Rating: 
Summary: Benjamin Franklin
Review: Walter Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin portrayed him very well. He focused a lot on the construction and experiences of his family. He would go well into detail about things, sometimes almost to the point that it was no longer interesting. He did depict him, however, as a strong leader and an amazing writer that strived to improve the times. Isaacson would also go into depth about Franklin's many accomplishments, which covered a wide range of things. He was a very talented man and invented and discovered things that are a large part of our lives today. Isaacson touched on Franklin's strong relationships with not only his family, but the people he worked with every day. This biography displays Franklin's character as hard-working and determined. Franklin was brought to life and really respected in this biography.
Rating: 
Summary: overexposed
Review: Isaacson ought to be embarrassed by the shameless hype this book got from his old cronies at Time and CNN.It's not a bad book but it's just not in the same league with HW Brands' "The First American," which is both more scholarly and readable -- despite getting almost no notice in the general media. Take a pass on this and pick up Brands' book if you want a thorough review of Franklin's fascinating life.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent popular history
Review: Walter Isaacson's biography follows the events of Franklin's life in a steady chronology, reiterating the themes that recurred through his life in a style that will make some readers impatient; personally, I found my way through with ease, as if I were reading a good novel. Even more appreciated is Isaacson's care in illuminating the themes that parallel current issues, strongly connecting our colonial history and the founding of our republic to contemporary politics. This is a great service to the reader, as well as the concluding essay on how individual opinions and cultural perspectives on Franklin have varied since he left us. It's a fine work on an American who has contributions to offer the republic yet.
Rating:
Summary: Decent
Review: Neither a character study nor a narravative, but a little of both, this book never finds a rhythem. You will not feel you wasted your time with the book and will most certainly learn something if you have read little of Franklin previously. I commend the author for trying but the work never quite makes it up to the higher level of biograhies.
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Summary: A GREAT BIOGRAPHY ON OUR FOUNDING GRANDFATHER . . .
Review: __________________________________________________________________________________ To me there's always been a bit of grandfatherly charm about Ben Franklin, not only because he was older and more mature than our other founding fathers - but, let's face it, he looks the part. The etchings and paintings that have come down to us show exactly what I mean. And then there are all those wise and witty sayings he's passed down to us (though you'll learn how he borrowed a couple from old books he read) . . . oh, well . . . I don't have a problem in giving him credit for having "found" the few he didn't make up. Wise, yes . . . WISE. That's the word that personifies Benjamin Franklin and this book wholly supports that notion and lends it justice. Walter Isaacson has written a masterful and comprehensive biography. This book encompasses the entire life of Benjamin Franklin - his early life, family and friends; the development of his talents and skills; his romances - both real and imaginary; his entrepreneurial proclivities; his fascination and experimentation with the unknown and the resulting scientific inventions and other contributions he made; his philosophical pursuits; his family and friendships - both tender and tragic; his life as a statesman and ambassador - including his many travels; his strong antiroyalist views and the part he played in our early country's revolution and severence from Britain; his relationships and interchange with the other founding fathers and the invaluable role he played in the forming of our nation and it's government (particularly as a catalytic peacemaker between all the personalities involved and the various interests they represented); his religious, ethical and moral views; his programs for self-improvement; health issues throughout his life; his growing old gracefully; and how all these things contributed toward his becoming a legend and an institution in his own time as well as ours. Without going into specifics, these are few of the major areas you'll read about in this wonderfully written account. There are many interesting and detailed stories in Franklin's life that Isaacson has painstakingly researched here and he provides helpful analysis by pointing out what he believes Franklin's true feelings and motives were as we look back in retrospect. After reading this book, I wanted to read it again. And I did, sort of. Since I'm on the road so much I decided to give the audio book a try. I'm pleased to say it does the actual book justice. I'll warn you in advance, I'm very nitpicky about readers used for audio versions because they play such a crucial role, almost making or breaking an otherwise good book. At first I didn't care for Boyd Gaines. His voice, in my opinion, seemed too young, proper and "ivy-leaguish." In my attempts to conceptualize the protagonist I'd been hoping for a voice that was down-to-earth, witty and, yes, grandfatherly. I still think such a voice would make more sense, however, to be fair to Mr. Gaines, he made the most of what he has. After a couple of chapters, I began getting used to his delivery style. All together, he did a pretty fair job, kept his cadence up and read in a straight-forward manner. Most importantly, he resisted any urge to pontificate, which I abhor. This is a five star book. You'll be happy you took the time to read it.
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Summary: LESSONS THAT APPLY TODAY
Review: A reader said this book should be required reading for
high school kids. I say, make it required reading for adults,
too, especially if you agree with me that this country has lost its way and a dose of Franklin wouldn't hurt. For instance, when Benjamin Franklin lived in Paris, he had an enemy in propaganda, Lord Stormont, who consistently put out false information about Franklin's activities and attitudes. When asked to comment about the British Ambassador, Franklin replied, "That's not a truth. That's a Stormont." The term "Stormonter" soon became a fashionable word in Paris to describe falsehood, and was a weak pun on the French word "mentir", meaning to lie. Concerned Americans may wish to borrow from Franklin's example and begin using the
term "bush" to describe an exageration, an important omission, a misleading comment,
or deceitful pattern of behavior. "You're bushing me, right?" one might say when met with surprising news. "No bush" could be a hip new way of saying "No lie." John Kerry could respond to any Bush accusation, "That's not a truth. That's a bush." Following Franklin's precedent, even the word "Bu_ sh_ " is a bad pun on the American slang for lie. Simply insert a pause, and the rest will come naturally. And that's the kind of idea that you get from communing with Franklin for awhile. Reference: Walter Issacson, Benjamin Franklin, An American Life, Simon & Schuster, 2003,
page 340
Rating:
Summary: A peek into an amazing personality
Review: This is a phenomenal book! Every American student is familiar with Ben Franklin because of his vast accomplishments in science, government, writings, and civic contributions. However, we never quite learn "who he was as a person". Walter Isaacon's well-researched biography provides a strong insight into his personality, lifestyle, strengths, and weaknesses. Moreover, he relates Franklin's changing attitudes throughout key periods in his life. After having read this book, I came away with a strong understanding of why Franklin saw America as a society whose future would be anchored in the improvement of the common man, or as he said, the "middling man". This concept permeated his entire life. Ergo, his constant obsession with establishing a set of "life's rules" that would make the common man individually successful and at the same time creating synergy among individuals that would result in a strong, productive and prosperous society.
Franklin's basic personality contained an underlying selfishness that created somewhat of a dichotomy with his social vision. Notwithstanding the fact that he created clubs, libraries, the fire department and other institutions, he always kept his personal agenda at the forefront of his actions. The epitome of this trait is demonstrated in that he didn't see his wife, for 15 of her last 17 years of life. He was just too busy with political activities in Europe. In addition, he literally kidnapped his grandsons from his children in order to raise them in a manner that he thought best. Although history often presents him as a stoic, upstanding statesman, Isaacon's reveals his interest in affairs of the heart with the "ladies". Right up to the time of death, he enjoyed the charm of opposite sex.
As a great thinker and indivualist, he wrestled with the institution of slavery. From his youth through middle age, he accepted the slave as an inferior whose lot in life was to serve. Franklin even owned Black servants. Ultimately, he could not reconcile his philosophy of individual freedom and liberty with the holding of slaves. Before his death, he supported the abolition of slavery.
Franklin's specific character appears to be the template for what evolved into the persona of "The American". That personality exudes the free spirited individual lifestyle that evolves in a society where status is not determined by birth. The basis of the American culture that Franklin helped to start is determined by each individual's unique contribution to the society. The value of these contributions ultimately determines the individual's status and prosperity within the community while at the same time insuring the economic success and growth of the country. This enlightened self-interest has its shortcomings in the same selfishness and prejudices that Franklin displayed in his life. However, like Franklin, America tends to move, change, and grow. Ultimately, the fate of America will be determined by how our individuality is balanced against the challenges of a society that is changing rapidly. If Franklin could somehow return today, I believe that he would admonish us to return to the fundamentals that helped us successfully start this society i.e. discipline, frugality, individual responsibility, and enlightened self interest.
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Summary: A must-read for all Americans
Review: Ben Franklin is the defining American: grounded in middle-class pragmatism. Isaacson offers tremendous insight into what inspired and motivated a man that was respected the world over. What he did for our nation is best told in this book.
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Summary: The avatar of "leather-apron" pragmatisim...
Review: Clearly, Walter Isaacon's goal is to portray Benjamin Franklin with a whole new, sort of revisionistic realism. And he suceeds marvelously with this narrative that captures both the myth and pragmatic side of one of our more eccentric founding fathers. This is historical biography on a grand scale and surely will stand the test of time as the standard work on Franklin and, indeed on the founding of our nation. What can be said of Franklin that hasn't been documented before? That he was at once an extraordinarily disciplined, virtuous man while maintaining an "everyday" humanistic side can not be argued. That he was, gratefully, a visionary who was in large part responsible for forming a type of government unheard of or unseen before in the annals of time is also unquestioned. That he had a unique mind and penchant for scientifically detailed analysis which served him and his time well and put him years ahead of his contemporaries is absolutely without doubt. The goal, then, of any new work on Franklin is to re-introduce these virtues to a new generation of readers and to attempt to seperate the man from the myth...this is the task that Isaacson performs amazingly well with this work. To call this an ordinary biography is to call McCullough's "Truman", Caro's "Master of the Senate" or Morris' "Theodore Rex" ordinary...this is the level of literary genius that Isaacson has achieved here in my opinion and it's a work that needs to be seriously considered by all historians or general readers. Covered in narrative form, we see Isaacson build Franklin's story from his early days in Boston to his inspiring entrepreneurship in Philadelphia. His early work at the printing press and as an amatueur publisher lead him in becoming a local literary visionary. His "Poor Richard's Almanac" and other published works show Franklin to be the sort of personality that ultimately leads to greater "revolutionary" thinking later on. Isaacson also gives fair coverage to Franklin's ever growing scientific and social works activities as his inventions and improvements on items such as stoves and his organization of various groups ranging from fire departments to local lending libraries make him a leader in early American society. Able to retire at 40 years old (due to his famous frugality and industry), we then see the middle aged Frankilin become a major character on the world stage, first with his invention/discovery of the lightening rod and then, slowly, as a revolutionary activist. This activity leads of course to political aspirations and Franklin goes from a Pennsylvania delegate at the first Contenental Congress to diplomatic roles representing colonial interests in Great Britan. It's there that Franklin loses his passion and confidence in the royal government and where this book really takes off. Franklin hesitantly refutes the Stamp Act, returns to America to become a leading figure in the revolt and then returns to England where he starts his service as a career diplomat...it's in this period that Franklin becomes the world leader and thinker that makes him such a renowned figure and also where he forms his vision of our ultimate form of government. Isaacson deftly weaves all this into incredibly readable detail while never sacrificing comprehensiveness. Franklin's personal life, displayed with the generous use of many personal letters and diaries show a different side that form a personality that's rich, somewhat flawed and always entertaining...he's certainly able to "wink" at us from this lofty Founding Father position and Isaacson melds all this into the narrative. Frankiln's work at securing first the French intervention into the Revolutionary War and ultimately the peace treaty with England necessarily make up the greater portion of the book, while his activities in France also add to his legendary mystique. Interaction and correspondance with famous personalities such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington are offset with practical letters to his wife and children/grandchildren that give a unique biographical balance and add a richness to the story not seen in many historical accounts. To say that Franklin was just a diplomat or just a scientist or just a founding father is really cliche...he was all these things and more and Walter Isaacson combines all this into a beautiful narrative that does justice to Franklin and to history in general...I would recommend this work to any general reader or historian and I'm sure that most would agree that "Benjamin Franklin" stands out and is not your ordinary history book.
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Summary: The First American Renaissance Man
Review: Walter Isaacson's biography, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, recalls the genius, the drive and the wisdom that Benjamin Franklin brought to the birth of the United States. Franklin developed his innate curiosity and empowered his always practical, often noble ambition by becoming a voracious reader and prolific writer in his early childhood. He learned to read from his father Josiah's bookshelf, choosing books like Plutarch's Lives and Cotton Mather's Bonifacius: Essays to do Good. He read essays by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in London's The Spectator, then recreated them in his own words. "I sometimes had the pleasure of fancying that in certain particulars of small import I had been lucky enough to improve the method or the language, and this encouraged me to think that I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable English writer, of which I was extremely ambitious." Instead of study at Harvard with many of his peers, Franklin acquired his advanced education as an adolescent printing apprentice to his older brother James at James' Boston weekly, the New England Courant from 1718 to 1723. While he was learning the printer's trade in the Courant pressroom, Franklin tapped his innovative imagination to create the pseudonymous penname, Mrs. Silence Dogood, under which he wrote 14 essays that he submitted for publication anonymously to his brother, thus concealing his writing talent from James' jealous insecurity. Franklin's female point-of-view from which he wrote often during his life cleverly analyzed topics like the conflict between church and state, relief for single women and the "proud, self-conceited great blockheads" graduating from Harvard at the time. Isaacson says Franklin's Mrs. Dogood became the most popular writer in colonial America. In addition to printing and writing anonymously for the Courant, Benjamin even served as publisher of the paper for three issues when James ran afoul of the Massachusetts colony's General Court for publishing a religiously inflammatory piece. Thus it was that Franklin began his professional life in the late 18th century as a Boston newspaper printer, writer and publisher, all before the age of 18. He was later to operate a very successful printing business and publish his own paper in Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Gazette and entertain America annually for 25 years beginning in 1732 with Poor Richard's Almanac. It is little wonder many consider Benjamin Franklin the Father of American Journalism. Even though it was his professional foundation and lifelong pursuit, journalism was far from Franklin's only career. He evolved into America's first Renaissance Man by re-inventing himself frequently throughout his life. Franklin was extraordinarily successful as inventor and scientist, as businessman, politician and diplomat, as educator, librarian and philosopher, as rebel, peacemaker and colleague of patriots, statesmen and tradesmen in America, England and France. Franklin creations that survive today include the Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731 when he was 27 and the first non-sectarian college in America that opened in 1751 and became known 40 years later as the University of Pennsylvania. It is this remarkable, life-long and usually successful personal re-invention that makes Franklin such a dominant character and inspirational role model in American history. Franklin was 70 when he was selected a member of the Second Continental Congress that convened in 1775 in Philadelphia. He contributed substantively to the Congress, including a proposed set of Articles of Confederation for the new country. He also served as editor to Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence. Isaacson explains how Franklin can be said to hold another honorable seat in U.S. history, that of the father of the American Middle Class. Few of our country's founding fathers felt comfort with democracy as fully as did Franklin. As a result, America's down-to-earth shopkeepers, tradesmen and backwoodsmen revered him. His Autobiography was the one book Davy Crockett took with him to his death at the Alamo. Although raised in the Puritan epicenter of Boston, Franklin was a freethinking moralist who practiced religious tolerance while pursuing lives in business, science and politics. Yale scholar A. Whitney Griswold writes that Franklin's life shows, "what Puritan habits detached from Puritan beliefs were capable of achieving." Francis, Lord Jeffrey, a founder of the Edinburgh Review, was high in his praise of Franklin. "This self-taught American is the most rational, perhaps, of all philosophers," he said. "He never loses sight of common sense in any of his speculations." Although not without his critics, Franklin drew high praise from several quarters. Herman Melville wrote, "Having carefully weighed the world, Franklin could act in any part of it." Emerson put Franklin in rarified company: "Franklin was one of the most sensible men that ever lived ... more useful, more moral and more pure" than Socrates. Isaacson says Franklin was always open to different opinions, unwavering in his opposition to arbitrary authority. He believed strongly that rights and power were based not on the happenstance of heritage but on merit, virtue and hard work. He felt he could best serve God by serving his fellow man and made his choices accordingly. Above all, Isaacson says, Franklin was unwavering and at times heroic in his "faith in the wisdom of the common citizen that was manifest in an appreciation for democracy and an opposition to all forms of tyranny." Benjamin Franklin is an American hero. Walter Isaacson's biography of Franklin is a fine piece of scholarship, especially worthy of study by all who aspire to lives in business, public service and yes, journalism.
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