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jhayward's review against another edition
5.0
This book illustrates how Franklin was truly America's first and best "renaissance man".
cynicusrex's review against another edition
4.0
Spellbinding first half. His underdog scientist character is a true inspiration for those who think intelligence is something fixed and measurable in one number. Elon Musk's belief that ordinary people can choose to be extraordinary clearly has some origins in Benjamin Franklin.
The meticulously documented second half is more about politics and the creation of the U.S.A. which tested my patience.
The meticulously documented second half is more about politics and the creation of the U.S.A. which tested my patience.
ybenhayun's review against another edition
4.0
Never thought I'd enjoy learning so much about Benjamin Franklin.
This book is impressively exhaustive with its scope. Isaacson gives an incredible amount of detail to every aspect of Franklin's life & philosophies, from his religion, historic scientific accomplishments and political prowess, to his romantic endeavors and his wit as a writer.
Despite acknowledging how significant many of Franklin's accomplishments and beliefs were, this book doesn't feel excessively laudatory. It paints Franklin as the densely complex figure he was.
This book is impressively exhaustive with its scope. Isaacson gives an incredible amount of detail to every aspect of Franklin's life & philosophies, from his religion, historic scientific accomplishments and political prowess, to his romantic endeavors and his wit as a writer.
Despite acknowledging how significant many of Franklin's accomplishments and beliefs were, this book doesn't feel excessively laudatory. It paints Franklin as the densely complex figure he was.
lifewithmisskate's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
saxifrage_seldon's review against another edition
4.0
Isaacson’s book provides readers with an extremely detailed and nuanced account of Benjamin’s life, as well as heritage, beginning with his English great-great-grandfather, as well as what happened to his descendants upon his death in 1790. This includes his time as a printer and media baron, a writer, a creator and promoter of civil societies, a postmaster, a self-help guru, an inventor, a diplomat, a moralist, and much more. As Herman Melville is quoted as saying, Frankin “was everything but a poet.” Moreover, Isaacson’s book portrays Franklin’s life as one of growth, whether it be in relation to his views on England up to the American Revolution, his views on religion, or his transformation from slaveholder to abolitionist. However, Isaacson also portrays Franklin as one who was stubborn and fearful of intimacy. This included his long absences from his common-law wife, Deborah, who died while he was in England, as well as his illegitimate son, William, a British loyalist, who Franklin all but disowned, or his daughter, Sarah, whom he loved but was never close to. In fact, it was only his grandson (the illegitimate son of William) that he grew close to. While one can find a deluge of Franklin biographies since he was alive (hence his famous autobiography), what is unique about Isaacson’s, in my opinion, is his conclusion, where he assesses Franklin’s legacy and how he has been perceived by different groups of people over the years. This includes the Romantics who disdained him to the industrialists who revered him. Isaacson argues that as time went on, the biographies of Franklin became more about the views of those writing him than about Franklin himself. I would argue that the same could be said of Isaacson’s account. Isaacson celebrates Franklin’s complexity, practical philosophy, middle-class ethos, and political idealism, all of which seem out of place today in a political landscape torn apart by tribalism and an economic landscape beset by structural inequality. In all, I would highly recommend this book, not only for an account of Franklin’s life but Isaacson’s concluding argument.
jasbookreads's review against another edition
4.0
He seized the lightning from Heaven and the scepter from the Tyrants