This is an extraordinary literary work of history and biography. Middlekauff stikes the right balance here between erudition and urbanity. Seeing Benjamin Franklin through the eyes of his enemies reveals not just the complicated character of the man but also the complicated moment in history that he occupied. I highly recommend this book!

I am a 3. grade teacher and when I was reading this book to my class, they all were fascinated by it. Benjamin Franklin was no longer a "stranger", he became alive with this book - he became somebody you know and understand a little bit better with every page. The illustrations are great and brought up many questions from my students.

I enjoyed this book because the author obviously likes and respects Benjamin Franklin so the story of how he flew the kite is one of a celebration of Franklin. As an ex-US History I know the playful mischiefness wit of Franklin is lost in our classrooms. The book does a great job of exposing this other side of Franklin so often lost.

My copy is the 64-page paperback version, copyright 1975 by Scholastic Inc. An entertaining biography of Benjamin Franklin. Lots of the usual biographical information but with snippets of funny anecdotes sprinkled throughout. Complete with ample colorful illustrations.

This history of the House of David is objective, informative, and very well documented. The author conducted interviews with members, ex-members, and people who were in one way or another had interactions with the group and has many first hand stories included in the book. I enjoyed reading about all the things the group was involved in, made, invented, and the impact they had on the surrounding area and America as a whole.

The pictures included in the book enhance the text by giving faces to associate with some of the people involved in the group.

A fascenating history of one prophet, two cities, and the many good people who lived the religion. Well done, Mr. Adkin!

A well written and researched book which provides a compelling account of Franklin's role during the revolution. Am somewhat biased as a former student of Dr. Curry at the University of South Florida.

"Strange that Ulysses does a thousand things so well." - Iliad

My (12 volume 1904 Federal edition) set includes the private as well as the official and scientific correspondence of Benjamin Franklin. The breadth of his works, writings and interests in unparalleled even by other great ones like Jefferson. By himself, Franklin changed the world like very few others, mostly for the positive.

I have, as I read, found myself shaking my head in amazement or laughing out loud with pleasure at various times. B. Franklin was a true wonder. The collection is a joy to read, there are minimal "interpretive" footnotes, and those that are included are almost always useful.

A few particular favorites:
- An essay concerning virtue and pleasure
- An erudite and ground breaking treatise on economics
- Most fun, magical circles and squares (my kids were absolutely amazed by these).

The series drops in rating from a 5 to a 4.9978 when it moves exclusively into his private (especially scientific) letters, but only because we're only getting one side of the conversation.

The Preface (which my general practice is to ignore) contains an excellent review of a number of similar works and the branches that each editor followed from just after Franklin's death until this publication, including very interesting details about the ownership of Franklin's papers.

Can you tell me what's the Question,Hypothesis,Conclusion,Procedure, and Materials that you're using there? please
Can you tell me everything you know because I'm doing Science Fair Projects and my topic would be Electricity but I need those questions answered.
Thank you

Jefferey Smith's " Franklin and Bache " is a great book. Starting with the life of Benjamin Franklin and his intellectual development to the his grandson's formation of the Philadelphia Aurora and battle for liberty in the 1790's this book holds your attention. Smith shows how Franklin developed an elightened philosophy of liberty, equality, and classical republicanism and instilled it into his grandson. Young Benjamin Bache became the epitomie of Franklinian ethics: hard working, educated in the classics, sincerely devoted to republican government,and with a streak of revulsion to injustice.

In the 1790's as the Federalists began develpoment of their centralizing theories,and their Hamiltonian ideals of "energetic" government, government by a plutocratic elite, and commercial develpoment, Benjamin Bache was aroused. A firm republican, his Aurora preached the values of agriculture, liberty and sovereignty of the people, support for the French Revolution, and support for democratic as opposed to aristocratic government. Bache was an avid supporter of Thomas Jefferson and his ideals of liberty and republicanism.

Persecuted by the Federalist under the tyrannical Alien and Sedition Laws Bache stood steadfast in support of freedom of the press and the First Amendment. His untimely death due to yellow fever deprived the Federalists of their victim, but brought attention to the cause of liberty. Inspired by the ideals of Franklin and Jefferson for a liberal and enlightened society Bache proposed reform of the US Constitution, opposed slavery, supported penal reform, and care of the poor. If you want a good overview of the ideals of Franklin and Jefferson in the early republic this is a great buy.

Franklin of Philadelphia by Esmond Wright is an enlightening book. The author gives the reader a good look into the life of Franklin.

The book is most delightful in and of itself of one of the best loved of the Founding Fathers. We delve into the mind of Franklin and we see him as a printer, author, businessman, philospher, and of course a crafty politician. He was a reluctant revolutionary, but Franklin was more, as we read in the book.

A man many thought as brilliant for his time, Franklin was devious and a man of charm. We see the multi-faceted Franklin in his true light. A man who loved attention and knew how to obtain it.

Franklin lived for 84 years through one of the most turbulent times in American History. He genious transcended to inventions to worldly wisdom... all caught poignantly in the book. I enjoyed reading this book because Franklin has been always one of most original of the Founding Fathers. As Thomas Jeferson said upon following Franklin in France... He could not replace Dr. Franklin, he was only his successor.

This book is well documented and comprehensive with good prose and flowing narative.

This book was enjoyable... I recommend it