Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

By: Walter Isaacson

Narrated by: Nelson Runger

Length: 24 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Benjamin 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.

In best-selling author Walter Isaacson's vivid and witty full-scale biography, we discover why Franklin turns to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind his new-fangled spectacles. In Benjamin Franklin, Isaacson shows how Franklin defines both his own time and ours.

The most interesting thing that Franklin invented, and continually reinvented, was himself. America's first great publicist, he was 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. 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 21st century.

©2003 Walter Isaacson (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"The most readable full-length Franklin biography available." ( The Washington Post Book World)

"Energetic, entertaining, and worldly." ( The New Yorker)

"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)

Powerful and Intriguing

Really interesting story of such a historical man. Lots of things learned in this book. Very good.

Atrocious Narrator

This guy makes Franklin sound like a bumbling idiot because he sounds like a bumbling idiot. That plus the way to audible mouth and lip sounds make it sooo hard to enjoy this otherwise interesting book about Franklin. Ugh are there any editors or QA for Audible recordings?

Must read for any historian

I found this book to be very interesting. This is been one of my favorite books so far that has also been historically accurate.

This book was a great glimpse into a founding father, that I knew little to nothing about. No, I have more respect for the men they call Benjamin Franklin. He’s every bit of the word American.

Excellent but too much detail

I know so much more about the man and his contribution to our country and am glad I do. However, the details were more extensive than was needed and I felt took away from the essentials.

A life of Benjamin Franklin

This audiobook breaks down who Benjamin Franklin was and what he did. If your like historical prose that you will enjoy this piece on one of the founding fathers of America. This more modern version of Benjamin Franklin gives highlights throughout his life in what he did and what got accomplished. It also shadowed what he left behind and what we still use to this day. This is the American rags to riches story and truly worth anyone's time to read this book. The author excells in historical prose and this is no different than his other books that he has written on other historical figures throughout history. If you like history or a big Benjamin Franklin fan and want to dive more into his life, who he was and what he did throughout a very important time in America's history please do yourself the favor of picking up this book.

Great book, horrible sound editing.

This story of Franklins live is great and grabs your attention immediately. It takes a fair look at his life without trying to judge him by current standards. However, it is sometimes difficult to listen to this book because of the horrible sound editing job. You can hear every lick smack, slurp, and pop the reader makes. It was like an ASMR torture recording.

I loved the story

I found the story of his life very inspiring and detailed. This book has led me to buy an audiobook of Alexander Hamilton. It has also taught me important lessons about how to live a good life along with the many flaws of Benjamin Franklin.

inspiration

bf is an inspiration and this book is well-written and balanced biography. highly recommended for it's historical side as well.

Great book, unprofessional audio

The book is phenomenal, the audio is pretty terrible. You can hear the readers stomach growling, his "lip smacking" between sentences, etc; these sounds can be pretty distracting and cringe worthy.

Rich, captivating peek at the life of a Great Man

I got this book after reading two other biographies from Walter Isaacson: Jobs and Einstein. Both were fantastic, this one joins the list.

I enjoyed this audiobook thoroughly - it provides a wonderful combination of history, personal details about Benjamin Franklin and his personality, and valuable things we can learn from his life.

For an audiobook this long, like with the other biographies, it is amazing how interesting they are. I listen to audiobooks while driving, and I caught myself wishing my commute was just a little longer to listen to a bit more.

Highly recommended