Rating: 
Summary: 3 1/2* Informative, but Narrative Lacks Appeal
Review: This is a factual, but sometimes unimaginative biography of the famously multi-talented Benjamin Franklin: Statesman, philosopher (indeed, perhaps the founder of American "pragmatism), politician, writer, scientist, diplomat, community organizer, publisher, and self-help pioneer. (Isaakson writes that Franklin was motivated by the belief that "to put forth benefits for the common good is divine"). Franklin played an important role in treaties with England and France, and was an initially reluctant but thereafter adamant proponent of independence from England. His Albany Plan (1754) and Articles of Confederation (1775) were early and eventually influential efforts to balance federal sovereignty and union with states' interests.The fault of the book, then, is its subject, but how Isaakson writes about him. Its chief fault is the lack of narrative flair: With the notable exception of the first and last chapters, we have a chronological account broken into small sections. Here's one particularly mundane succession: "Constitutional Ideas" (a mere 2 pages)," "Meeting Lord Howe Again (5 pages)," "To France, with Temple and Benny (4 pages)." A more satisfying approach would have traced Franklin's domestic political thought in one larger chapter, but this would violate Isaakson's chronological imperative. At times the book's equally weighted, well-ordered facts yield a pace that is both plodding and boring. The book is best when it manages to integrate larger themes with the strictly biographical details. Comparing this biography with David McCullough's popular "John Adams," shows that McCullough's book is more fully realized and more "modern," as he interprets themes and implications within broader contexts. Isaacson, at his worst, reads more like a chronicler as he emphasizes neatly compartmentalized facts that tend to obscure larger themes. McCullough simply writes with greater narrative flair: His book contains both precision and drama, and, contrary to this book, it's never a struggle to get through. Although Franklin's pragmatism perhaps limits how analytic Isaakson can be, there is, generally speaking, not enough about the larger context of American intellectual and cultural history (with the exceptions noted above). For example, there is only superficial discussion of whether Franklin's dream of a great middle class has been realized. Moreover, while some critics claim that McCullough is too admiring of Adams, Isaakson somewhat glosses over Franklin's negative personal qualities. Franklin was a great political compromiser, but he appears somewhat rigid in other matters. Only in the last chapter does Isaakson fully delve into larger themes. He accomplishes this in 17 excellent pages showing American intellectual reaction to him from the time of his contemporaries through the present. He describes the variations in criticism, such as the great esteem for Franklin among rationalists (during the Age of Enlightenment) and American pragmatists, but also describes the Romantics' disdain of bourgeois practicality, and the critiques written by early 20th century intellectuals (e.g., Max Weber wrote "All Franklin's moral attitudes are colored with utilitarianism."). In October 2000, however, critic David Adams wrote that out "founding Yuppie" would be comfortable in today's middle class, sharing their "optimistic, genial, and kind" values and their secular and religious-based activism. At the conclusion of the book, Isaakson briefly weighs the evidence, and, not surprisingly, praises Franklin's values and his deeply felt "faith in the wisdom of the common citizen." Had the rest of the biography been written with more of the insight and depth shown in this chapter, the book would have been much better.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy this book!
Review: Isaacson is a superb biographer. I've read his book on Henry Kissinger, and even though I don't agree with some of his conclusions, I admit that was a good book. I'll have more to say about this book when I'm through with it. But I can say this: Isaacson's writing is worth the reading. And the subject itself? Franklin is only one of four people whose portraits I hang on the wall in my own home. (The others include Niels Bohr, the Danish physicist, and Mao Zedong. And the latter was, perhaps surprisingly, also a fan of Franklin.) I consider Franklin a true hero, a near-universal genius (possibly the only talents he lacked were military, artistic and musical), a great revolutionary, a loving and loveable man......in short, one of the greatest minds with one of the biggest hearts that ever lived. He succeeded in everything he tried his hand at: business, journalism, letters, science, invention, politics, civic duties, philanthropy, diplomacy, even women (Ben was smoother than James Bond). Franklin founded the U of Pennsylvania, the first American fire department, the first American postal service, the first American "learning academy" (the prestigious American Philosophical Society), among numerous American firsts. As a self-made businessman Franklin would be worth a couple of billions in today's money, according to one source ("The Wealthy 100"). His honors in the sciences would altogether be equivalent to at least one Nobel Prize in Physics (he won the Copley Gold Medal of the Royal Society, picked up scores of honorary degrees, and was a fellow of both the RS and the French Academy). A Nobel Prize, had it existed then, would have been more than appropriate for his theoretical writings on electricity alone - never mind his other scientific contributions. As Harvard's I B Cohen pointed out, Franklin's understanding of electricity was much more fundamental than a mere kite experiment. Franklin was also a great American. Indeed, Franklin, who was the only signer of all five key documents which created the United States - the Declaration of Independence, two treaties with France, peace treaty with England, the US Constitution - was really and literally the first American. He was mentor to Jefferson (whose draft of the Declaration Franklin edited), and was respected by Washington. If Washington was the Founding Father, then Franklin was the Founding Mother. And while the Father could be cold and distant at times, at least in public, the Mother was always warm and doting. I have many books on my great hero Ben Franklin - and I use this term "hero" very selectively. And I'm happy to add this fine book to my library. I'm sure you'll do the same.
Rating:
Summary: I gave up
Review: After reading "John Adams", I was all geared up to read another book about a major Founding Father. What a disappointment this book was! Isaacson wrote a great biography on Kissinger. He also was a great magazine writer. Yet I had to give up on this book because it was such a bore. The writing style was too boring. Even though I was reading about some of the highly impressive things Franklin accomplished, I was bored to tears. Contrast that with the amazing prose and writing style of McCullough's biography on Adams. Even during some of the recounting of Franklin's adventures with women (who knew he got around so much in those supposedly virtuous days?), I was bored. Yet when I read "John Adams", McCullough could be describing the most minute details about Adams' shoes and I would be riveted to every word. This book got lots of hype and publicity because of who the author is. Had it been Joe Schmoe who wrote such a boring book, it would be panned by its editors and never make its way to the bookstore.
Rating:
Summary: Great inspirational read
Review: Benjamin Franklin, was, middle class America. He believed that the middle class was the strength of our nation. He skillfully designed his life, to rise above the limitations of his own middle class upbringing and became the politically perceptinve public figure we know today.
In the same respect that Mr. Franklin designed his life, Mr. Isaacson has designed this biography. "Benjamin Franklin An American Life" is uniquely written, intriguing, and in depth. The author tenaciously delivers an extensively researched historical account of Benjamin Franklin and this nation. He smoothly transitions Mr. Franklin's life from an indentured youth apprenticing as a poet in his brother's print shop, writing under a woman's name when his brother would not let him write for the paper, joining the Masons to mingle with the elite, and finally bringing him into the respected founding father of this nation.
The author, Walter Isaacson has broken each chapter into segmnents of Mr. Franklin's life, referenced all things thouroughly, leaving no doubt of where his ideas came from. This book shows us, that like Mr. Franklin, there is the ability to rise above mediocrity. Mr. Isaacson's biography is a channel for that great wise man, Benjamin Franklin, to inspire us almost three hundred years later.
Rating:
Summary: What a beautifully entertaining way to learn about America!
Review: My compliments to Walter Isaacson who has crafted a genuine work of art in this biography of one of Americas Founding Fathers and most interesting and important citizens. Neither sensationalist or subjective, the author (through obviously painstaking research and strenous thought) manages to keep the reader informed and entertained throughout the book. True, he had great "raw material" to work with, but I've read many a biography like these that turn into "Paper Xanex" from the first page. I was fascinated by the raw and honest insights into B. Franklins life, his finicky personal side, the curious scientist, passionate philosopher, and paramount political idol. At times during the reading of this book, I actually felt like I knew him personally. Neither an untouchable immortal, or a commoner, Isaacson portrays B. Franklin much the way I would think Mr. Franklin himself would like to be portrayed; honestly, intelligently, and with great passion. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: A good read about a fascinating man.
Review: It took me several minutes and more than one false start before I began to write this review in earnest. My problem, it turns out, is that I lack a strong opinion of the book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. In fact, I'd go so far as to use the word "fascinating" to describe it. But, after a moment's consideration, I think that owes more to the subject than the author's skill. I would argue that Ben Franklin is easily the most intriguing (in all meanings of the word) figure in the history of the Revolutionary War. And that fact makes it difficult, though sadly not impossible, to write a bad biography on the man. Now, before you Isaacson fans start sharpening your spears, let me explain. I think this book is well written, and very well researched to be sure. But the author's style and prose are not what I found fascinating. Those were solid, but pedestrian, like a good beef stew. Satisfying? Yes. Filling? Yes. But not exactly a gourmet meal. What fascinated me was Franklin's story itself, and Isaacson has done an excellent job researching the facts and weaving them into a biography rich in detail that I found to be a page turner. Maybe this isn't Isaacson's best work, and maybe this isn't the definitive work on Franklin. Those are points I'm not qualified to address. What I can say is that if you're looking for a solidly written, thoroughly researched biography of Franklin from youth to old age that won't put you to sleep, "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" is your book.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Monograph
Review: I assigned this to college freshmen and sophomores. It was a fairly enjoyable read for them.... and sparked alot of discussion. It did portray Franklin as a saint, and I would have like a more balanced view of his "dalliances."
Rating:
Summary: I gave up
Review: After reading "John Adams", I was all geared up to read another book about a major Founding Father. What a disappointment this book was! Isaacson wrote a great biography on Kissinger. He also was a great magazine writer. Yet I had to give up on this book because it was such a bore. The writing style was too boring. Even though I was reading about some of the highly impressive things Franklin accomplished, I was bored to tears. Contrast that with the amazing prose and writing style of McCullough's biography on Adams. Even during some of the recounting of Franklin's adventures with women (who knew he got around so much in those supposedly virtuous days?), I was bored. Yet when I read "John Adams", McCullough could be describing the most minute details about Adams' shoes and I would be riveted to every word. This book got lots of hype and publicity because of who the author is. Had it been Joe Schmoe who wrote such a boring book, it would be panned by its editors and never make its way to the bookstore.
Rating:
Summary: Very Full
Review: A very full story, indeed, of one of our greatest Founders,
Benjamin Franklin. The author covers his entire life, from
when his parents came to the American Colonies, until slightly
after his death, and most of that time, Franklin was serving
his country. He served it when it consisted of a handful of
independent colonies, and even his home, Pennsylvania, was
ruled by a "proprietor" rather than a Royal Governor, through
detailed involvement with our American Revolution, and then participation in establishing both the credit and diplomatic
status of the new USA.
The author traces how, even in his own time, Franklin fortunes were both up and down, as he particpated in the political processes, and then how, over the years since, his fortunes
also bounced up and down through the years as the political
and business climate changed. But Franklin has always been there for us, whether writing to inspire new Colonists to achieve their best, to imploring the English Parliament to treat
their American Colonies with better respect and to include them as equal partners in the British Empire, to "sweet-talking" the
French into loaning money to a bankrupt new nation.
At a time when the future of the American Revolution was hanging
in the balance, and all nations were waiting to see how the war
for independence would work out, it was Franklin who kept working on influencing the French to aid us, and it was Franklin
who made all the rounds in Paris, talking to scientists, diplomats, businessmen and royal ministers at a time when the
French Foreign Minister was telling Congress to withdraw John Adams from France, and when no one wanted to help our fledging
efforts. Only Franklin devoted so many years of his life to
our cause, spending 10 years in England trying to convince the
English politicians to draw the Colonies into the fold of the Empire, rather than push them away, and it was Franklin who shortly thereafter, when the Revolution actually began, crossed
the Atlantic once again to France, where he spent more years
convincing the French to aid the US both militarily and economically.
The author points out it was only Franklin who had the amiability, wit and solid reputation to withstand personal and
political attacks while continuing to work on behalf of his
nation.
Unhappily, the author spends a bit too much time judging some
of Franklin's actions and life by today's standards, when such
doesn't seem appropriate at all, but then he rescues himself by
including at the end of his book his assessment that Franklin
was without equal in his life of service to the Colonies and his
new nation.
He also points out that when the Constitutional Convention convened, and Franklin was in his 70s (and participants noted
he seemed to sleep a lot), only Franklin and Geo.Washington had
the reputation and standing to cause other delegates to sometimes re-think positions and to compromise so that the vital Convention would go forward and not break down in disharmony.
The author also quotes several times from the famed biography
of John Adams by McCullough, and he does a nice job of presenting contrasting opinions of those two giants, where they
disagreed strongly at times, and he also reconciles those seemingly-opposing views. He valuably shows us how Franklin and Adams were able to keep working toward the same great goals,
even when they disagreed with each other.
John Adams was very intemperate in his criticisms of Franklin,
and this author very nicely explains how and why Franklin never
reactly strongly against Adams.
This book also delves into the strong political opposition to
Franklin brought by the influencial Lee family from Virginia,
and how Franklin handled all that difficulty.
Also covered, with great interest, is Franklin's relations with
his son, William, and his grandchildren. Most readers will have
to wonder how Benj. was able to distance himself from son William when the son remained loyal to the British crown and
later settled in England, while Benjamin fought against the crown with all his ability. It was a very strained family relationship and one that deserves to be understood.
As noted, the author does a fine job of putting everything together at the end of this book, where he puts Franklin in proper historical context, and he then explores Franklin's
legacy through his writings, his friends and family, and how
they fared after his life ended.
There is considerable detail here, and the student of history
will be well rewarded by reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Very enlightening
Review: Until I read this book I had little knowledge of this great thinker's remarkable life. But Walther Isaacson has made that life relevent to free-thinkers all over the world; not just Americans. Franlkin was a man of peace, like his fellow first American statesmen. What they would make of America's actions of late I cannot imagine. But certainly Franklin was a diplomat who saw force as a last resort. This is a splendid achievement. Well done to Mr Isaacson.
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