Van Doren's biography of Franklin is nothing short of remarkable. While the author may be faulted for the near veneration of his subject, Franklin's continuing reputation supports the author's obvious admiration of Franklin. Franklin's life is reviewed from start to finish almost as a metaphor for the 18th Century enlightenment, the early colonlial life in America, the beginnings of the industrial revolution, the decadence and decline of British Imperialism, as well as the making and maturation of a true genius and renaissance man. Parallel with the swiftly changing account of the myriad activities of Franklin is the story of a truly fine human being; a man whose essentially humble and self deprecating nature belied his strength of character and integrity. Anyone who reads this book will come away awed by this unique individual and the question: Where are the Franklins of our time?

"Benjamin Franklin" is a wonderfully written biography of perhaps the greatest American who ever lived. Author Carl Van Doren presents a rich and detailed portrait of Franklin - printer, writer, philosopher, scientist, inventor, politician, statesman, and one of the founding fathers of the United States of America.

By tracing the major influences on Franklin, and the key events of his life, Van Doren presents this self-educated genius as the apotheosis of the 18th century "Enlightened" man. Imbued with an insatiable intellectual appetite, a keen scientific mind, a high sense of morality, and a fervent patriotism, he was shrewd, wise, witty, and always confident in his own limitless abilities. The author describes in detail the great events of Franklin's life - his youth and young adulthood as a printer and writer of Poor Richard's Almamack; the philosopher, scientist and inventor of note; Postmaster General for Pennsylvania, and later for all the colonies; representative of the American colonies to Great Britain at the time of the American Revolution; signer of the Declaration of Independence; U.S. Ambassador to France after the Revolution; and signer of the U.S. Constitution.

As good a biography as this is, "Benjamin Franklin" is also outstanding history. Van Doren skillfully "paints" Franklin's portrait against the backdrop of the tremendous social ferment, scientific awakening, and tumultuous political events which occurred during the second half of the 18th century. I gained not only a fuller understanding of Franklin's life and great genius, but also a greater appreciation of the times in which he lived.

"Benjamin Franklin" is written with grace, clarity and obviously great scholarship. Winner of the 1959 Pulitzer Prize for biography, it is a brilliant masterpiece - one of the best biographies of any person I've ever read!

Van Doren's biography, long the definitive biography of Franklin, is rich in detail (sometimes exhaustingly so), yet accurately portrays the life of this fascinating multi-faceted man. From the statesman's humble beginnings in Boston, to his journeys to Philadelphia and ultimately abroad, Franklin is seen in very human terms, yet within the rich tapestry of the historical period.

The author's style is typical of many historians of the 1930's, very linear, precise and detailed with a wealth of background information on every facet of Franklin's life. This may be a difficulty for many readers; the book is so comprehensive that many will be put off by its sheer volume. I found myself reading the book in starts and stops, only because of my personal time limitations. After the first 400+ pages, I found myself skipping over sections to get to portions of Franklin's life I found more fascinating. Fortunately, Van Doren's writing is such that one can do this without any significant loss of continuity.

H.W. Brands is an exceptionally gifted writer, and The First American shows it. More than most writers, he knows how to turn a phrase. Knowing this (especially after having read his superb biography of Theodore Roosevelt) I was at times disappointed by The First American's missed opportunities. Brands does an excellent job chronicling Franklin's numerous endeavors, but there were times I was hungry for a paragraph or two of pithy insight explaining how and why Franklin rose so fast. Brands hints that Franklin was simply a talented man in one of the most open, meritocratic societies the world has ever known, but this explanation could have used some more depth. From this book, it is also obvious that Franklin started a great many endeavors. Did he continue to actively manage them and what did this mean for the lifestyle of an aging man? Also, there is precious little detail and reflection on Franklin's personal life, perhaps an obvious reminder that Franklin didn't dwell openly on his wife or family, living alas in a more reserved, less romantic era. Brands went far with the First American, but could have gone farther.

Few (if any) Americans ever did more for the good of their country and the world than did Benjamin Franklin. Born of humble station in Boston in the early eighteenth century, Franklin overcame enormous odds and, through his diligence, ambition, and sheer genius, established himself as the most prominent of Philadelphia printers while in his twenties. This incredible man would later go on to achieve world renown for his work in electricity and other fields of science, as well as in politics and many other aspects of life. Franklin established respect for American thinkers in the eyes of the rest of the world, and his story is an amazing one.

Brands does a great job of narrating Franklin's story. This volume is large, over 700 pages, and at times it seems this is almost not enough to accurately characterize this remarkable man. But Brands skillfully handles the most important aspects of Franklin's life, and pays special attention to his many public services and the actions that eventually led him to play such a great part in the American revolutionary cause.

This book is not perfect -- the author sometimes tends to assume he knows what Franklin was thinking -- but aside from the psychoanalysis this work is very good. I believe this is as thorough a treatment of Benjamin Franklin as can be expected in one volume, and I highly recommend this work. Franklin's is a life that everyone should be at least somewhat acquainted with.

It's been said that no event in political history brought together a company of more remarkable men than the founding of the American republic. And by lauding him as "The First American" in this fine biography, Professor Brands builds a case that there is no more outstanding representative of this charmed circle than the redoubtable Ben Franklin. Derided by some modern sophisticates for his cornball moralism, Franklin was in fact one of the most forward-thinking intellectuals of his era, and his contributions in the areas of science, politics, philosophy, and ethics have resonance still in the 21st century. Living a life that was the embodiment of 18th century rationalism, Franklin's love of reason imbued him with an indomitable optimism that charmed everyone who came into his orbit. Escaping the intellectual suffocation of Cotton Matther's Boston, where Franklin was born, he fled to Philadelphia as a young man and quickly achieved success in the printing business. He loved the practical things in life and, laboring happily to improve them, he established the first library in Philadelphia, the first fire brigade, the first college, etc. and - portentously - the first citizen's militia armed, at this time, in alliance with Britain against the French and their Indian allies who he saw as threatening the homes of himself and his neighbors. While only dabbling in scientific theory as one of his many sidelights, he produced breakthroughs that soon established this self-educated provincial as luminary within the leading scientific circles in Europe. He inevitably gravitated into local and provincial politics, and moved to England represent the Pennsylvania assembly in it's entreaties to the British government. Considering himself an impeccably loyal British subject, his analytic powers nonetheless soon led him the conclusion, ahead of many others, that complete independence for the American colonies was necessary and inevitable. This most exuberant of Anglophiles went on to become the most implacable of Britain's foe's. His personal charm and knowledge of European politics propelled him naturally into diplomacy, and he almost single-handedly engineered the critical alliance with France that that eventually won the war for the young nation. In the bitter factionalism that descended on the colonies after victory, the universal respect he enjoyed among the contending forces allowed him to facilitate the compromises that eventually brought about the improbable union. Anyone who reads American history finds there's some in it that doesn't square with our ideals as a nation. On the other hand, there are many stories that epitomize those ideals, and Franklin's life is one of these. This book is probably a little longer than it had to be, but even the unnecessary detail makes for enjoyable reading. Professor Brands has produced an excellent book, and I highly recommend it.

A book like this should be mandatory reading for everyone. Particularly people who represent other people's interests for a living, such as World Leaders, Presidents, Kings, etc., would find it absolutely useful; a kind of constant tool, a compass that keeps them on the right track once and again. This is a book that shows not only Franklin's wit and wisdom, but also his vulnerability, that wonderful human quality, thus making it enchanting and insightful. Buy this book, learn and practice these principles, and enjoy the new breath of fresh air you'll experience in your life.

I saw this book one day when I was browsing Franklin Covey planners in the mall. It had been awhile since I read something not business related so I thought I'd give this a shot. I'll be honest when I tell you I enjoy a good read but this book took me about one year to read from beginning to end. The first few chapters weren't too bad but then it got into a section about a debate between two philosophers on the definition of virtue and why one should practice a virtuous life. I've never read anything that mentally straining in my life (my degree is in Mechanical Engineering BTW). I enjoy the arts but that one section took me about a month before I could fully digest what the philosophers were saying in the span of less than 2 pages. This one section proved so enlightening that my head hurt for about 2 days after I had a chance to chew on the content. If you had any doubts that the founding forefathers of this great nation were anything but geniuses, this should dispell any and all myths. I must say that I even had to break out the dictionary for some of the diction used in this book in that it was definitely not your everyday conversational english. If you enjoy mental challenges of a higher level and your mastery of the English language is proficient enough to understand the fine nuances of sentence structure and double, sometimes triple meanings, I would recommend this book. If you're looking for something a little more entertaining and easier on the mind, then definitely look somewhere else. But I will admit, when I did finally complete this book one year later, I actually felt a major sense of accomplishment. I guess that makes me just a little more virtuous?

An inspiring book written by an amazing author. Ok, so he is my dad, but he didn't pay me to say any of this stuff:)

Although I'm generally not into alternate histories, I picked this up along with the 2nd book in the series because of the historical people involved as well as the reviews on line. I wasn't disappointed.

The real life historical characters like Benjamin Franklin and Sir Isaac Newton (among others) seemed finely realized, even if their histories were tweaked a bit. For instance, Franklin said and did things I could imagine he would have said and done. The characterizations are well done and believable.

As to the alchemical inventions and what-have-you, I was most taken with aetherschrieber (hope I spelled it right), which you'll come to understand when you read the story. (Hint: It's some type of office machine.)

Though a somewhat dark book, I couldn't put it down, and I finished it in about a week. I was glad I decided to get book 2 at the same time.

Don't be intimidated by the name of this book or that Newton is on the cover. This is not some boring, overly-detailed science book: It'll actually leave you hungering for more!

Book 1 of The Age of Unreason

When I first heard of this book some time ago I was initially hesitant to read it. The subject did not sound like something that I would be interested in. But then I read The Briar King a couple of months ago and realized that Greg Keyes is an author I would like to read more of. So I picked this book up again and finally started reading. It was a whole lot better than I expected.

The story begins with Isaac Newton discovering a substance (called Philospher's Mercury, I believe). While Newton was a great scientist, he unsuccessfully dabbled in alchemy. The prologue takes a "what if" approach to Newton and his alchemy. In this book, Isaac Newton is ultimately successful and it is this new substance that changed the course of history. This aether allows for the creation of devices that could exist today (even though it is during the time of Benjamin Franklin) as well as some that have never existed. There is a cannon mentioned (not the one in the title) that when the cannonball strikes a castle, it turns the walls to glass and then shatters the castle. This aether (Philosopher's Mercury) is the most influential discovery in human history and it has changed the nature of the 1700's.

Flash forward several decades. Our hero is Benjamin Franklin (yes, that Benjamin Franklin). He is 14 years old and every bit the genius that history has told us. He is an apprentice to his brother, a printer. With some of Franklin's theories and inventions on how to adapt some of the existing technology even further, his life is threatened. We see how Franklin begins to work some things out and how he ends up chased out of Boston to London.

At the same time, there is intrigue going on in the court of Louis XIV in France. France is in the middle of a war with England (and is on the losing end), but they are developing a super weapon that could potentially destroy all of London. The main character in these sections is not Louis, as one might expect, but rather a young woman named Adrienne. Adrienne secretly studies mathematics in a place where women are not treasured for their learning, but she is thrust onto a path filled with secrets but also the opportunity to learn more.

Starting with an interesting concept (though not one that initially attracted me to the book), and executed very well and believably, Greg Keyes has written a very good first book (out of 4 for this series). While I did not find it as stunning as The Briar King, I remain interested enough in this series that I intend on reading book 2 (A Calculus of Angels).

History is a fascinating subject and all of the "what if's" are even more fascinating. In this very well researched and written book we are faced with "what if Newton's genius took him in another direction?" The characters of Newton, Franklin and Louis XIV are extremely well developed. The portrayal of Adriene and her delima of being a woman with a brain is a special touch I appreciate very much. It shows the author's sensitivity of the issues women have faced through history. I reccommend this book and cannot wait for the next one.

This book is an interesting read, as it uses Ben Franklin, one of the most celebrated characters in history, to give substance to certain abstract concepts relating to good managers and leaders.

In many ways, it is a very pragmatic book, even Machiavellian. For example, Franklin made sure people had an impression of his being a hard worker, by keeping his lights on till very late and by making sure people saw him leaving his work very late. Translated to today's world, such a rule could be translated into the realm of "face time". Like this one, the rules in the book are timeless.

My only concern about the book is the limited historical scope of it. It focuses on the period before Franklin got involved with politics and the revolution, so the more interesting parts of his life are not present. When I grabbed this book, I was expecting both a management lesson and a history one; forget the history one.

One should keep in mind the title of the book: 12 Rules of MANAGEMENT. That is very accurate, and it is clear that those rules are focused on management and NOT leadership. If you are looking for good manager advice, this is a very good book.

After reading McCormick's book, being a first year business student, I had no trouble at all understanding the points made in each chapter. I thought the overviews at the end of each chapter made the vital points clear and helped me follow along with what McCormick was trying to convey to his readers.

Not having too much business experience, I can say that after reading this book, business is definitely something I want to look further into.

I have a weakness for reading every management book that tries to teach management concepts by relating the ideas to an historical hero. I've read management by Lincoln, Grant, Lee, Achilles, and even Star Trek characters. They all follow the same format and for the most part do does McCormick.

One significant difference, however, is that McCormick recognizes and cautions the reader from applying Franklin's rules willy-nilly. Yes, a lot of the moral training Franklin tried to push in the 1700's would equally apply today but the environments do differ.

I, too, read Franklin's autobiography many years ago. This book makes Franklin's ideas much more reachable by the masses but I liked the poetic syntax and cadence of the original Franklin. It's like hearing a story from your grandfather rather than hearing a second-hand version from your brother.

Nevertheless, I liked the book and will be thinking about and trying to exercise the points for many weeks to come.

Losson has written a book about a military leader and his division of the War Between the States, both of whom were nearly forgotten in the wealth of books about that war. Both a biography and a history, the author stays focused on his subjects, not letting the broader picture of the war distract him.

Benjamin Franklin Cheatham, a career soldier who served in the War with Mexico, commanded Hood's corps for a while. His entire career in the war was served in the western theater, most of it in and around Tennessee. The war wasn't just with the Yankees when Braxton Bragg commanded the corps, for the two men despised each other.

Cheatham was a man who found the going rough between the two wars, but made his mark in the later conflict, in spite of accusations against his character. After the war, he was more successful as a citizen than before, heading the Tennessee State Penitentiary system for time. However, over the years, with most interest in Lee, Grant, and the eastern theater, he was nearly forgotten

This book is well written and an easy read, but could have used the skill of a good proofreader. Typos and other errors are sometimes distracting. Readers interested in the Civil War, particularly the western theater, will find this an interesting account. They might also enjoy "Five Tragic Hours" by McDonough and Connelly, and "Shiloh: In Hell before Night" by McDonough.

This is an excellent book about a little-written about general. Although Frank Cheatham rose to the rank of major general, was active in Tennessee after the war, was one of the Western Theater's more colorful and controversial figures, and his division was considered one of best in the West, he and his division have not received much attention from writers. Losson has changed this and has written both an excellent bio of Cheatham and a good look at the men that made up his division. Another good thing about this book is that Losson focuses on Cheatham and his division, rather than straying to other generals or divisions. The book takes a good look at the battles, both military and political, that Cheatham fought. Overall, the book is excellent, reads well, has tons of diaries and letters, and is entertaining. However, I gave 4 stars rather than 5 because the text has many errors, whether it be spelling or grammatical. There are many of them and it gets annoying after a while. Other than that, a great read.

This book has given us a lot of valubable information concering the time period. we would strongly recommened this book to any one who wanted to learn more on the subject. 5 stars!

How many books have you read that you remember thirty-six years later? Ben Franklin's insights into principles of self-improvement, and his love for the adventure of life were not only inspiring to me when I discovered his autobiography in the Holmesburg Library in Philadelphia at age 14, but they still remain motivational for me at age 50! Ben Franklin was the Dale Carnegie of his age. He realized that by following basic core value principles, and by constant practice in the adventure of life, he could not only creatively change himself, but he could positively impact those around him as well. Ben Franklin led a purposeful, creative life. I am thankful that he had the foresight to pass his exhuberance along to us in this his autobiography. It was fun to read. I think I'll read it again. Thanks, Ben.

Anyone who has ever taken a literature class in college knows the Norton Critical Editions: an absolutely first-rate version of the text, a healthy supply of contemporary responses and letters, and the best essays yet written about the text. This edition of Benjamin Franklin's "Autobiography" is no exception. The quintessential American Enlightenment figure, Franklin is far more complex than most people think, and far funnier. When it came time to write the Declaration of Independence, the Congress wouldn't give it to Franklin alone, in large part because they were afraid he'd hide a joke in it. One of his most infamous pieces of writing was under the guise of a prostitute being brought before the court for having yet another illegitimate child -- and then attacking the court for making it necessary for her to pursue her profession! And the letter Franklin wrote his own illegitimate son about how to keep a mistress is a classic in and of itself. The only great flaw in the autobiography is that it stops before Franklin ever reaches the Revolutionary War, and thus we don't have the inside story of that perilous time. But anybody wanting to understand Franklin's life, the means to wealth, or the evolution of a brilliant mind will love this text. It's mandatory reading for every American, in my mind.

The story of Ben and Me is a biography of Benjamin Franklin from the eyes of his pet mouse, Amos. While this book had some facts, it was mostly historical fiction with funny twists. I enjoyed this, yet i seriously doubt that all of Franklin's brilliant ideas were actually thought up by a mouse. This is a good book and have fun reading!

If you like fun filled educational books, you have got to check out the book Ben and Me, written by Robert Lawson. It is about Ben Franklin and a mouse named Amos. Amos acts like he is a little know-it-all, and Ben is a stupid person. But is that really what happened? You decide. I hope you have as much fun as I did.

We used this book as a read aloud for the family, Dad included! It was incredibly funny and the illustrations are superb! It is skimpy on historical data but the charming quality of the tale delivers an unforgettable Ben Franklin....The ever suffering mouse Amos taught the essence of the American character that built this country. Go for it!

The contents are wonderful. Some are funny and yet they are true! All can be applied in today's world! Yet, the cost is bigger than the book itself! It is a small 'coffee table' book that should be at a cheaper price.

The wisest man in American history doesn't dissapoint in this book, full of clever and prophetic lines you may have heard before, and many more you probably haven't.

Franklin was and is one of the smartest persons ever to have lived/been born in this country; and this book in question, i.e., Benjamin Franklin Wit and Wisdom by Benjamin Franklin, Corbis-Bettmann (Photographer) will not by any stretch of the imgination disapoint you. Some of the lines, one will find in Poor Richards Almanack. However, for the most part it, i.e., Benjamin Franklin Wit and Wisdom by Benjamin Franklin, Corbis-Bettmann (Photographer) is a wonderfull book filled with allegories and anecdotes; and I would verily say that it should be a must read/own for the want to be scholar/man of letters or learned man.

I thought this book was Ok, but I didn't find it as compelling as Newton's Cannon. I actually skimmed the last 50 pages or so, as I found them to be very tedious. They just stretched credibility a bit too much for me, and the characters were a bit too surreal and poorly drawn. I do enjoy Adrienne and Crecy; they are both strong women and their relationship is interesting. The rest of the characters lost me, and the plot was too thin.

I'm not saying not to buy this book, just that it wasn't as good as Newton's Cannon, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have already purchased the third book in this series.

Unlike the first volume (Newton's Cannon), A Calculus of Angels takes a while to get going. The fascination of the alternative science is hobbled by too much fantasy too fast: as one other reviewer points out, it has suddenly become flat-out magic.

Still, Keyes draws quite a portrait of the devestation of Europe following a direct hit from a comet, and the characters remain vivid. In the case of young Ben Franklin, he is if anything more compelling now that he is well into adolescence and is discovering acquaintaince with pride, foolishness, and limitations to his own powers.

And, about midway through the book, once people stop wandering about aimlessly and chattering inconsequentially and the narrative threads begin to show some direction, the book really hits a stride.

Other reviewers have already summarized the basic outline of the plot, but as all these forces (Peter the Great, Adrienne, Ben Franklin, Newton, Charles XII, Blackbeard, Cotton Mather, and our Choctaw friend Red Shoes) converge on Venice the reader can scarcely imagine what cataclysm is next.

And cataclysm comes, nicely inviting the reader onward into the series.

One of the most imaginative stories I've read in years, combining 18th century history & its well-known characters with magic. This is actually the 2nd book in a series (Newton's Cannon being the first), & continues the story of Ben Franklin & Issac Newton after the destruction of England by an astroid. "Calculus" brings Cotton Mather, Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard the Pirate) & a Choctaw named Red Shoes together on a quest to find out what happened to England. Ships sent previously have never returned & none have arrived from England in 2 years. Meanwhile, Ben Franklin & Issac Newton are in Prague working on such things as magic shoes & trying to avoid the various armies that are battling each other in the absence of an English power. The remaining core characters in this fascinating story, the former mistress of Louis XIV & her former French guard, escape from one villain & into the hands of another (Peter the Great). All of these characters come together, through various twists & turns & interesting revelations, in the end. Of course, the ending will lead to another book, but find out for yourself. It's a great read, but you might want to start with "Newton's Cannon" first.