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Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
- Length: 24 hrs and 40 mins
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Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
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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.
Critic Reviews
What listeners say about Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Peter Matthews
- 25-02-2023
Enjoyable & informative
A well researched, written @ narrated account of the life of a significant person of history.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Dean
- 02-12-2015
Benjamin Franklin
Fascinating. Enlightening. Compelling. Well worth the time. He invented bi-focal glasses - who would have thunk it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 25-06-2022
Great story.
Great story. Very well told. Very well read. I enjoyed it. Three more words.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- lawquill
- 12-09-2024
Masterfully objective
I liked the broad scope of the book, its very human presentation of such a great to whom it may concern we owe an incredible debt for the liberties we enjoy today.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Rev
- 28-09-2019
My kind of American hero
Fantastic Biography that gives a balanced approach to Franklin's life. my only complaint is some swallowing noises by the reader that get a bit annoying when using headphones.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nathan
- 01-04-2019
Excellent detailed description of Franklin's life
This was a great book. Isaacson is an amazing biographer. I because suite interested in American history during listening to this. The only downside is the narrator. Terrible voice chosen for reading narrating a 26 hour aduibook. Just felt the accent and the way he spoke was quite annoying to me. Would definitely recommend if you're interested in learning about an incredibly important individual who contributed greatly to humanity.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Ryan
- 14-05-2015
Great insight to an ingenius human
It is a very thorough account of Franklins life and contributions to the world. I was looking for an overview of his influence through invention and politics. This production covers those points in detail. It is amazing how many letters were recovered from events that took place over 300 years ago that were used as content.
There was too much time spent on his personal relationships for my liking, but I guess that is detail others may be seeking.
I now understand more about Ben Franklin and why many people admire his accomplishments.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Hiro
- 24-01-2021
Highly recommended
A brilliant story telling by the author as usual. A fascinating life.
I also liked the narrator.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 23-06-2018
Fascinating.
There is so much to enjoy about this amazing, detailed and brilliant book about the life of this complex character.
It’s my first read of Walter Isaacson and it has left a great impression as sparkles with wit, irony and understanding which has given me a greater sense of America as a whole as well as the values which have shaped this powerful country.
Highly recommended to anyone who likes biographical works of substance.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Self made man
- 25-10-2017
Another great book by Walter
Another great book by Walter, I enjoyed learning about the life of Benjamin Franklin and how he evolved to be the man he is
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