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Rating: 
Summary: A strange perfume
Review: "Fart Proudly" is a wonderfully hilarious collection of some of Franklin's satirical works. It is a brief but highly enjoyable read. Mr. Japikse's introductions provide a handy frame for many of the articles and letters of one of America's exquisite minds.One caveat: There is a closing piece written by Mr. Japikse entitled "The Dream" in which he injects his own political agenda into Mr. Franklin's mouth. In this piece I feel he has exceeded his calling to Fart Proudly and has soiled himself leaving us with a small pile of excrement. Be careful that it doesn't stick to your shoe.
Rating:
Summary: A strange perfume
Review: "Fart Proudly" is a wonderfully hilarious collection of some of Franklin's satirical works. It is a brief but highly enjoyable read. Mr. Japikse's introductions provide a handy frame for many of the articles and letters of one of America's exquisite minds. One caveat: There is a closing piece written by Mr. Japikse entitled "The Dream" in which he injects his own political agenda into Mr. Franklin's mouth. In this piece I feel he has exceeded his calling to Fart Proudly and has soiled himself leaving us with a small pile of excrement. Be careful that it doesn't stick to your shoe.
Rating:
Summary: A strange perfume
Review: "Fart Proudly" is a wonderfully hilarious collection of some of Franklin's satirical works. It is a brief but highly enjoyable read. Mr. Japikse's introductions provide a handy frame for many of the articles and letters of one of America's exquisite minds. One caveat: There is a closing piece written by Mr. Japikse entitled "The Dream" in which he injects his own political agenda into Mr. Franklin's mouth. In this piece I feel he has exceeded his calling to Fart Proudly and has soiled himself leaving us with a small pile of excrement. Be careful that it doesn't stick to your shoe.
Rating:
Summary: The footnotes your history book skipped.
Review: Bland history makes great men look great. Bad history makes great men look bad. This makes a great man look great being a 'bad boy' - a tasty bit of irony and accuracy.
Franklin was one of the first printers in the US - he was a material supporter of freedom of the press, and a severe critic of irresponsible press. He was a statesman and clown, when clowning made his point the best way. He was a politician, scientist, and bawd - how else to take in so much of the human condition?
This collection captures some of the contradictions that comprised Benjamin Frnaklin. Maybe it takes some of the sheen off the gold star that history dumped on him, but it adds toughness and flexibility to the steel that he showed as diplomat. Satire is a voice, and this short book shows a few octaves of his.
I have to admit that poor teachers put me quite off American history. Books like this get me reading history again. It shows Franklin the patriot and firebrand defending the mothers without husbands and deflating the learned academies of Europe. This is short but sweet, and even his choices of words show me a lot about how modern English is used.
//wiredweird
Rating: 
Summary: If you've never read Franklin, start here!
Review: I can't understand why standard Franklin anthologies don't include more of these wonderful pieces. Among many lovely things, this book includes 'The Grand Leap', Franklin's spot on satire of the news media, and a political fable which would have been the definitive analysis of US Middle Mid East foreign policy if someone had been smart enough to write it today. These writings are as wise as they are funny, and they are very funny. Great read!
Rating:
Summary: If you've never read Franklin, start here!
Review: I can't understand why standard Franklin anthologies don't include more of these wonderful pieces. Among many lovely things, this book includes 'The Grand Leap', Franklin's spot on satire of the news media, and a political fable which would have been the definitive analysis of US Middle Mid East foreign policy if someone had been smart enough to write it today. These writings are as wise as they are funny, and they are very funny. Great read!
Rating:
Summary: irreverant and witty
Review: One hardly thinks of our "founding fathers" as people with a sense of humor, let alone as individuals who could be downright bawdy and naughty. _Fart Proudly_ demonstrates this side of Benjamin Franklin in a collection of his lesser known writings including his "Letter to the Royal Academy" (from which the book gets its title). It is a humourous read, if for no other reason than to revel in the wit (and witicisms) of one of the revolutionary generation's great minds. While several articles are funny ("How to Choose a Mistress" is also a favorite), many miss the mark - humor has changed a bit over the last 200 - odd years. Nonetheless, I recommed the book for no other reason than to give our founding fathers a more "human" face.
Rating:
Summary: irreverant and witty
Review: One hardly thinks of our "founding fathers" as people with a sense of humor, let alone as individuals who could be downright bawdy and naughty. _Fart Proudly_ demonstrates this side of Benjamin Franklin in a collection of his lesser known writings including his "Letter to the Royal Academy" (from which the book gets its title). It is a humourous read, if for no other reason than to revel in the wit (and witicisms) of one of the revolutionary generation's great minds. While several articles are funny ("How to Choose a Mistress" is also a favorite), many miss the mark - humor has changed a bit over the last 200 - odd years. Nonetheless, I recommed the book for no other reason than to give our founding fathers a more "human" face.
Rating:
Summary: irreverant and witty
Review: One hardly thinks of our "founding fathers" as people with a sense of humor, let alone as individuals who could be downright bawdy and naughty. _Fart Proudly_ demonstrates this side of Benjamin Franklin in a collection of his lesser known writings including his "Letter to the Royal Academy" (from which the book gets its title). It is a humourous read, if for no other reason than to revel in the wit (and witicisms) of one of the revolutionary generation's great minds. While several articles are funny ("How to Choose a Mistress" is also a favorite), many miss the mark - humor has changed a bit over the last 200 - odd years. Nonetheless, I recommed the book for no other reason than to give our founding fathers a more "human" face.
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