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    Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
    Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
    Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
    Audiobook (abridged)7 hours

    Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

    Written by Walter Isaacson

    Narrated by Boyd Gaines

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    In this authoritative and engrossing full-scale biography, Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of Einstein and Steve Jobs, shows how the most fascinating of America's founders helped define our national character.

    Benjamin Franklin is the founding father who winks at us, the one who seems made of flesh rather than marble. In a sweeping narrative that follows Franklin’s life from Boston to Philadelphia to London and Paris and back, Walter Isaacson chronicles the adventures of the runaway apprentice who became, over the course of his eighty-four-year life, America’s best writer, inventor, media baron, scientist, diplomat, and business strategist, as well as one of its most practical and ingenious political leaders. He explores the wit behind Poor Richard’s Almanac and the wisdom behind the Declaration of Independence, the new nation’s alliance with France, the treaty that ended the Revolution, and the compromises that created a near-perfect Constitution.

    In this colorful and intimate narrative, Isaacson provides the full sweep of Franklin’s amazing life, showing how he helped to forge the American national identity and why he has a particular resonance in the twenty-first century.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateJul 1, 2003
    ISBN9780743561853
    Author

    Walter Isaacson

    Walter Isaacson is the bestselling author of biographies of Jennifer Doudna, Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Einstein. He is a professor of history at Tulane and was CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair of CNN, and editor of Time. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2023. Visit him at Isaacson.Tulane.edu.

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    Reviews for Benjamin Franklin

    4.5/5

    152 ratings49 reviews

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    • 5/5
      If there weren't great people like him, the whole society would be in a much more precarious situation. Sadly I m not a great person and I never met one. Food for thought.
    • 4/5
      "Benjamin Franklin is the founding father who winked at us" (p 2). What a great way to start a biography about a man whose life is such common knowledge you don't feel like you could read yet another one and get anything new out of it. It is Isaacson's writing style that sets him apart from all the other biographies. From the very beginning, Isaacson draws you into Franklin's world with such ease and humor. His style of writing is charming and winsome in a myriad of ways, but I liked that he used such words as "sassy" and "spunky" to describe people. A lot of Isaacson's information is drawn from Franklin's own words, either from his autobiography (even correcting Mr. Franklin from time to time) or from Franklin's personal letters. I particularly enjoyed Franklin's tongue in cheek research about the smell of farts correlating to the type of food one eats. But, Isaacson's playful account doesn't mean he refrains from personal critical opinion about our founding father's actions, especially concerning Franklin's treatment of his immediate family. He defends Franklin as much as he can concerning the relationships Franklin has with women other than his wife, claiming they were mostly nonsexual. However, Isaacson has sympathy for Franklin's family who spend nearly two decades without him. In addition to Franklin's personal life, Isaacson also is extremely thorough in detailing Franklin's civic contributions, political dealings and public life.
    • 4/5
      Very interesting life, although it took me awhile to get through this book.
    • 4/5
      Franklin has always fascinated me and has always been my favorite Founding Father, just ahead of Jefferson, so I am glad I finally pulled this bio off the shelf and dug in. It is quite mind-blowing what Franklin jammed into his eighty-four years- as a scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer and practical/political thinker. He was also the Forrest Gump of his time, inserting himself into many historical milestones, in America and abroad. The author also shines a light on Franklin's flaws, which make him even more human. He was not a very good father or husband, which I found very surprising and his adoration for young girls was borderline creepy. I like the tone of this jaunty narrative, but, for me, it bogged down a bit in the details, especially in the use of extensive quotes, which can be overwhelming. It is still a very solid biography.
    • 5/5
      Ok, another audio book that I really enjoyed. Franklin is simply facinationg. He is an inspiration and a great representation of the American spirit.
    • 5/5
      A clear concise review of this great man. Enjoyed this book very much
    • 5/5
      Excellent book! Walter Isaacson provides a well-rounded look at arguably the most important American of all time. Franklin was involved in so many important decisions as our country was founded that that alone would put him in the pantheon of revered Americans. But the fact that he was such a successful inventor, scientist, philosopher, philanthropist, and more makes him truly one of the most accomplished humans of all time. What makes Franklin all the more amazing is that he abhorred elitism and seemed to always keep his feet on the ground.
    • 3/5
      Such a fascinating life, such an okay treatment. Lacking a compelling narrative style or a rigorous academic approach, this is a well-researched bio, but ultimately Ben Franklin "for dummies." I'm glad for the opportunity to learn about Franklin, but Isaacson's newspaper background shows in his style. It reads more like an extended Sunday magazine piece than the great story that surely was Ben Franklin's life. In comparison to David McCullough, Joseph Ellis, or the great Robert Caro, this is historical biography "lite."I'm open to alternative Benjamins.
    • 4/5
      Isaacson's Ben Franklin biography is a traditional, sequential description of Franklin's life, with some commentary. I listened to the audio version. Some of my random thoughts and impressions:

      I had read Franklin's autobiography and found it entertaining and amusing. Isaacson's commentary that Franklin was someone who was very into appearances ie making a brand of himself, and his autobiography was part of this, helped me contextualize it better. Though, having had read the autobiography, the first quarter/third of the book wasn't terribly interesting, as it was a rehash of it.

      The recitation of all his inventions, and scientific enquiry was impressive. A lot of knowledge we take for granted was divined and explained by Franklin. His passionate curiosity is inspiring.

      As Isaacson describes Franklin, he had a very healthy, pragmatic, blend of what we now call liberal and conservative ideas. These ideas aren't mutually exclusive and a balance can be had. I appreciated that he always advocated for democracy in its most direct forms, especially with January 6, 2021 weighing on my mind.

      I appreciated his pragmatic approach to self-reflection and morals --do good, be kind, and not much need to over-analyze beyond that.

      He was not kind to his biological family especially compared to his "adopted" families. It was distressing to read. His wife Deborah writes to tell him she is lonely, sick, and that their daughter is getting married (because he spent 15 years in England at the end of Deborah's life) and he writes back telling her how to decorate the kitchen, to not spend money on nice things for herself or their daughter, and to send him some squirrels. (**These weren't the in a single letter, but that was the gist). I understand how upset he was with his son due to his son siding with England during the American Revolution, but his vindictiveness before that did not makes sense to me.

      I think Isaacson was a bit too temporizing of Franklin's sexual reputation. Having women sit on his lap and make out with them is not "flirtation", and he seemed to dance around Franklin visiting prostitutes, and likely sleeping with both the mother and daughter of his "second" family. While some of his relationships with various young women seem platonic as described by his surviving letters, they sometimes appeared to me, as manipulative.

      Overall it was a well written, fairly engaging, comprehensive biography of Franklin.



    • 4/5
      A balanced portrayal of a complex and extraordinary man.
    • 5/5
      Great book.
    • 4/5
      I think we all grow up hearing, reading and being told about the founding fathers but rarely do any of us really read about them as individuals. Every time I do I’m amazed at what I read and how far ahead of their time they really were. Benjamin Franklin epitomizes this; printer, scientist, inventor, diplomat, politician and above it all human. This book gets into some of that nitty-gritty; the women, the ruthless businessman, more women, questionable husband and father. The author does an amazing job walking us through Franklin’s life and showing us the brilliance of the man and the fallibility at the same time.Wonderful read and would recommend it to everyone – just be prepared to devote some time to it.
    • 2/5
      This book does a good job of highlighting Franklin's achievements, but often reads like an encyclopedia, especially in Franklin's early years. I would have appreciated more of an attempt to explore Franklin's motivations and inner life, even if some of it needed to be speculative.Also, I don't quite trust that Isaacson has completely addressed the key points of Franklin's life and legacy, or put them in the appropriate context. For example, in the section on the Treaty of Paris, there is no mention of the secret codicil about Florida, which caused so much consternation in Congress (and is discussed in depth in Ketcham's biography of Madison). There is no mention of how Congress was split between those who trusted France and saw Franklin as their hero, and those who distrusted France and Franklin by extension. There is no exploration of whether the lack of public mourning for Franklin was due to his petition against slavery (as speculated by Chernow). It is surprising to me that biographies of these other founding fathers have information about Franklin that Isaacson does not even mention, much less explore. Another example that made me worry about whether I could trust what I was reading was this line from Isaacson: "Jefferson was all too familiar with the darkness that infected Adams." This is a fairly strong statement, and seems quite out of line with the Jefferson-Adams relationship portrayed in McCullough. The only support from Isaacson for Jefferson's opinion was one sentence in a letter from Jefferson to Madison: "He hates Franklin, he hates Jay, he hates the French, he hates the English -- to whom will he adhere?" So, I looked up the original letter. In the very next sentences, Jefferson went on to say, "His vanity is a lineament in his character which had entirely escaped me. His want of taste I had observed. Notwithstanding all this he has a sound head on substantial points and I think he has integrity. I am glad therefore that he is of the commission & expect he will be useful in it. His dislike of all parties, and all men, by balancing his prejudices, may give the same fair play to his reason as would a general benevolence of temper. At any rate honesty may be extracted even from poisonous weeds."I just don't think Jefferson's first sentence, in context, supports a "darkness" "infecting" Adams. Moreover, the overall context of Jefferson's letter may be that since Madison already really doesn't like Adams, Jefferson is trying to argue against Madison's most negative opinions in the least confrontational way possible, by seeming to agree with Madison's negative viewpoint perhaps more than he actually does. So, why would Isaacson make such a strong statement based on such flimsy support? He can't actually share Madison's antipathy of 200 years ago. Was it just sloppy research? I looked up the footnote to Isaacson's paragraph, and found that Isaacson's Jefferson quote was taken not from the original Jefferson letter, but from a secondary source. Was this book just assembled from other popular histories, instead of from primary sources and academic histories?
    • 5/5
      A Sweeping View of the Life of Benjamin FranklinDuring his 84 year life, Benjamin was his country’s best scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, business strategist, and perhaps, its most practical political thinker.Walter Isaacson, formerly CNN Chairman and Time Magazine Editor, provides us with a 590 page portrait of the Founding Father who winks at us. This revolutionary leader prized pragmatics, religious tolerance and social mobility. Isaacson pictures a man with a vision for his new country that was based on middle class virtues and values. He pictures a man instinctively comfortable with the strength and wisdom of the country’s shopkeepers. He pictures a man who based his morality on leading a “good” life, serving his country and on the belief that salvation would be achieved by good works.Franklin was a complex person. And Isaacson succeeds in drawing lessons from his life that are more complex that those usual drawn by founding father’s foes and fans. I, for one, am grateful author had the time to thoughtfully explore them. These lessons are as vital today as they were during the revolutionary time in which Benjamin Franklin lived.
    • 4/5
      The reader really gets to know Benjamin Franklin in this book biography. It is a little weaker on context and explaining the events of Franklin's time. Isaacson portrays Franklin as the prototype middle class striver. He is pragmatic and guided by reason, civic-minded, sociable, and charming. Franklin mixed bis public and private interests and could be downright petty at times. As amiable as he was in accumulating acquaintances, he had few close friends and was remarkably cold and distant to members of his family. He was a brilliant negotiator. While none of Franklin's suggestions were incorporated into the constitution his true value at the convention was as the voice of compromise who disarmed tense situations with humor. The Conclusion is an excellent summary and discussion of Franklin's standing since his death in 1790. We could certainly use someone like him in our own troubled times.
    • 4/5
      A great book! I deserve a dreaded blue flag (or something) for trying to review an audio abridgement, but I definitively enjoyed this account of an amazing genius with some typical human weaknesses. The political conflicts within his immediate family (son, grandson) were expected and well, shocking to read, nonetheless. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      I’ve read my share of Biographies and with out a doubt this is my favorite. Isaacson presents a clear and engaging narrative of celebration and illumination of Franklin’s life. I feel like I’ve know Ben Franklin all my life. I especially liked the summary at the end, where Isaacson recounts how Franklin is looked upon and considered in the years after his lifetime. He also brings it all together regarding the essence of Franklin in such a beautiful way. Highly! Highly! Recommended.
    • 4/5
      Easy to read. Very interesting. Moves along.
    • 4/5
      Truly enjoyed this one. you get a genuine sense of Franklin's eccentic nature, and spirit of adventure. Inventor, and diplomat, as well as postmaster. Enjouyed learning about his strained relationship with his bastard son, who becam governor of New Jeresey, and becasue of his son's loyalist stance, their relationshipo remained strained.
    • 4/5
      Well written, interesting details, provides the information and some interpretation but there is enough original source information the reader can decide whether they believe the interpretation or have a different one.
    • 4/5
      The book was pretty good. Franklin certainly is a fascinating and noble character. The last chapter was particularly insightful. Its details of criticism of Franklin's life and philosophies really gives food for thought. Particularly interesting was the Christian commentators who criticized Franklin for caring for people more than the population of heaven.
    • 4/5
      I've been learning more about this early American leader for my BBF walking tour and I find him increasingly fascinating the more I learn about him. Isaacson writes a lively narrative with a good balance between historical accuracy and popular history as well as warts & all without sensationalism.I won't go into a detailed summary of the book but here are a few elements that stand out for me:
      • Isaacson goes beyond simple biographical details and makes a good attempt at an intellectual history of Franklin, especially in the earlier parts of the book.
      • Franklin, for all his virtues, was not above getting dirty in politics. It's interesting to compare to the recent book I read about Aaron Burr and how differently their posthumous reputations have been adjudged when they were both very much men of their times. Then there's the idolatrous manner in which the Founding Fathers are revered in comparison to today's "corrupt politicians" which just isn't realistic.
      • Franklin had an interesting habit of forming a surrogate family around him when he was away from home for extended periods, acting in an avuncular role for bright young women and his own grandsons. Yet he was often distant from his own children and spent many, many years separated from his wife.
      • Another interesting contrast: Franklin has been called "the first American" and famously wore frontier-style clothing when visiting the French court, yet he seemed to jump at any opportunity to go to Europe and lived abroad in London and Paris for extended portions of his life.
      All in all this is a great introduction to a fascinating and hard to understand man.
    • 4/5
      Isaacson’s biography of Benjamin Franklin is a welcome antidote for the madness and vulgarity of what passes for contemporary American political discourse. Isaacson takes the reader back to the formative years of American society and the many key moments and personalities associated with our nation’s founding and independence. He paints Franklin as an amazing contributor to civic and political life as well as a polymath with an inveterate curiosity about science. At the same time, however, Isaacson is careful not to paint an overly rosy picture. He makes the case, for example, that Franklin’s personal relationships with members of his nuclear family (especially his brother, wife, son, and daughter) were rather wanting, cold, and shallow. Franklin seemed more interested in and energized by intellectual banter with friends and famous names, his grandchildrens’ adoration, and flirting with lady friends. That said, how many of us possess unblemished characters which the scrutiny of a biographer’s close analysis of our lives and letters would fail to find personal shortcomings and inadequacies? Franklin was a great man, all things considered, who contributed with arguably unmatched impact to shaping our nation at a pivotal time. Isaacson’s biography was fun, carefully researched, well written, interest-filled, and balanced.
    • 4/5
      A great biography. I've never been much of a fan of biographies. Isaacson is a master of the form though.
    • 4/5
      A good first book to start an extended study of Franklin.
    • 5/5
      Very readable biography of a multi-talented American: at time a tradesman, inventor, scientist, philosopher, diplomat, statesman and wit. This is an excellent biography, vividly describing Franklin's long journey from loyalist printer to revolutionary statesman, including the complex relationships with family and friends.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this biography a great deal...as I always do when reading books by Water Isaacson. I especially liked the way Mr. Isaacson reconciled different views of Benjamin Franklin at the end of the book. The book was well researched and presented a balanced view.Benjamin Franklin was a fascinating person, with a broad range of interests and always blending curiosity with a strong sense of practicality. I think he would be saddened by the lack of compromise that is dividing U.S. political parties today.Mr. Franklin accomplished so much, and had so many friends and admirers. He was a great man, unless you happened to be his wife or child. Why is it that so many great people seem to let their families down?
    • 4/5
      Well done but author felt need to constantly remind reader that yes, BF was talented, but not a poet and not a philosopher like Hume, not a scientist like Newton. He mentioned this repeatedly. Annoying. Otherwise fascinating insight. Last half of book was lengthy.
    • 4/5
      Fellow Bookshelf reader Dick Jacob calls Benjamin Franklin the true father of our country and after reading this wonderful biography, I agree. Isaacson's eminently readable book neatly chronicles a Paul Harvey "the rest of the story" narrative about an amazing man that actually transcended his legend. I learned much about Franklin here, and better still, about his hand in the shaping of our country. Most highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      While this biography isn't a quick, light read, it is as interesting and complex as the man himself must have been. Isaacson goes far beyond the cartoonish image that many of us have of an old guy flying a kite in a thunderstorm, and uncovers the real person, the good, the bad, and the ugly.Franklin had tremendous influence in the way the United States was formed, and the book covers the politics, Franklin's friends and enemies, and the negotiation and compromises that were necessary to accomplish so much of what he did. Just as interesting was Franklin's personal life. He was a charmer and had ladies fawning over him, sometimes for decades. But he was often cold to and unnecessarily judgmental of his own family, essentially abandoning some of them. As Poor Richard, he wrote so many well-known homilies but didn't always follow his own advice. His inventions were based on what he considered practical, not theoretical, and he wasy always interested in learning more.Mr. Isaacson has included quotes from more obscure sources as well as documents that almost all Americans know. All in all, the book is well researched and informative, highly entertaining, and very readable.