Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson

Few figures of American history have earned the admiration and respect of people around the globe for centuries like Benjamin Franklin. As an inventor, publisher, scientist, and statesman, Franklin’s contributions to the public good during his productive life are well-known. But, how do we really understand who this man was? Walter Isaacson’s book, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, takes a comprehensively intimate look at the real Benjamin Franklin, revealing the brilliance, complexity, and contradictions of Franklin’s personality.

Franklin was a true renaissance man of 18th century America, possessing a remarkable breadth of knowledge and skill in numerous fields, both scientific and social. Isaacson's book unravels the common beliefs people have about Franklin — as a simplistic and one-dimensional statesman and scientist — and reveals the complex man beneath. We learn of Franklin's individualism, of his work ethic, of his human acts of humility, and of his diplomatic knack at building relationships with all different kinds of people. We see the deep and meaningful relationships of Franklin’s life, from his all-too-human marriage to the relationship with his best-friend and shared printer, David Hall.

In addition to his relationships, the book details Franklin’s accomplishments with a clear and insightful writing style. Isaacson reveals Franklin’s influence in science, his involvement in the creation of America's constitutional government, and a deep analysis of the man himself in both the professional and personal context. Above all, he was committed to civic and public work, topics Franklin strongly believed had to be addressed to make the world a better place. This includes his famous Poor Richard’s Almanac; his belief in self-improvement; and his advocacy for social, economic, and diplomatic issues.

Through Isaacson’s careful attention to detail, we also get a look into the intellectual thought process of Franklin, which helped shape the United States’ democratic government. Franklin’s appreciation for representative government, for the idea that all people should be represented equally in government, and for the idea of public service, allows us to look behind the foggy scenes of how a nation is formed into a clearer understanding of the philosophies of America’s founding fathers.

Finally, Isaacson takes us beyond Franklin’s work, and into the mind of the man himself. We learn of his struggles and his joys; of his weaknesses and his strengths. From his relationships with his peers to his family, we discover the very real man beneath the complex philosophical and political figure.

Through Isaacson’s work, we come to understand the internal workings of Franklin’s mind, and gain insight into the thinking of the Founding Father who changed the course of the nation propelling America into a new nation. Walter Isaacson’s book, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the complex and brilliant mind of Benjamin Franklin.