Anyone who wants to understand Benjamin Franklin would be well served by reading Steven Johnson's book "The Invention of Air," which is mostly about Joseph Priestley but often mentions Franklin. The Johnson book does a fine job of showing that aspect of Franklin to which the disappointing Isaacson book gives short shrift: Franklin the scientist.

The Isaacson biography is also sorely disappointing because it is so... what? So pedestrian, so conventional, so obviously a poor rehashing of much better Franklin biographies that preceded this one. One wonders why Isaacson even bothered to write the book. Money, perhaps? Whatever his motivation, the result is poor.

I felt much the same about Isaacson's biography of another intriguing personage: Albert Enstein. In that book, Isaacson manages to fog up the science because the physics in question obviously overwhelms his ability to comprehend it, much less write about it.... although he tries anyway, to the dismay (and confusion) of the unfortunate reader.

But Isaacson, as any layperson, could understand the science that Franklin explored and was so important to in his era. Indeed, Franklin was primarily known during his time as a scientist, not a politician/statesman. And Isaacson fails to capture that in his book. Instead, we just get another humdrum biography apparently churned out for a buck. Too bad.

I do wish Isaacson would stop writing biographies---at least about those people I admire.

Well-written, readable, and balanced. Presents the unappreciated breadth and depth of Franklin's contributions while not glossing over his lack of emotional commitment. The chapter tracing the wax and wane of American appreciation of Franklin with the passage of time alone is nearly worth the price of the book.

The book was not in very good condition. Some pages were very loose and the cover was in just ok shape. I feel the need to buy this book again because I don't like reading a book I have to take such care with that it may fall apart.

I drive my kids to school and for a half hour twice a day they are a captive audience. Their ages are 7 & 11.
I use that time to expose them to American history and literature via audio books. This was very listenable with 7 year old staying with 75% of the book. She is not mature enough to follow the passages on diplomacy and intrigue but that is expected. Both children have shared their knowledge of Ben Franklin with their teachers and with family. It is academic enough for the mature reader without the younger listener totally loosing interest.
On the squabble meter of 1-5 its a 5 as there were no squabbles caused by disinterest during the drive.
On the participation meter of 1-5 its a 5 as we stopped the CD many times as they wanted to discuss topics presented in the book.

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life is bar-none the best biography I have ever read.

Walter Isaacson takes us on a journey with Benjamin Franklin from the cradle to the grave, through decades and generations of scientifically and personal achievements, setbacks and misfortunes.

The book itself is easy to read, told through chronological glimpses at Benjamin Franklin's life rather than working towards an overall swiping grand achievement, a mistake, I believe, which is done by many biographers.
Think of you own life?
Do you want think that there is only one story of grand achievement to tell or many little stories which might give the reader a new perspective and an opportunity to know more about you than just a footnote in history.

We all know Benjamin Franklin from history classes and the teacher might have mentioned his other notable achievements, however Mr. Franklin had many notable achievements - far too many to mention in a 45 minute classroom. This biography is a terrific sweeping read and full of insights.

One of the best points about this book is that Benjamin Franklin, even though a loyal subject to the crown for most of his life, is a contemporary American - or certainly what we think of ourselves as and what we like to achieve: hard working, inventive, brave, curious, a PR maven and rich.

A recommended read and a wonderful gift.

Isaacson has written a superbly interesting biography of one of the most important figures in our history.

He presents Franklin's personality as I would have thought; Very intelligent, controversial, a visonary, yet someone with a very "human" side.

This account of this fascinating individual, will not disappoint you.

Spend some quality time with Franklin... The investment of time is well worth it.

The writing is superb. I am going to try and find other books that Isaacson has written. I've not read other books on Franklin so I can't compare but it seemed thorough to me.

I saw that other reviewers commented that they enjoyed David McCullough's John Adam's more, but I haven't been able to finish it as of yet. I'm sure it's thorough and it's fairly well written, but it's work for me to read while the Isaacson book was a wonderful, fun read.

This book is funny because Franklin was funny. Maybe he wasn't funny - maybe it's that he's almost become a caricature of himself. Nevertheless, if you're a history buff, a founding father buff, a politics buff, etc. this book is worth the read. My only criticism is that this is a "everything you ever wanted to know and everything you didn't care about knowing about B. Franklin." I almost felt as though I'd had my fill after about 2/3 of the book.

The book is generally good, albeit dull at times, but the author's tendency to play up the strengths and downplay the weaknesses of individuals he considers to be "liberal heroes" (e.g., Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, etc.) and to slam those he considers to be "conservative villains" (e.g., John Adams, John Dickinson) is shallow and irritating, but not surprising from the former Managing Editor of TIME magazine and Chairman and CEO of CNN. The same lense through which both TIME and CNN spin, I mean, report current political news is the lense through which the author distorts the descriptions of certain historical figures at times in the book.

This is an absolutely fascinating, beautifully written bio that covers both a man and an epoch. While the prose is extremely dense and well informed, the book never indulges in academic excess or obscure controversies in order to develop a point of view for reasons of career. It is just a great elegant read that completely held my interest from start to finish.

Franklin had an amazing career. He started out as a printer and became America's premier writer as well as a media magnate by his mid-40s, when he essentially retired for the sake of scientific pursuits and later politics and diplomacy. He established his business with energy and audacity, creating numerous personae for himself and indeed an entire philosophy of practical accomplishment and moderation that was later despised as bourgeois. He even pioneered a new way to do autobiography (about entrepreneurship in middle class life rather than a religious or philosophical revelation).

As a scientist, he embodied the Enlightenment, made fundamental discoveries - who can forget kite and key in the storm? - and was feted as one of the great intellectuals of his age in Europe, and even knew Hume, Gibbon, Adam Smith, and other luminaries as personal friends. Isaacson explains his contributions and puts them into context with masterful succinctness, avoiding excessive detail while presenting the essentials. He also used his insights to invent a number of devices, rarely for profit, that are in use today in one form or another (the lightning rod, the indoor stove as opposed to the less-energy efficient fireplace). The contrast with the abstract considerations of scholastics and idealists could not be more stark - he was an empiricist who experimented, not a theorist. On the way across the Atlantic, he even made measurement of water temperatures that were so accurate they formed the basis of the beginning of our understanding of the Gulf Stream. The range of his activities is truly astonishing: at one point, he invented a phonetic writing system for English to make it easier to learn to read; it involved the invention of six new characters and the elimination of six redundancies, though it never caught on.

His political evolution is also interesting. There was a time when he so enjoyed England that it was assumed he would stay as a British citizen. He was late to come over to the independence cause, which gave his enemies (they were many) fodder to attack him as a hidden tory. He was also rather conservative economically, in order to protect entrepreneurs from government encroachments. But he abhorred aristocratic privilege in favor of the middle class, also quite unconventional. Perhaps his greatest contributions were as a diplomat: among scores of intrigues, he negotiated the alliance with France, which for the first time in centuries was at peace with Britain (a sine qua non to win the war) as well as the peace treaty with Britain. Finally, he was a grey eminence at the Constitutional Convention, keeping things going with his humor and spirit more than his intellectual contributions that were considered politely and then discarded. Any one of these accomplishments would have assured him an historical legacy.

Behind this, you also get to know the man. He had a strangely distant family life, leaving his wife for more than a decade and cultivating surrogate families though it is not clear that he was ever unfaithful to his wife, however many young women flocked to him at the height of his fame. He was cheerful and witty, very unlike the dour Puritan John Adams, whose hyper-worried approach to life was legendary. Franklin was a deist, believing that God was revealed in the study of nature and reason rather than a faith-based follower of doctrine or sect.

The book is a bit thin on analysis, but you get enough of the historical context and it never bogs down in unnecessary detail. It is better to know the facts of the revolution prior to reading it, but not a necessity. There is a wonderful essay at the end on his legacy, but it is quite short. The author does try a bit hard to avoid certain controversies. For example, there is a sketch (by a witness) of a young lady sitting is his lap in London, reaching, well, down. Is it you know what? Maybe, but Isaacson argues otherwise, in my view a bit disingenuously - after all, the higherups were rather reticent then.

This is one of the most wonderful books I have read in recent years, a true delight. Highest recommendation.

As someone with an unusually deep background in early American history, I originally passed up this book because, of course, we all know as much as we care to know about Ben Franklin. What a surprise! This is one of the most entertaining and informative books I have ever read. I kept looking up and saying, "I never knew that!"

The author, Walter Isaacson, pushes past the cardboard image of the fat little sage with the witty sayings and the dangerous kite. The real Franklin steps from the pages with so many dimensions and so many (often overlooked) accomplishments that it is difficult to conceive how they could all be packed into one life. He was a man of towering achievements in science, civic organization, politics and diplomacy.

He also had his demons and he was hated and loved with passion. His family life was bizarre and his evolution to revolution was painful. The story of how England turned an ardent supporter into an implacable foe holds lessons with modern relevance.

If you enjoyed David McCullough's "John Adams," you will love this book. The research is as deep and it is much more readable.

Walter Isaacson writes a readable biography that helps readers better understand Benjamin Franklin's life and the world he lived in and helped create. Highly recommend this book!

Issacson's book is quite insightful. The passion of Franklin's life is exhibited by the author through Franklin's own words. I was unaware of the sharp contrast between Franklin's public and private life. I was drawn to the book after reading Mculloughs book on Adams which I happened to enjoy more. I found this book to be a bit tedious in the middle when Franklin keeps returning to France.By this point the reader is aware of Franklin's charater and instead of reading about select events I just wanted him to return to America.

I enjoyed this book. It took Ben Franklin out of that gray area between important founding founder and silly character that many people have in their heads. It wasn't afraid to show some of his faults, his family life left much to be desired. It is funny that while reading John Adams you would get a not too flattering view of Franklin and after reading this book you might not favor Adams.

I recommed this book for anyone interested in Franklin. Even if you think you know Franklin, read the book to learn something new. From reading books such as this you understand the trial and tribulations of giving birth to not only a new but great nation.

Benjamin Franklin's name is recognizable to all because of the progress he made to science, technology, and politics. He invented the lightening rod and the creation of Poor Richard's Almanac. However, after reading this wonderfully crafted organized, and insightful biography of Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson, I found myself very enlightened not only by so many other interesting inventions and creations in Benjamin Franklin's life, but also by how much I learned about his personality and by the philosophical questions he asked, many of which are the same questions America still struggles with today.
The author, Walter Isaacson, is quite interesting in his own right. He attended Harvard College (B.A. in history and literature) and University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar at Pembroke College (M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics).
His career started in journalism at The Sunday Times of London and eventually joined TIME in 1978 as a political correspondent, eventually becoming the magazine's fourteenth managing editor in 1996. He became Chairman and CEO of CNN in 2001, and today is president and CEO of the Aspen Institute since 2003. The list of boards and committees are numerous but nevertheless, he is highly respected around the world as a premier journalist and historian. He wrote this biography over the course of several years during the time he was the managing editor of TIME and through his tenure as CEO of CNN. Some of his other works include Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007), Kissinger: A Biography (1992), and is the co-author, with Evan Thomas, of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made (1986).
The author most likely chose to write about Benjamin Franklin because he stood for what is quintessentially American - that is, he believed in the notion that society should be comprised of a strong working middle class of shopkeepers, craftsman, and tradesman rather than an aristocratic society, such as England's at the time, comprised of non-workers born in a privileged class. Moreover, he believed that members of a society should be tolerant of one another and that we should learn from our flaws and work together to develop a nation based on a republic. Probably the most interesting thing that I learned from reading this book was just how profound Benjamin Franklin's belief and compassion was for the middle class. In fact, he essentially disowned his own son over this philosophical issue at a critical juncture in our nation's history.
Benjamin Franklin was a courageous and determined self-taught man, born in Boston on January 17th, 1706, the tenth and last-born son of a Puritan immigrant. His father, a minister and a soap and candle maker, had intentions for son to go to Harvard to continue the family legacy of ministry service. As a young spunky kid, he learned rather quickly that following in his father's footsteps wasn't cut out for him. Very early in his life, he discovered that he loved to read and write. He perceived himself to be a pretty good writer after self-teaching himself by rewriting essays he read from a London Journal called the Spectator. He was able to work for his brother as an apprentice at age twelve where he trained as a publisher, printer, and newspaperman. His brother attempted to bring Benjamin under his wing slowly over a period of several years, but Benjamin's passion about this new trade brought about a desire to create and invent new types of literature. Within a short time, he developed a unique conversational style of writing with a sense of humor that he used throughout his career and soon became recognized as the most popular writer in colonial America. He had a great imagination and at the age of sixteen created a series of pseudonymous essays known as "Silence Dogood." In order for his brother to publish these essays, he cleverly disguised his handwriting and slipped it under the print house door. The essays were based on the point of view of a widowed woman living in the outskirts of the city. Franklin's imaginary widow had been married to a minister and was being courted by another minister. The essays were imaginative and funny, but also contained the virtues that he believed should be part of the American character, often poking fun and attacking hypocrisy and religion by questioning the establishment's authority of their beliefs.
After a short stint in Philadelphia and London, he returned to Philadelphia and became a journeyman printer finally obtaining a print shop of his own. He became well established and respected in the community. Additionally, he created a small club known as the Junto, comprised of tradesmen and artisans with the objective to community-organize and help each other professionally and personally. Over time, Junto had become the cornerstone for creating the first subscription public library, volunteer fire force, hospital and for establishing an academy that later became the University of Pennsylvania. Later in his years, with his printing business doing well and recent purchase of the Pennsylvania Gazzete newspaper, he entered into a common-law marriage with his practical and frugal wife, Deborah Read. Together they built a home on Market Street in Philadelphia and raised Franklin's illegitimate son, William who was born right before their common-law marriage. The identity of William's mother is unknown but was a result of Benjamin consorting with, as he says in his autobiography, "low women." Their marriage wasn't intimate but it was still a good marriage in that she was very industrious and helpful with his printing business. Deborah never liked to travel and in fact, never ventured outside of Market Street her entire married life. Benjamin, on the other hand, loved to travel. This left a bit of a dilemma in that Deborah stayed in Philadelphia while Benjamin attended to his franchised printing shops up and down the colonies and later in his life, long trips to Europe. Within just a few years of their marriage, his printing business thrived in creating a newspaper, magazine, and renowned book called Poor Richard's Almanac as a way of ultimately creating substantial wealth for the family. The family became very close and Benjamin, unlike many men in that era, had raised and educated his illegitimate son, William. They later had a daughter named Sally eleven years after their short-lived son, Franky.
At the midpoint in his life, Benjamin would retire from the printing business because he wanted to spend more time with his civic associations and other interests. He sold his printing business to his partner and leaving him in a favorable financial situation where he would continue to obtain roughly half of the profits of the business over the next eighteen years. He also took advantage of this phase of his life by immersing himself into the interest he had towards science, which was driven by sheer intellectual curiosity and the thrill of discovery, even though he never received academic training. Possibly because he was already financially independent, he declined to patent his inventions and was pleased to share his discoveries. He first developed scientific theories, and sought practical uses for them later. Some of his more practical inventions included the wood-burning stove that could be built into fireplaces to maximize heat and minimize smoke and drafts; the lightening rod after discovering the single-fluid theory of electricity; and the electrical battery after experimenting with the capturing and storing of electrical charges in what was a primitive form of a capacitor called a Leyden jar. Of course, there are many other discoveries as a result of his curiosity, such as the motion of the Gulf Stream, the earth's magnetism, and refrigeration based on evaporation concepts.
As mentioned earlier, one of his major accomplishments during this period of dedication to his civic associations was the creation and establishment of the University of Pennsylvania and in the founding documents he states that education shouldn't only be for the elite class but that the importance of education is to help every aspiring person from all walks of life move upward so that society would benefit as a whole.
After a lengthy stay throughout Europe where he engaged in civil matters as a popular and respected diplomat representing colonial America, he returns in 1775 and is asked to join committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. After Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft, he was asked by Jefferson to see if he can improve it. Franklin most significant edit was changing the words of the second paragraph from "sacred and undeniable" to "self-evident". The original content was based that the equality of men and their endowment by their creator with inalienable rights was an assertion of religion. Franklin's edit turned the meaning into an assertion of rationality. In explaining to his peers, he conveyed to the committee that the rights of the people were based on the consent of the governed and not handed down as divined rights. He believed that a society should be built on working principles that are useful to all as opposed to one built on ideologies and perceived dogma.
Franklin returns to Europe where he inevitably forges an alliance with France and because of his popularity promotes the new American ideals through a public relations campaign. This was a significant endeavor because of personal and political challenges. Personally, not only was he suffering from gout and kidney stone complications, his son, William was remaining a British loyalist at a time when Benjamin supported a revolution back home. Eventually, he would get France to acknowledge America's independence and establish a treaty of alliance and commerce. Moreover, partly because of some good fortunes, such as the death of a major foe, Lord Rockingham and a victory at the Battle of Saratoga, he was able to resolve Britain's differences and forge a peace treaty with England. At the end of the war, while still in Passy, France, Franklin was able to resume his personal endeavors and focus on his autobiography and even perfect one of his most useful inventions, bifocals - or as he put it, "Double Spectacles".
Although still in discomfort from his illnesses, he would take his final voyage back home to the colonies. Shortly thereafter, it became apparent through colonial disputes that a federal convention was warranted in order to unite the colonies. Franklin was selected to represent one of the Pennsylvania's delegates and a convention was held to propose new amendments. The colonies at the time were debating over how they should be fairly represented in the new union. Franklin, being the elder statesmen twice the age of his peers, gets up and makes a motion for a House and a Senate through an inspiring speech. Franklin's speech has been regarded as one of the most influential speeches of the century. The basic premise was for the House to have primary authority over taxes and spending, the Senate over the confirmation of executive officers and matters of state sovereignty. Establishing this compromise was probably Franklin's greatest achievement at this critical juncture in American history.
Franklin life achievements are significant to say the least. He has been instrumental in shaping every major document that led to the creation of the new republic. He was the only person to sign all four of its founding papers: the Declaration of Independence; the treaty with France, the peace accord with Britain, and the Constitution. At the end of his life, he wrestled with one issue that not only he struggled with for a long time but also America has wrestled with since its foundation. That is, the issue of slavery. Franklin spent the last few years of his life on a moral crusade to pursue abolishment of slavery. He freed his own two slaves and persuaded others to do the same. Although he was unsuccessful in his attempt to petition abolishment of slavery to Congress, he denounced it and in one of his last acts, accepted the presidency of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery.
All his life, Franklin dedicated himself to community service utilizing his creative and inventive persona. He was persistent in standing up for the middle class and understood that together we can be a strong union through compromise and common purpose. It is fitting that he called himself a "Printer" over any other distinguishable profession because it was his extraordinary ability to persuade and rationalize through his writing skills that made him so memorable as a one of our founding fathers.
I enjoyed reading Walter Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin. The book was well written and for the most part, was fairly easy to read. The chapters were organized in a chronological order, but on a few occasions, while providing a narrative on a particular character that was introduced in his life, he would detour from the regular linear timeline of the book. I certainly would recommend Benjamin Franklin - An American Life (2003) to anyone with an interest in American History and you will certainly appreciate the diligence that Walter Isaacson put into this wonderful biography of Benjamin Franklin. I look forward to reading Isaacson's latest book, Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007).

Report by Roger Lord
Garden Grove, CA

I learned a lot about Franklin and its obvious the author put many hours of research into this book. Unfortunately the author also has a bias towards Franklin. I was glad I read the book and would read it again, but I caution readers to not be taken in by the author's agenda. The author slams Franklin for many things mostly how he treats his family. There seems to be only criticism but the author leaves you hanging without providing a reason. The fact is the author provides much analysis but only on certain things.

An example of why I was skeptical is when he stated John Dickinson was the only delegate from Pennsylvania that did not sign the Declaration; he identifies him as a conservative. No where else in the book does he use the word conservative or liberal. I look at Wikipedia concerning John Dickinson. The author does not elaborates on why Dickinson refused to sign the Declaration, just leaves you hanging there hating John Dickinson and conservatives. Dickinson felt they should ratify the Articles of Confederation and form an alliance with another country before taking on the most powerful country in the world. And before you judge Dickinson courage, Dickinson was only one of two members of the continental congress that fought under Washington. That would have been useful to know. And as it turned out, if the French would have not helped even Franklin didn't think it would be possible to win. By the way, Dickinson did sign the constitution.

As the Founding Father who spent most of the American Revolution in France, Benjamin Franklin often seems more caricature than patriot in today's American imagination. In children's cartoons, he's portrayed as an eccentric old man flying a kite in a thunderstorm. Adults think of him as a lusty old man charming the ladies of Paris. In Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, Walter Isaacson attempts to flesh out a man who defies description--a printer turned writer turned postmaster turned inventor turned Enlightenment scientist turned patriot turned diplomat. Franklin, a man of the "middling class," did as much to establish the American dream as to define American democracy.

If Thomas Jefferson bequeathed us with lofty philosophical prose, Franklin left us with his streamlined homilies and plans for personal improvement. Dale Carnegie and Stephen Covey would have felt at home with the practical and prudent Franklin, who, naturally did not always live up to his own standards. At times Franklin's business practices seemed questionable, his friendship with men many but shallow, and his marriage breezily detached. Strangest of all was his relationship with his son, William, who was firmly ensconced on the British side of the conflict. Each time William reached out to his father, the normally conciliatory Franklin rebuffed him, his loyalty to colonies and cause stronger than bonds of blood. Conscious of his place in history and eager to shape the future's opinion of him, Franklin intentionally distanced himself from William--yet positioned his autobiography as a letter to his son.

For the most part, the discoveries and inventions that established Franklin among his Enlightenment peers came in the prime of middle age, after his retirement from business. His accomplishments raised him in society, especially in France, above his middle-class roots. Compared to his fellow Founders, Franklin was well traveled and well connected. With his extroverted personality, pragmatic approach, and cachet as a scientist, Franklin was the natural choice to represent the rebellious colonies and to woo allies to their cause.

Franklin spent most of the war in France and did not have much face-to-face interaction with his fellow rebel leaders except those sent to Paris to assist him or to keep an eye on him. Isaacson cites numerous passages from his correspondence, describes his rocky relationship with the somewhat dubious John Paul Jones, and recounts highlights from his friendships with luminaries such as David Hume, Joseph Banks, Beaumarchais, Voltaire, and the duc de la Rouchefoucauld, yet Franklin and Franklin, both man and biography, seem distant from the action. As Isaacson notes, however, he was "instrumental in shaping the three great documents of the war: the Declaration of Independence, the alliance with France, and the treaty with England." Indeed, one of Franklin's small edits to the Declaration altered its tone; Jefferson's "We hold these truths to be sacred" became Franklin's "We hold these truths to be self-evident."

Benjamin Franklin illuminates much of what is fascinating about the birth of American-style democracy; a unique combination of personalities, backgrounds, beliefs, and temperaments came together to define and strive for freedom, with no consensus on what that meant. Washington brought natural leadership; Jefferson, an understanding of and appreciation for Enlightenment philosophy; Sam and John Adams, passion and fire; and Franklin the practical sensibilities of the middle class blended with worldly knowledge. They did not always get along (John Adams: "That I have no friendship for Franklin I avow. That I am incapable of having any with a man of his moral sentiments I avow.") Contrary to current popular belief, they did not agree on democracy. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts declared, "The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy," while Roger Sherman of Connecticut said the people "should have as little to do as may be possible about government." Franklin, according to Isaacson, "favored direct elections, trusted the average citizen, and resisted anything resembling elitism." His constitution for Pennsylvania "was the most democratic of the new states'." Years after Franklin's death, John Adams "even cast Franklin's lack of religious commitment, which he had once derided as verging on atheism, in a more favorable light: 'All sects considered him, and I believe justly, a friend to unlimited toleration.'"

Franklin, the middle-class espouser of middle-class virtues like prudence, frugality, and temperance, used his gifts to rise above his station, but didn't lose sight of it. When today's pundits talk about the intentions of the Founding Fathers (as though they were agreed on anything) and try to force an uncomfortable marriage between capitalist greed and religion, they might consider the real Benjamin Franklin, not the caricature: A self-made man who moved with ease among the ranks of the noble and the wealthy but never joined them and who believed in every man's right to practice his own religion in his own way.

This book is very informative and the author is not biased. This book not only tells about BF but also the whole history of the beginning of our country

An excellent read for anyone curious about one of the greatest founding fathers and most patriotic Americans in our history. This book should be read by everyone who votes because our country is starting to fall away from the founding fathers' ideals (most notably on economics, but also religion).

Can be a little dry at times, but most of the book is very entertaining!

I've always heard about Mr. Franklin but as an adult, never took the time to read much detail about him. This book seems pretty detailed and informative and instilled a great deal of respect for Mr. Franklin.

On the other hand, it was not as great a read as H.W.Brands T.R. (Teddy Roosevelt) book, which is my favorite biography. I wish I'd purchased Brands' book on Franklin instead (not that I've read his; I'm basing my wish on my experience with TR).

My main complaint about this book, and other biographies, is it jumps around chronologically. This book isn't as bad as some others I've read but I don't like reading about one period of time that includes an interjection about what's going to happen in a future period. Please, just tell me the story as it happened.

I'm also reading for pleasure and not for educational coursework. Again, this book isn't the worst I've read but I prefer not to have lists of facts - I'd rather have facts presented in a narrative form.

This book does provide a decent amount of jumping points to find out more about Franklin, and I may get back to some of them.

Overall this is a good book and I got a lot out of it. It just isn't as memorable as Brands TR and I was hoping it would be.

I knew next to nothing about Franklin prior to reading this book. By the end, I had a bit of a crush on him. When I finished the book- there was a Franklin Celebration in an Atlanta Museum- and I had to go! Isaacson did a great job of equally exposing Franklin's personal and private life. I almost felt like I knew Franklin, and when he did wrong, I would scold him. Then he would redeem himself and I was cheering him on again.

Walter Isaacson's book "Benjamin Franklin" is the kind of biography that after you read it, you'll feel that if Ben Franklin himself came into the room, you would know him quite well. He was a genius, of course, so creative and so prolific across many fields, science, publishing, music, philanthropy, government and so much more. He was quite playful and had an eye for the ladies and reviled in female friendship, though he was an often absent, unusual husband and father. Ben Franklin was quite eccentric, too. And he was a hilarious humorist. I knew so little about this early American hero, this hugely multi-talented and very human man. Now, I feel like a Ben Franklin expert of sorts, thanks to Mr. Isaacson. Get this book and enjoy!

This book has been out for a few years and bought it because a freind reccommended it to me. I very much enjoyed reading it and found it hard to put down. The life of Dr. Franklin is fasinating and exciting. Not only did the good doctor help with the monumentous events of the founding of America, but tamed lightning, invented things we still use today, and had as full of a life as anyone could hope for. The details about Franklin's relathionships with his family are well researched and often sad for those involved. I reccommend this book to anyone interested in the founding fathers, as well as to anyone interested in reading about a man that was well ahead of his times.

This was an well done book that could have been Great. I read it shortly after watching the John Adams series to get a better understanding of Franklin. Incredibly well researched and informative, but very data/fact driven and not very engaging for anyone looking for a "good read" alongside the history. It's too bad really, because Franklin clearly led a very interesting life, and was quite an individualist.

In this book, the author could have gone in many directions. Much of Franklins life is an adventure in one way or another. Had he chosen, he could use it as a modern business type book, since many of Franklins concepts are still useful in the current world (building a network, looking for opportunities, not taking risk on alone, these are all themes from current self fulfillment books such as the Rich Dad series.)

He could have also gone into more detail about the life and times. Instead he kind of rushed through a novel length resume of Franklin.

The man is very interesting, and if you don't mind the dry flavor this is an excellent source of information on Franklin.

This biography, extraordinarily well written by Walter Isaacson, taught me more about the need for education, improved foreign policy, and an effective democratic society than any text book ever could. Benjamin Franklin was one of the most practical, yet diverse founding fathers among them all. His creation of the public library, fire department, first militia, renovation of the postal service, and foundation of the University of Pennsylvania have all paved the way for our American life as we know it today.

The enire book was incredible...learning more about this man's accomplishments from a successful printer in Philadelphia to a profound peacemaker in France was a sincere enjoyment. Even though Franklin was not my favorite founding father, he was certainly the most interesting. My favorite part of the book came at the end when he met with delegates from all states, and after days of hearing arguments over how the representative structure of the country should be formed, he mentioned how effective it would be to have an equal number of Senators from each state, while having a proportionate number of House members to be elected according to the population of each state. Even today, we can learn a lot from this man's ideologies and promotions.

It was a pleasure to read a true perspective of this founding father. This book made him more human than history has made him in the past. The author did a fantastic job in trying to explain why he was the way he was and painted a vivid description of the life and times. On the other hand, I have always found it interesting how he stayed gone most of the time during the revolution as well as many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. I would love to read about those that stayed and fought knowing they could be hanged for treason.

Walter Isaacson's resume reads much like that of his subject; businessman, publisher, head of a non-profit society and author. One wonders where he has found the time to produce this book and the biographies of Henry Kissinger and most recently that of Albert Einstein. He is definitely not an Academic and has produced a highly readable book that is aimed at the general reader, not the academic historian. As a general reader I appreciated this very much. Isaacson includes many of the little touches that an academic historian omits, believing that the reader is already familiar with them. For instance, Isaacson provides a very handy currency converter that allows one to convert from 18th century British pounds to American dollars and French livres, and compares the purchasing power of 1790 American dollars to 2002 American dollars. There is a "cast of characters" and chronology at the back of the book that allows the reader to clarify who is who and when things happened without having to hunt through the text. The text is replete with facts that I found to clarify many things. For instance, I knew that the shift from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar involved the addition of 11 days, meaning the George Washington's birthday was shifted from February 11th to the 22nd. What I did not know was that in the Julian calendar the New Year started on March 25. Thus, in the Julian calendar Washington was born on February 11, 1731, but his birthday is February 22, 1732 according to the modern Gregorian calendar. The one-year difference has always confused me, but now I understand the origin of the problem.

As stated, this is not an academic history. While there are 70 pages of notes, the book focuses on readability not on academic analysis. This is great for most readers, but will disappoint others who want more analysis and academic speculation. Franklin's life is told in a straightforward chronological manner. All of the aspects of his life are covered: the self made businessman, the publisher, civic leaders and creator of such civic institutions (such as lending libraries and fire brigades), the scientist and perhaps most importantly the wily American ambassador to France. He comes across as one of the most "modern" of the founding fathers and one of the most indispensable. I got a much better appreciation of Franklin the scientist, one that transcended that of a man whose chief contribution seemed to be flying a kite in a thunderstorm. The kite flying may, in fact, have never actually occurred, at least in the way it is generally pictured. (Franklin did not think that much of it, reporting it many years after the fact and well after the French had proven his ideas about lightening to have been correct.) I did not realize the extent to which he developed much the modern terminology of electricity and the many of the ideas that were to from the basis of the electricity age of the 19th century. He was also interested in thermodynamics and many subjects such as ocean thermal currents.

I read this book after reading McCullough's John Adams and I received a somewhat different view of Adams. Isaacson's references McCullough's book but does not view Adams in quite the same light. Adams comes off as being very suspicious of everyone's motives, bordering on paranoia. This is the most generally accepted view, leading me to question the extent to which McCullough whitewashed Adams' severe personality flaws. This reinforces the idea that one must read several books to get a balanced picture of a person or event.

As a kid, growing up in India, Benjamin Franklin was known more for his contributions to the field of science. Little did I know that he was one of the founding fathers of the USA. And so when Walter Isaacson (a former editor at TIME magazine) wrote this book, I bought this book. Back then, the main reason underlying the buy was the fact that I felt (and I still feel) that TIME was very unbiased and expected the book to paint Benjamin Franklin as the man he was, and not a "whitewash" job of painting the greatness of the man.
Isaacson did not disappoint and has done a commendable job (I dare say brilliant) of depicting Benjamin Franklin, warts and all. It was a voyage of discovery for me, personally. The scientific acumen was one of the less important facets of his life. On the other hand, the book enlightened me on a statesman sans pareil who played a very important role in shaping a fledgling nation. What stands out in the book is the fact that Franklin was a very pragmatic/practical man, and I dare say he would have been a perfect person to lead a nation during a crisis.
Once I was done reading the book, I found my admiration for a great man almost become pure hero-worship.

If you want to learn about Ben Franklin this is a fine read. If you want to be entertained try something else. Isaacson's style is ponderorus and lacks energy and flow. Who would have thought that Franklin's wonderful life could be recounted in such boring detail.

Benjamin Franklin's long and productive life has a special appeal to many people. As Isaacson suggests, perhaps he is the founder who appeals to so many people because he seems more accessible. There are several things I learned in this book that I had not really considered before, mainly his relationship with his family and the opinions others had of him in succeeding generations. As the author remarks, we picture him (somewhat inaccurately) as a spectacled, elderly man engaging in his kite experiment or we see him dispensing maxims about industry and frugality. In reality, there was much more to the man than these images would suggest.

We sometimes stereotype famous individuals of the past as one-dimensional, but we are delighted and sometimes chagrined to learn that they are just as complex as we are. Franklin was no exception. We see in this book aspects of his relationships with people and his family that we would not normally come across in a brief glance of the man. He would, literally, be distant from his common law wife Deborah as his overseas trips would end up as years away from home. He would part ways with his son (illegitimate son) William over the independence debate. He would champion the cause of the artisan class and the middling sort, but just as easily associate with the powerful and the rich.

His varied interests and life experiences certainly endear him to many people. Not many founders can claim to have done as many varied things as Franklin. He wasn't a skilled orator or debater, or as deep a political philosopher as other founders were, as the author touches on, but these are probably other examples of why he seems more accessible to people. He was both conservative and liberal on varied issues, but was generally more democratic than other founders. He was also a very tolerant man when it came to religious sects. He was a scientist who believed in practical inventions and solutions; he wasn't as caught up in the language or theories as other scientists were.

I've left out much on his well known role during and after the American Revolution. This isn't to minimize his accomplishments in his profession or in the critical events of his day, in which he was often a key player. The author ably covers all of these important facets of Franklin's life. The numerous acquaintances with various people in this country and those in England and France, the flirtatious correspondences with some of his women admirers, and so forth are also ably covered here.

Clearly, the author likes this middle class / populist appeal of Franklin's and tries to present him in such a light. This is a wonderfully written biography that sheds much light on the man.

I am a fan of narrative nonfiction history, so I was a bit offset when I started reading Benjamin Franklin. It's not really a narrative biography, but by the end of the first page, I didn't care.

The book is well written by Walter Isaacson and it is about a fascinating man. I knew very little about Benjamin Franklin when I began this book. Not so now.

Isaacson looks at the many facets of the man's life--printer, author, politician, diplomat, revolutionary, inventor, scientist. Franklin was a man who defined his time and defined America, as can be seen by the fact that's he's the only American who signed all 4 crucial documents in America's founding.

Isaacson also looks at Franklin's faults and contradictions. Though Isaacson tries to figure out how they could exist in Franklin, he never quite manages to get inside Franklin's head.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable read. I came away with a new appreciation of Franklin.

Initially I imagined reading this book from time to time, knowing I would "eventually" complete it.

Well, I was wrong. Isaacson's book is so engaging and Franklin so remarkable that I wasn't able to stop reading until the 84-year-old Franklin had come to the end of his life. If school books could be so appealing (and more teachers as captivated by history as Isaacson is by Franklin) - then soon we'd have a land full of knowledgeable history lovers. It would do a nation good.

You also can learn more about Franklin's worldview on thinkwriter.blogspot.com. He was the right man at the right time in America's history. . . and I daresay readers will appreciate him on a whole new level after reading Isaacson's book. Enjoy - no matter how long it takes you!

Initially I imagined placing the book BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: AN AMERICAN LIFE on my night stand and reading it from time to time, knowing I eventually would have it read.

Well, I was wrong. Isaacson's book is so engaging and Franklin so remarkable that I wasn't able to stop reading until the 84-year-old Franklin had come to the end of his life. If only school books could be so appealing (and more teachers as captivated by history as Isaacson is by Franklin) - then soon we'd have a land full of knowledgeable history lovers. It would do a nation good.

In the meantime, do YOURSELF a favor and learn (even) more about Benjamin Franklin via Isaacson (than you might have imagined). Franklin literally comes alive, as did the beginning of our great nation. . . under Franklin's ingenuity and attention to detail. You also can learn more about Franklin's worldview on thinkwriter.blogspot.com. He was the right man at the right time. . . and I daresay readers will appreciate him on a whole new level after reading Isaacson's book. Enjoy.

In "Benjamin Franklin," Walter Isaacson manages to chronicle the life of Franklin in a thorough, well-analyzed fashion, while simultaneously allowing the reader to draw many of his own conclusions from the research presented in the book.

I was intrigued to read this book after reading David McCullough's "John Adams." It's certainly no secret that Adams and Franklin did not get along terribly well during the bulk of their interactions in Europe, and reading that book left me guessing that, in all likelihood, there was another side to the story.

While at times it seemed that McCullough could be somewhat heavy-handed in his judgment toward Franklin, I felt that Isaacson did a good job presenting the most likely facts of the case and allowing the reader to determine the most likely manner in which the pieces fit together. He did certainly tend to err on the more sympathetic side of controversies surrounding Franklin, and was probably to generous in his judgment of Franklin's thoroughly practical and emotionless approach toward religion.

One thing I appreciated about this book relative to most other colonial era biographies was the focus on the years prior to the revolution, which obviously encompassed the bulk of Franklin's life. Franklin's life leading up to the revolution seems to serve as a microcosm of the views of the colonies in the years between the French and Indian War and the Revolution.

All in all, I heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in colonial America and the founding fathers.

It is enlightening how the spectrum at which Benjamin Franklin's contributions to America can hardly be contained in one book. A glimpse into his common sense, wisdom, and morality are organized with precision and passion through Walter Isaacson's masterpiece. I now better understand Franklin's connection with other fathers of our country and have a deeper desire to learn about them as well.

Futhermore, I am impressed at the background of the author. His experience and education give me more respect for his work.

I read his Einstien book, and I enjoyed the way Mr. Issacason wrote.
I have not started this bood yet, but if he could make Einstein so interesting, I am sure he will do so for Benjamin Franklin.

'Benjamin Franklin: An American Life'

This is a truly superb biography of our nations most interesting Founding Father...okay, most interesting in my opinion. The reader will explore the razor sharp wit & ingenuity and walking contradiction that was Benjamin Franklin. This uniquely American character is brought vividly into life by Walter Isaacson, beginning with young Ben's struggles working for his brother in Boston, subsequently running away to Philadelphia with nothing but a few coins and some puffy bread and in the end, arguably, revolutionizing modern science and culture. The shrewd politician is also illustrated: his contribution to the founding of America and his surprisingly numerous mid and later years spent away from home in France among other European countries.

Mr. Isaacson does not shy away from pointing out the character flaws and odd family life that Benjamin Franklin created. The troubled relationship with his son is explored and the reader feels the strain caused by being away from his wife and daughter for years on end.

This is a fascinating and extremely well balanced account of one of America's most interesting personalities. To boot, the book is thoroughly researched, clearly well written and truly enjoyable to read. Walter Isaacson has mastered the art of biography and `Benjamin Franklin' is proof thereof. Enjoy your reading.

Walter Isaacson writes history so that it reads like an excellent, exciting novel. This biography is a page-turner.

Moreover, the author writes with subtle humor.

Isaacson's research is accurate and extensive, which makes it even more amazing that the book does not have the format of a history textbook.

This history of Benjamin Franklin is filled with stories of family feuds, Franklin's methods of advancing his career, his flirtations, an illegitimate son, a common-law marriage, his travels, agreements and disagreements with other people of his day, in contrast to his ever-changing views of morality and religion. We feel as if we know Benjamin Franklin personally as we read Isaacson's words. Moreover, we learn so much along the way, painlessly and joyfully.

Every word is carefully selected; nothing needs to be cut.

Isaacson's grammar is perfect, which is extremely refreshing. Many modern authors cause me to believe that I should have a red pen to correct grammatical errors while reading their works.

Walter Isaacson's book on Einstein is also absolutely wonderful, with similar qualities. (Hence my review of that book is similar to this review.)

If Benjamin Franklin is the "founding father who winks at us"; Walter Isaacson is the author, journalist, and historian who winks at us.

Walter Isaacson has penned an enjoyable, informative and well-paced biography on the incredible life and historic times of Benjamin Franklin.

With crisp overviews of personalities like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Edward Bancroft - to name but a few - Isaacson brings a wonderful dimension to describing a complete picture of many issues.

Though the chapter - Bon Vivant: Paris, 1778-1785 - briefly slows the pace of the nearly 500 pages, this is an entertaining read which shows how history can come to life through the energetic research of an author.

A very entertaining and highly informative bio. It seems as though Mr.Franklin gets slighted in other subjects bio's, mainly for being away from America for so long during the Revolutionary years. But you'll find in this enjoyable bio that he was hardly sitting around doing nothing during his time in France. His strength was in diplomacy and knowing how to manipulate France and Britain to our benefit, and was a major influence in the outcome of our quest for freedom. Also, take a good look around you, chances are that he had something to do with the invention or idea that brought whatever it is you're looking at to fruition.

When I took US History in College, the various instructors took pot shots at Benjamin Franklin, not really giving the poor old guy a chance. This book give a more balanced look at Ben's whole life and the events that changed his outlook on life. I still take to heart his creed to never speak sharply or argue in anger with anyone, speak softly and use reason to convince your fellow man (woman). This advice alone has allowed my to make headway in places that I would have never been able to before. This book also gives the reader the sense of sadness regarding Franklin's family, especially the very long time periods that he was away from his wife. Tragically, his wife died without him while he was in France. Franklin gave much to this country, I appreciate his contributions to this day and I read this book years ago.

This is exactly what I look for in a biography -- it's about one of the most important people in the history of our country, and after I was about a chapter into the book, I could not put it down. I found myself reading it every time I had a free moment. It is easy to read and loaded with useful and interesting information about a fascinating man. I would recommend this to anyone, whether it be a history buff or just someone who enjoys a good read. On a side note, it's funny to me how differently the Franklin-John Adams relationship is portrayed by Isaacson compared to how David McCullough described it in his Adams book.

Isaacson persuasively portrays Franklin as the cultural father of his country. Washington may have been more important from a political perspective, but culturally he was part of an aristocratic, noblesse oblige, and chilvaric tradition that is more European than American. Franklin was the champion of middle class values -- the protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism and the virtues of the common man.

Presidents starting with Jackson ran as the embodiment of Franklin, not of Washington. No one wants to be portrayed as elitist, and Franklin's promotion of social mobility and middle class virtues became the standard.

Isaacson's book is readable and interesting. He certainly makes a persuasive case for Franklin's seminal importance in American history.

The Ben Franklin of elementary school (or high school, for that matter), history texts has little in common with the wittty, brilliant, bawdy and sophisticated Franklin of Walter Isaacson's biography. The book is (unusually for a serious biography) a "page turner." Exceedingly well-written, with a graphic and entertaining sense of place. Isaacson's descriptions of late 18th century Philadelphia and Paris are awesome. I have recommended the book to a number of friends who, undaunted by its size , have greatly enjoyed it.

This is a marvelous book, readable to the extreme but still jammed with facts and analysis. It is to be recommended to a wide range of readers. I had not expected to enjoy Isaacson's biography nearly as much as a did although I had just finished his book on Kissinger and had loved that book which is why I read the Franklin bio. It came as a shock to me that the Franklin book was so different and so lively. History really came alive. Kudos to Walter Isaacson on this topic, a terrific job here!

I'm no scholar and not a real fan of American history, but this book was enjoyable. Well written and Franklin was an interesting person.

In his book `Benjamin Franklin an American Life', Walter Isaacson gives a solid well balanced and positive look at Benjamin Franklin. He broadens and deepens the perspective of the fun spectacled kite flying scientist and writer of Poor Richards Almanac to give us a multi-layered unpretentious promoter of higher virtues, community spirit, and citizenship. Franklin is revealed as being particularly harsh on those who sought hereditary privilege or who had "no other quality to recommend them but birth." He was against those Gentlemen who did nothing of value but living idly on the labors of others. Isaacson shows the two momentous initiatives that would lead Franklin's political career and the destiny of America. First he became an increasingly fervent opponent of the Proprietors and then the British as they stubbornly asserted their right to control taxes and government.. Second he became a leader in an effort to get the colonies to work together by forging associations and removing the parochial view of America. As a printer he helped defined the free press. Isaacson reveals Franklins opinion that the job of printers is to allow people to express differing opinions. There would be very little printed if publishers produced only things that offended nobody. Franklins credo is still framed on newsroom walls. "Printers are educated in the belief that when men differ in opinion, both sides ought equally to have the advantage of being heard by the public: and that when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter". Franklin was instrumental in shaping the great documents of the war: the Declaration of Independence, the alliance with France, and the treaty with England. He also devised the first federal scheme for America under which the separate states and national government would have shared power. His influence at the constitutional convention in 1787 was tremendous as he spread a spirit of compromise and Enlightenment in the creation of the Constitution.

Isaacson wrote much more than a standard hagiography. He includes the positives along with the negatives of the most accessible of the Founding Fathers. Franklin's life and exploits are examined along with the many facets of the printer, scientist, diplomat and the public man. A truly remarkable life of someone who preached and truly believed that the middle-class were the "source of social strength and not as something to be derided". Well worth the read and addition to the history shelf.

In his book `Benjamin Franklin an American Life', Walter Isaacson gives a solid well balanced and positive look at Benjamin Franklin. He broadens and deepens the perspective of the fun spectacled kite flying scientist and writer of Poor Richards Almanac to give us a multi-layered unpretentious promoter of higher virtues, community spirit, and citizenship. Franklin is revealed as being particularly harsh on those who sought hereditary privilege or who had "no other quality to recommend them but birth." He was against those Gentlemen who did nothing of value but living idly on the labors of others. Isaacson shows the two momentous initiatives that would lead Franklin's political career and the destiny of America. First he became an increasingly fervent opponent of the Proprietors and then the British as they stubbornly asserted their right to control taxes and government.. Second he became a leader in an effort to get the colonies to work together by forging associations and removing the parochial view of America. As a printer he helped defined the free press. Isaacson reveals Franklins opinion that the job of printers is to allow people to express differing opinions. There would be very little printed if publishers produced only things that offended nobody. Franklins credo is still framed on newsroom walls. "Printers are educated in the belief that when men differ in opinion, both sides ought equally to have the advantage of being heard by the public: and that when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter". Franklin was instrumental in shaping the great documents of the war: the Declaration of Independence, the alliance with France, and the treaty with England. He also devised the first federal scheme for America under which the separate states and national government would have shared power. His influence at the constitutional convention in 1787 was tremendous as he spread a spirit of compromise and Enlightenment in the creation of the Constitution.

This is a great read in better understanding the positives and negatives of the most accessible Founding Father. Isaacson helps us a better understand the many facets of the printer, scientist, diplomat and the public man. A truly remarkable life of someone who preached that the middle-class were the "source of social strength and not as something to be derided". Well worth the read and addition to the history shelf.

A very interesting book. I like the chronological time line with distinct chapters. While he was an amazing man in some respects, I was disappointed in his treatment of his family. I think the author did a great job of balancing the good and the not so good of Franklin's life. All in all, a very well rounded account.

Isaacson has done a good job researching this book. You will learn a lot about Franklin if you stay with it. Unfortunately it can be quite dry and boring at times. I don't totally blame the author as I think it may be more difficult to write interesting biographies about important figures from over 200 years ago. I also read McCullough's John Adams and found that to be dry as well. Part of the problem may be there is not as much interesting and entertaining information on individuals from that time as from individuals from more recent history. I imagine politicians' lives were more private before the era of radio, TV, and internet.