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Benjamin Franklin : An American Life by Walter Isaacson (2003, Hardcover)
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- Buy It NowBenjamin Franklin : An American Life by Walter Isaacson (2003, Hardcover)
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About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherSimon & Schuster
ISBN-100684807610
ISBN-139780684807614
eBay Product ID (ePID)2463137
Product Key Features
Book TitleBenjamin Franklin : an American Life
Number of Pages608 Pages
LanguageEnglish
TopicUnited States / Revolutionary Period (1775-1800), Political, Historical, Science & Technology
Publication Year2003
IllustratorYes
GenreBiography & Autobiography, History
AuthorWalter Isaacson
FormatHardcover
Dimensions
Item Height1.7 in
Item Weight34.1 Oz
Item Length9.2 in
Item Width6.2 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2003-050463
Dewey Edition21
ReviewsThe New York Times In its common sense, clarity and accessibility, it is a fitting reflection of Franklin's sly pragmatism....This may be the book that most powerfully drives a new pendulum swing of the Franklin reputation., The New York Times Book Review A thoroughly researched, crisply written, convincingly argued chronicle., The New York Times Book ReviewA thoroughly researched, crisply written, convincingly argued chronicle.
Dewey Decimal973.3/092 B
Table Of ContentContents Chapter One Benjamin Franklin and the Invention of America Chapter Two Pilgrim's Progress: Boston, 1706-1723 Chapter Three Journeyman: Philadelphia and London, 1723-1726 Chapter Four Printer: Philadelphia, 1726-1732 Chapter Five Public Citizen: Philadelphia, 1731-1748 Chapter Six Scientist and Inventor: Philadelphia, 1744-1751 Chapter Seven Politician: Philadelphia, 1749-1756 Chapter Eight Troubled Waters: London, 1757-1762 Chapter Nine Home Leave: Philadelphia, 1763-1764 Chapter Ten Agent Provocateur: London, 1765-1770 Chapter Eleven Rebel: London, 1771-1775 Chapter Twelve Independence: Philadelphia, 1775-1776 Chapter Thirteen Courtier: Paris, 1776-1778 Chapter Fourteen Bon Vivant: Paris, 1778-1785 Chapter Fifteen Peacemaker: Paris, 1778-1785 Chapter Sixteen Sage: Philadelphia, 1785-1790 Chapter Seventeen Epilogue Chapter Eighteen Conclusions Cast of Characters Chronology Currency Conversions Acknowledgments Sources and Abbreviations Notes Index
SynopsisBenjamin Franklin is the Founding Father who winks at us. An ambitious urban entrepreneur who rose up the social ladder, from leather-aproned shopkeeper to dining with kings, he seems made of flesh rather than of marble. In bestselling author Walter Isaacson's vivid and witty full-scale biography, we discover why Franklin seems to turn to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind his new-fangled spectacles. By bringing Franklin to life, Isaacson shows how he helped to define both his own time and ours.He was, during his 84-year life, America's best scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, and business strategist, and he was also one of its most practical -- though not most profound -- political thinkers. He proved by flying a kite that lightning was electricity, and he invented a rod to tame it. He sought practical ways to make stoves less smoky and commonwealths less corrupt. He organized neighborhood constabularies and international alliances, local lending libraries and national legislatures. He combined two types of lenses to create bifocals and two concepts of representation to foster the nation's federal compromise. He was the only man who shaped all the founding documents of America: the Albany Plan of Union, the Declaration of Independence, the treaty of alliance with France, the peace treaty with England, and the Constitution. And he helped invent America's unique style of homespun humor, democratic values, and philosophical pragmatism.But the most interesting thing that Franklin invented, and continually reinvented, was himself. America's first great publicist, he was, in his life and in his writings, consciously trying to create a new American archetype. In the process, he carefully crafted his own persona, portrayed it in public, and polished it for posterity.Through it all, he trusted the hearts and minds of his fellow "leather-aprons" more than he did those of any inbred elite. He saw middle-class values as a source of social strength, not as something to be derided. His guiding principle was a "dislike of everything that tended to debase the spirit of the common people." Few of his fellow founders felt this comfort with democracy so fully, and none so intuitively.In this colorful and intimate narrative, Isaacson provides the full sweep of Franklin's amazing life, from his days as a runaway printer to his triumphs as a statesman, scientist, and Founding Father. He chronicles Franklin's tumultuous relationship with his illegitimate son and grandson, his practical marriage, and his flirtations with the ladies of Paris. He also shows how Franklin helped to create the American character and why he has a particular resonance in the twenty-first century., Rescuing Franklin from the cliché of the genial codger, the bestselling author of KISSINGER celebrates the most advanced and earthy of the founding fathers in a riveting biography that brings Benjamin Franklin to life., 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.
LC Classification NumberE302.6.F8I83 2003
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Ratings and Reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Oct 30, 2024
A great founding father.
Interesting to learn about our founding fathers. Benjamin Franklin was a very talented man. I appreciate the fact that he was the first to created bifocals (which I wear today), and discover electricity, (which I use every day); as well as being a diplomat and co-author of the USA Constitution, with the foresight of knowing there would be changes to the constitution in the futurey (all worked out within the document), written about 300 years ago. I don't know anyone today that could come even close to what Benjamin Franklin was able to do.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Dec 22, 2021
I am enjoying the book, but haven't finished yet. So far, well written and very interesting.
Good used conditionVerified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Jan 30, 2022
Excellent Book and Good Book Dealer
I ordered this book about Ben Franklin to subsidize the education of my grandchildren. Public schools aren’t what they used to be. If you want your children and grandchildren to know, you better be prepared to teach themVerified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Apr 21, 2021
Great Book
It was great! Thanks!Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Nov 18, 2017
Great book
Franklin is the original american renaissance man. Educational and amusing at the same time, this bio is very well written.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Jul 12, 2021
A narration of Franklin's life not just a history book.
Interesting book, broken up into chapters and segments. Easy to pick-up where you leave off.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Apr 16, 2022
Thorough and captivating work.
Mr Isaacson does a thorough job of presenting the facts and true character of Ben. This was quite a job for such a complex person with so many relationships with people and organizations.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Aug 01, 2018
Great read, but quite academic in vocabulary
I like this book. A bit hard to read as I am not originally an American speaker, but with a dictionary I learn a lot from it.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Apr 07, 2021
Great book
Very interesting read.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Mar 12, 2022
Just fine.
Great book.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
