Benjamin Franklin : An American Life

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Benjamin Franklin is the founding father who winks at us -- an ambitious urban entrepreneur who rose up the social ladder, from leather-aproned shopkeeper to dining with kings.

In bestselling author Walter Isaacson's vivid and witty full-scale biography, we discover why Franklin turns to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind his new-fangled spectacles. In Benjamin Franklin, Isaacson shows how Franklin defines both his own time and ours.

The most interesting thing that Franklin invented, and continually reinvented, was himself. America's first great publicist, he was consciously trying to create a new American archetype. In the process, he carefully crafted his own persona, portrayed it in public, and polished it for posterity. His guiding principle was a "dislike of everything that tended to debase the spirit of the common people." Few of his fellow founders felt this comfort with democracy so fully, and none so intuitively.

In this colorful and intimate narrative, Isaacson provides the full sweep of Franklin's amazing life, from his days as a runaway printer to his triumphs as a statesman, scientist, and Founding Father. He chronicles Franklin's tumultuous relationship with his illegitimate son and grandson, his practical marriage, and his flirtations with the ladies of Paris. He also shows how Franklin helped to create the American character and why he has a particular resonance in the twenty-first century.

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In addition, his scientific contributions over his lifetime made him the foremost American thinker and earned the admiration and friendship of the greatest European minds of the time.I used to work for the Franklin Day Planner company (long before the merger with Stephen Covey) and they practically idolized his philosophies for self-improvement, turning them into a successful business to help people gain better control over their time and lives (I still consider it one of the best companies I've ever worked for). Although initially reluctant to break ties with England, once he made up his mind there was no turning back and he was as essential to independence as any of the founding fathers. In fact, he was the only one to sign (and profoundly influence) the four most important documents that began this nation: the Declaration of Independence, the treaty with France for their support of the colonies (while he served as ambassador there), the treaty with England to end the war, and the Constitution. We may not always recognize the pervasive ways he's influenced society today, but he's always there.

He may not have had much success with humility (he couldn't help but take pride in his accomplishments) and he certainly wasn't a decent husband and father to his own family (preferring the surrogate families he surrounded himself with in England and France on his excessively long stays there) but his other accomplishments were many. He published "Poor Richard's Almanac" which included so many aphorisms and popular sayings that a great many of them are still in use today. Isaacson numbers his shortcomings along with his successes and presents a fairly well-balanced portrait of this giant of a man, and makes it all very readable and even entertaining. He served in many government positions and argued for preserving the freedoms of the citizens. Unfortunately, we don't often know much else of what he did, except that he was one of the "Founding Fathers." More than once, while reading this book, someone said to me, "oh yeah, didn't he write the Declaration of Independence." Um, no.Benjamin Franklin was a printer, and he made such a good living that he was able to retire from it when he was 40 years old. He started volunteer fire departments and lending libraries and service clubs, and pushed for improvements such as paved streets. He was an old man by the time war was declared but influenced Thomas Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence and signed it. But as Walter Isaacson points out so well, Franklin was so much more than just one character trait.

He addresses the critics of Franklin through the years, such as the "Romantics" of the early 19th century who complained about his folksy image and championship of middle class values (Herman Melville grudgingly called Franklin "everything but a poet"), and since his day Franklin and his thinking has drifted in and out of style. Everyone knows good ol' Ben Franklin, the guy who flew a kite in a storm and 'discovered' electricity. He was the postmaster for the colonies and greatly improved the system of mail delivery. He consciously worked on improving himself in many ways.

I'm sitting here staring at the book cover trying to think of something bad about this book and can't. This is a book that should be read by all those children, like me, who never really knew about what this man did for our country.Likely the epitome of the American character, Walter Isaacson takes his readers on a journey through the life of one of our first "self made" men. I walked away from the book knowing more about Benjamin Franklin the man and feel that I'm a better person for it. When you finish this book you will feel like you know Benjamin Franklin. If you grew up in the United States, the legend of Benjamin Franklin has been shoved down your throat, but when a child is asked what Franklin did, few can tell you without mentioning a key during a lightning storm. Benjamin Franklin lived one of those lives that leaves you gasping for breath and the author did a fantastic job of allowing the reader come along on the Franklin-journey.

I am not a big fan of used books but this one is in great condition. I was impressed by the entire transaction.

And for excellent works regarding other aspects of the America Revolution I highly recommend "Paul Revere's Ride" by Fischer, Flexner's four volume biography of George Washington, "The Traitor and the Spy" (about Benedict Arnold and John Andre) by Flexner, and "The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas" by Buchanan. For lengthier dissections of this book, I refer the reader to previous three and two star reviews, including the thoughtful review provided by FreeAtLast on August 13, 2003. In all, it seems to be the beneficiary of considerable grade inflation, perhaps from reviewers confusing the greatness of its subject with the quality of the book. The book moves s.l.o.w.l.y. My review is intended primarily to provide this three star book with another three star review. Further, it provides little evidence of original research but frequently relies upon other writers. For recommendations for better books about Franklin, please see FreeAtLast and other three and two star reviews.

I truly look forward to reading it every evening. It is written well and such an easy read. I read Benjamin Franklin's autobiography a few years ago and thought I would check out Walter Isaacson's book. I love it. I am really enjoying his style and hate to put it down.