Benjamin Franklin: An American 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.

Great Book! Annoying Narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to anyone who has never heard another narrator before, or someone who is so interested in the life of Benjamin Franklin that they are willing to put up with the narrator's annoying "impersonations."

What was one of the most memorable moments of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life?

Walter Isaacson is on par with the greatest biographers of all time, of course that is just my humble opinion. The entire plot of the book is memorable. There are things that at points you wonder, why do I need to know this minute detail, but then it comes up a few minutes later and you realize why Mr. Isaacson inserted such a detail.

What didn’t you like about Nelson Runger’s performance?

Runger has a habit of trying too hard to sound like the person who he is portraying. For example, if he is narrating a letter by Mrs. Franklin, he will use a very shrill voice to try to imitate her, which is very annoying since he already has a very shrill voice himself. Then when he is narrating a letter by one of the Mathers or a proprietor or a member of parliament, he deepens his voice and begins to sound more like a cartoon character. By him doing this, it takes away from the book and the pleasure of listening to such a great story. If you have listened to a narration by Edward Hermann, then you will be disappointed by this narrator. Sorry to be blunt.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Benjamin Franklin was in the "Cockpit;" oh to be a fly on one of those walls and to have been able to witness his silent protest.

Any additional comments?

I believe Walter Isaacson to be one of the greatest biographers, but I think anyone who listens to this particular audiobook will agree that Mr. Runger is nowhere near the caliber of narrator for such a great book. If Mr. Isaacson had done anything less than a stupendous job with this book, I would have given up listening to Mr. Runger before Benjamin Franklin ran away from his brother's shop.

Great book, good narration, terrible production

Having been born in Philadelphia, Franklin was always my favorite of the founding fathers. When I realized that Walter Isaacson had written a biography of Franklin, I knew I had to listen to it, having just heard his Elon Musk and Steve Jobs books.

The book is solid and entertaining but there are a couple of very annoying aspects of the recording. While I like the narrator's voice, delivery and characterizations (some do not), it seems like this is an unproduced raw recording. Many sounds of lip smacking, swallowing and breathing can be heard and it's a little disconcerting, especially when compared to more professionally produced audiobooks.

Also, I found the narrator's delivery to be too slow. Speeding it up to 1.10 made a huge difference. It also had the benefit of speeding up the annoying mouth sounds.

Love Franklin,. love this book

a very thorough and entertaining book. very thorough and easier to get through as an audible. I became simply amazed at everything that Franklin has given us as a nation and to the world.

A Good Biography of Franklin

This book presents a thorough and positive biography of Benjamin Franklin that still acknowledges his flaws. I found it to be a bit slow paced in places, but not enough to deduct a star.

The performance is lively and interesting. I am impressed by the capability of the narrator, by changing the tone and cadence of his voice, to make excellent impressions of Franklin, John Adams, and others. This is of great help to the casual listener in following along when the words and writings of these historical figures are quoted at length. It makes hearing Franklin and Adams sniping at each other in letters during negotiations with the French and British positively delightful.

Great Biography!

I really enjoyed listening to this! It is quite long but very well worth the read. much research was done to show the complexity of Benjamin Franklin and make him human and not just the legend that he has become to all of us Americans!