Walter Isaacson's "Benjamin Franklin"

billboat

Have any of you die hard Frankie collectors read this? It's a great book about your guy! I enjoy reading about the people who appear on our coinage--so far I've read Grant's memoirs, Jefferson's biography and a number of others. It really makes them come alive.

billboat

ttt

billboat

ttt "If only they would read"--thats what one lady attendant said to another in a parking lot by the casino boat in Lake Charles said when we pulled up and asked if we could park (the sign said parking $5.) and a car load of over-educated UT types felt a tad foolish --so have you read the book?

Cam40

Havnt read that book but I saw a great PBS special on Ben Franklin.
He was one extraordinary person. He wore many hats in his life time.
Everyone should learn about this cat and what he contributed to mankind.
You just cant say enough about him.
Had he not been so inquizative (sp) about lighting, we might still be commuicating
long distance by the US postal service.

pmh1nic

I haven't read the book you referenced but I can recommend the book on Franklin by H.W. Brands "The First American." It's a wonderful telling of Franklin's life (it also gives some background information on the Franklin family prior to B. Franklin's birth). It's 716 pages but not "dry" history, quite a bit of detail but not laborous to get through.

pmh1nic

P.S. There are reviews of the book you're asking about on this site. The third reviewer has read both books so if you're looking for one book on Franklin that review may be of particular interest to you.

Reviews

Conder101

<< <i>Had he not been so inquizative (sp) about lighting, we might still be commuicating
long distance by the US postal service. >>


Franklins experiments with electricity hav little to do with that. I'd give more credit to Volta, Bell, Tesla, Marconi, and Shockley.

NJCollector

I am currently halfway throught the Isaacson's book. Unlike many of the colonial figures that we learn were larger than life characters, (ie Washington, Monroe, Jefferson), Franklin was truely an "everyman." He could easily have been transfered rom the 1700's and been placed in todays world, and fit in just as well.

Brilliant on so many ways, he strived to excell on so many fronts, but curiously not for the sake of science, politics, etc. But instead to make life more simplier.

A most fascinating person on so so many levels, and most certainly one of the most deserving people to have ever graced an American coin.

It's a great book.