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)

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.

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 wonderful biography

A very enjoyable listen. An in depth book about the life of possible our least understood founding fathers.

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.

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!

Remarkable

What a flawed, deep, courageous, brilliant, and world-changing human being! And what a beautifully presented account of his life. Once again, Walter Isaacson paints an even, fair portrait of an individual whom all should study.

Excellent read; problems with playback

The book is excellent. A detailed story that flows very well. Sadly, playback of this title quit and wouldn’t play with 3.5 hrs remaining.

Informative and Entertaining

Really got a lot out of this book, a thought provoking life story told in a fully developed narrative covering positive and not so positive elements of a full and admirable life.

A well-composed biography.

I have seen this book in my local library and decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint.