efforts to speak on behalf of the colonies made him less and less acceptable to critical members of the British government. The Continental Congress had been formed. With great sadness, he boarded a ship for Philadelphia. It was fascinating to observe his turmoil, wanting more respect for the colonies, yet also wanting to be part of the kingdom. His transformation from a loyal subject to a rebellious colonist must have been mirrored in many other people during those years.
Probably I became more engaged with these events because they are so much a part of our national consciousness. Franklin's time in Paris was probably his greatest triumph. He was sent there to enlist French aid in the form of both money and fighting forces. His success in this regard stamps him in history as one of America's greatest diplomats. After he left Paris and returned to Philadelphia, he brought his diplomatic skills and willingness to compromise to the Constitutional Convention. As an elder statesman, he added gravitas to the proceedings and was crucial in its conclusion.
Franklin's relationships with his family members are both puzzling and disheartening. His common-law wife, Deborah, was never willing to travel and would not leave Philadelphia to join him in England. When she had a stroke and then five years of poor health, Franklin did not return to Philadelphia, even when he was told that she did not have long to live. His son William, who defied him by remaining a royalist and ultimately fleeing to London, sought a reconciliation after the conflict ended. Franklin, however, wanted nothing to do with it and managed to ensure that William would be impoverished. He was more affectionate towards his grandchildren, especially the rather irresponsible Temple Franklin, but he could also be dismissive of their needs when he had other priorities. Those priorities sometimes included a group of devoted women, bright and attractive ones who could claim his attention if not his bed.
I'm afraid that in Franklin we have another extraordinary man who was tone-deaf to the needs of others. The concluding chapter is the most interesting part of the book. It was very satisfying to have the author's thoughtful summation of Franklin's reputation, which has fluctuated over the years since his death. He almost becomes a cipher for whatever age you happen to live in. He was the 18th-century embodiment of The Enlightenment in the New World, but as 19th-century thought evolved towards a more romantic view of the world, he seemed soulless to many. John Keats said he was not "a sublime man," but was full of "mean and thrifty maxims." Ralph Waldo Emerson said that Franklin's man "is a frugal, inoffensive, thrifty citizen, but lacks any heroic qualities." All these dismissive comments seem to confuse Franklin with Poor Richard, the alter ego of the Almanac who was the source of Franklin's homely wisdom. In a reversal of those negative 19th-century attitudes, all the modern self-help books seem to draw inspiration from Poor Richard and from Franklin's Autobiography. It's a rather questionable legacy.
More importantly, Isaacson noted in a poetic summation...

He devised legislatures and lightning rods, lotteries and lending libraries. He sought practical ways to make stoves less smoky and commonwealths less corrupt. He organized neighborhood constabularies and international alliances. He combined two types of lenses to create bifocals and two concepts of representation to foster the nation's federal compromise.

Being from Philadelphia, I have always held a deep love and admiration for Benjamin Franklin. Every school trip and family educational outing seemed to lead to the Franklin Institute. It was a tradition that every visit to Independence Mall included throwing pennies on Ben's grave. Reading this biography provided me with a greater understanding of what motivated him and the passion that lay behind his unwavering pursuits. Like many of our Founding Fathers, he was not the best family man as he spent a significant amount of time, often years at a time, away, dedicated to building our nation. I truly appreciated the writing style and the pace of the book. And, of course, it was an engaging read as Ben Franklin never seemed to have a dull or idle moment.

“Another time, he was engaged in a game of chess with his equal, the Duchess of Bourbon. She made a move that, unbeknownst to her, exposed her king. Franklin, disregarding the rules of the game, quickly captured it. 'Ah,' said the duchess, 'we do not take Kings in this way.' Franklin replied with a famous quip: 'We do in America.'” This anecdote, as recounted by Walter Isaacson in “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life,” further showcases Franklin's unique character and his sense of humor.

The reader truly gets an in-depth understanding of Benjamin Franklin through this book biography. However, it is slightly lacking in providing context and fully explaining the events of Franklin's era.

Isaacson depicts Franklin as the archetypal middle-class strivers. He is pragmatic, guided by reason, civic-minded, sociable, and charming. Franklin intertwined his public and private interests, and at times could be rather petty.

Despite being amicable in amassing acquaintances, he had few close friends and was surprisingly cold and distant towards his family members. He was a brilliant negotiator. Although none of Franklin's suggestions were included in the constitution, his true worth at the convention was as the voice of compromise, defusing tense situations with humor.

The conclusion offers an excellent summary and discussion of Franklin's status since his passing in 1790. In our own troubled times, we could surely benefit from having someone like him.

Not long after reading Walter Isaacson's excellent STEVE JOBS years ago, I came across a copy of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: AN AMERICAN LIFE discounted at Barnes and Noble.

I bought it, but it sat unread in my home library until early this month. I had every reason to believe that this biography would be as well-written as the other Isaacson book I'd loved so much. However, it looked extremely long, and hadn't I already read several books about that era?

Then, recently, I watched the AppleTV series, "Franklin," starring Michael Douglas. Once again, I was confused by the relationship between Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Hadn't they collaborated closely and respected each other? Why was there such animosity and a sense that they were strangers when they were in France together? I had previously read David McCullough's book, JOHN ADAMS, but this seemed more extreme than what was described there. That's when my eyes fell on BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: AN AMERICAN LIFE, just waiting to be explored.

Well, I'm ashamed to admit that I hesitated for so long to read it. This is yet another outstanding book from Walter Isaacson. Yes, it is thoroughly researched and filled with details. But, as with STEVE JOBS, I felt like I got to know the subject of the title. The writing style was again captivating, and it wasn't hard to understand the motives that drove Benjamin Franklin.

For anyone who wants a deeper understanding of one of America's Founding Fathers, with all his achievements, flaws, and all-too-human relationship failures, I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book. There have been so many "versions" of Benjamin Franklin presented in books, TV shows, plays, and movies that the real man has become muddled in the process. (It's been astonishing how many details from "back then" apply to today's political and social issues in the US. I can't count how many times I've thought about Franklin's comment that we are a Republic... "If you can keep it.")

The author initially made numerous affirmations regarding Mr. Franklin.

However, these affirmations were later refuted by the very direct quotes that the author himself entered in the biography.

Surprisingly, the conclusions that the author arrived at were not even supported by the material that he utilized within the book.

This lack of consistency and reliability in the author's work makes it a less than ideal choice for someone who is truly serious about delving deeper and learning more about the remarkable figure of Benjamin Franklin.

It is essential for a biography to present an accurate and well-supported account of the subject's life and achievements.

In this case, the book fails to meet this criterion, and thus, I would not recommend it to those who are seeking a comprehensive and trustworthy understanding of Benjamin Franklin.

No complaints about this book - except: see 'Addendum' below.

This book is extremely readable. In fact, I'm quite certain that I'll re-read it at some point in the future. The author does an excellent job of keeping the narrative flowing smoothly. With less than 500 pages, it has to be the best single-volume biography of Benjamin Franklin. (That statement might sound a bit over the top, but take it with a grain of salt, because I'll probably not read another Benjamin Franklin biography, whether it's a single volume or otherwise!)

Read it, and you're bound to learn a thing or two about a variety of things. (That also sounds rather cool!)

- - -

Addendum:

In my review for Jean Edward Smith's FDR, I'd written this:

After reading 636 pages about FDR, perhaps even developing a sort of connection (or whatever) with the subject matter, after spending a significant number of hours on this book, it seems to me that a chapter (or two) to wrap things up and recap would not have been excessive.

I can now say that, well, maybe it's all for the best. Because in this book, the author has an 18-page 'Conclusions' chapter... which is about 14 pages too long! It starts off and just rambles on and on, and I simply didn't have the patience to finish it. So, Goodreads powers-that-be, why don't you go ahead and subtract 6 pages from my number of pages read in 2015. Thanks.

Although Ben Franklin was an immensely interesting person,

I don't think this book captured that.

I never could finish it because it got so boring.

As with many autobiographies, I think the author was more interested in showing how much research he did instead of engaging the reader in the story of Ben's life.

I learned many things about Ben Franklin.

I guess he is more of a character than I thought he was.

If I took anything away from it, I would say it was his ability to be a true diplomat...or I guess politician.

He had a way of making each person he was dealing with feel important.

Ben Franklin was a remarkable individual with a plethora of achievements and a unique personality. However, this particular book failed to do justice to his captivating life.

The author seemed more focused on presenting the details of his research rather than telling a compelling story.

As a result, the narrative became dull and uninteresting, making it difficult for me to continue reading.

Nevertheless, I did manage to glean some valuable insights about Franklin.

He was indeed a complex character, with a talent for diplomacy and politics.

His ability to make others feel important was a testament to his charm and charisma.

Overall, while the book may not have been a great read, it did provide some interesting information about one of America's most famous founding fathers.

In 2007, I had the opportunity to visit the King Tut exhibit. It was truly an amazing experience that left a lasting impression on me.

However, I was equally impressed by the Ben Franklin museum, where the exhibit was also shown in Pennsylvania. The museum was filled with interesting artifacts and displays that brought the life and times of Ben Franklin to life.

I also had the pleasure of reading a book about these two exhibits. I absolutely loved this book! It was filled with so much information that I found myself learning something new on every page.

Maybe I'm a bit of a nerd, but I couldn't put this book down. It was a real page turner that I looked forward to reading each day. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history or wants to learn more about these two fascinating exhibits.