He sought to educate the masses with the written word, from tracts to pamphlets and even into satirical books, proving that the pen has its might and can sway as effectively as the sword. Becoming self-sufficient at a young age, Franklin sought to make a name for himself in the Philadelphia region becoming a printer at a young age and beginning a career that would make him a household name before any of his Founding roles. He lived a simple life and grew up surrounded by sixteen siblings in a household where frugality was itself considered posh. Using these themes and Isaacson’s strong narrative, the reader learns so much in this one tome, all of which helps better shape the view of this most varied of the early men who shaped America.Īt no point did Ben Franklin make himself out to be anything other than a common man. In Isaacson’s examination, three themes emerge related to Franklin’s persona: a common man, the inquisitive thinker, and the great Founding Father. This most eclectic of men, the fifth generation of the youngest son of the youngest son, dazzled many he met and Isaacson’s presentation surely will pull in many readers as well. The book offers not only a great examination of the man, but also a wonderful set of vignettes related to all the activities Franklin undertook in his life. Seeking to continue my trek to better understand the birth of America and its Founding Fathers, I tackled Walter Isaacson’s biography of Benjamin Franklin.
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