lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
Ben Franklin was always one of my favorite "Founding Fathers" because he just seemed like someone's cheeky old grandpa. In a lot of ways, he was, but he was also a lot more complex. He's become a sort of one dimensional character in everyone's mind--oh, crazy Ben Franklin with his kite in a lightning storm!--that it's nice to be reminded that he was more than that. Isaacson is one of my favorite biographers too. He writes a really thorough book without ever becoming boring.
cathiwarren's review against another edition
4.0
Many times when I read a biography of a famous man, especially one of the founders, I come away with more personal respect than I had going in. Not so with Ben Franklin...I am disappointed by what a train wreck of a man he was, despite how I admire his intellect, ingenuity, and diplomacy. Glad to have read it, but I will be forever sad to have seen this side of him.
dspitler's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
2.75
ritkesb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
gizmo1994's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Walter Issacson has done it again! He writes his biographies with an air of wonder and openness. Rather than feeling like a bunch of random stories slapped together, Benjamin Franklin's life is threaded together seamlessly with a narrative that glides you through one chapter of Benjamin Franklin's life to another. If you want to truly experience the whole life of Benjamin Franklin, and not just gather random anecdotes, this book is for you. I especially enjoyed the reflections on Benjamin Franklin's relationship with his son, William. A cursory glance at this relationship would make Benjamin Franklin seem cold and crass, but when you are shown the progression of their relationship you will feel the conflict the Father and Son must have felt. A wonderfully adventurous and informative reflection on the life of one of history's greatest figures.
charlibirb's review against another edition
3.0
This really felt like an abridged version of the audiobook - so I looked it up... and it was. Waste of time. I hate abridged books! But I wasn't super in love with the narrative, so I'm not going to go back and find the longer version. No wonder I was so bored - the abridged version couldn't stick with a story long enough for me to get interested!
mountain_adventures's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
5.0
Another excellent biography by Issacson. I enjoyed the fact that Issacson was balanced about Franklin as a human. Often Franklin gets idealized, and Issacson works to bring out the more human foibles of Franklin's character.
pemuth59's review against another edition
4.0
Two things people may not know about Benjamin Franklin: 1) He spent about half his adult life in Europe. 2) He did not convert to the idea of American independence until as late as 1775. Isaacson's book is revealing and insightful about a very famous man who was much, much than the comic book portrayal of a wise-cracking guy with a kite who wore round glasses and invented stuff, including the United States. The book is easy to read largely because Franklin was someone constantly in motion. Isaacson succeeds in getting readers inside one of the great minds of history.