Synopses & Reviews
Selected and annotated by the author of the acclaimed
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, this collection of Franklin's writings shows why he was the bestselling author of his day and remains America's favorite Founder and wit.
As a twelve-year-old apprentice in his brother's print shop, Benjamin Franklin taught himself to be a writer by taking notes on the works of great essayists such as Addison and Steele, jumbling them up, and then trying to recreate them in his own words. By that method, he recalled in his Autobiography, he was encouraged to think he might become a "tolerable" writer. In fact, he became the best, most popular, and most influential writer in colonial America. His direct and practical prose shaped America's democratic character, and his homespun humor gave birth to the nation's unique brand of crackerbarrel wisdom.
This book collects dozens of Franklin's delight-ful essays and letters, along with a complete version of his Autobiography. It includes an introductory essay exploring Franklin's life and impact as a writer, and each piece is accompanied by a preface and notes that provide background, context, and analysis. Through the writings and the introductory essays, the reader can trace the development of Franklin's thinking, along with the birth of the nation he and his pen helped to invent.
Review
"The most readable full-length Franklin biography available."andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;Iandgt;The Washington Post Book Worldandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"A thoroughly researched, crisply written, convincingly argued chronicle."andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;Iandgt;The New York Times Book Reviewandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"In its common sense, clarity, and accessibility, it is a fitting reflection of Franklin's sly pragmatism....This may be the book that most powerfully drives a new pendulum swing of the Franklin reputation."
Review
"In its common sense, clarity, and accessibility, it is a fitting reflection of Franklin's sly pragmatism....This may be the book that most powerfully drives a new pendulum swing of the Franklin reputation."
-- The New York Times
Review
"The most readable full-length Franklin biography available."
-- The Washington Post Book World
Review
"A thoroughly researched, crisply written, convincingly argued chronicle."
-- The New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
A selection of Benjamin Franklin's writings, with an introduction and commentary by renowned author Walter Isaacson.
Selected and annotated by the author of the acclaimed Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, this collection of Franklin's writings shows why he was the bestselling author of his day and remains America's favorite founder and wit. Includes an introductory essay exploring Franklin's life and impact as a writer, and each piece is accompanied by a preface and notes that provide background, context, and analysis.
Synopsis
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S GREATEST WRITINGSandlt;BRandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Edited and Annotated by Walter Isaacsonandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Selected and annotated by the author of the acclaimed andlt;Iandgt;Benjamin Franklin: An American Life,andlt;/Iandgt; this collection of Franklin's writings shows why he was the bestselling author of his day and remains America's favorite founder and wit. Includes an introductory essay exploring Franklin's life and impact as a writer, and each piece is accompanied by a preface and notes that provide background, context, and analysis.
Synopsis
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S GREATEST WRITINGS
Edited and Annotated by Walter Isaacson
Selected and annotated by the author of the acclaimed Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, this collection of Franklin's writings shows why he was the bestselling author of his day and remains America's favorite founder and wit. Includes an introductory essay exploring Franklin's life and impact as a writer, and each piece is accompanied by a preface and notes that provide background, context, and analysis.
About the Author
Walter Isaacson, the CEO of the Aspen Institute, has been chairman of CNN and the managing editor of andlt;iandgt;Timeandlt;/iandgt; magazine. He is the author of andlt;iandgt;The Innovators: andlt;/iandgt;andlt;iandgt;How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolutionandlt;/iandgt;; andlt;iandgt;Steve Jobsandlt;/iandgt;; andlt;iandgt;Einstein: His Life and Universeandlt;/iandgt;; andlt;iandgt;Benjamin Franklin: An American Lifeandlt;/iandgt;; and andlt;iandgt;Kissinger: A Biographyandlt;/iandgt;, and the coauthor of andlt;iandgt;The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Madeandlt;/iandgt;. He lives in Washington, DC. Follow him on Twitter @WalterIsaacson.
Table of Contents
andlt;Bandgt;Contentsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Chronologyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Key Charactersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Introductionandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 1: The Young Apprenticeandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Silence Dogood Introduces Herselfandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Silence Dogood on Courtshipandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Silence Dogood Attacks Harvardandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Silence Dogood's Recipe for Poetryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Silence Dogood Attacks the Puritan Theocracyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Silence Dogood Proposes Civic Improvementsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Plan of Conductandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Advice to His Sister on Her Marriageandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A New Creed and Liturgyandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 2: The Philadelphia Printerandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The First Abortion Controversyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Busy-Bodyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Franklin the Editorandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Lessons of Misprintsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Rules for Marriageandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Scolding Wifeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Witch Trial at Mount Hollyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Printer's Creedandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sex Sellsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Anthony Afterwit on Marriageandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Celia Single Respondsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;In Praise of Gossipandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Discussion Clubandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How to Please in Conversationandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 3: Poor Richard and Friendsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Introducing Poor Richardandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Poor Richard vs. Mr. Leedsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;On the Death of Infantsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Poor Richard Denies He Is Franklinandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Faith Versus Good Worksandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Poor Richard Blames His Printerandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Drinker's Dictionaryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How to Write an Almanacandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Poor Richard's Wife Takes Her Turnandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Poor Richard Defends Astrology and Witandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Defense of Religious Toleranceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Ballad for Deborahandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Reasons to Choose an Older Mistressandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Polly Baker's Trialandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 4: The Public Citizenandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;A Call to Arms for the Middling Peopleandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The University of Pennsylvaniaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How to Be a Good Tradesmanandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Rattlesnakes for Felonsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Magical Squaresandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;On Welfare Dependencyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Albany Plan for an American Unionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Catherine Rayandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Parable on Intoleranceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Way to Wealthandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 5: Lobbyist in Londonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Reasons for Restoring Canada to Franceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Mary Stevensonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;David Humeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;On Observing the Sabbathandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;When Oil Does Not Calm Troubled Watersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Race and Slaveryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Propaganda Agentandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Paean to Deborahandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Grumpy Boarderandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;More on Welfare Dependenceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Cold Air Bathsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Fable of the Lion and the Dogandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Polly Gets Marriedandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Cravenstreet Gazetteandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Showdown with Lord Hillsboroughandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Seeds of a Total Disunionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How to Weigh a Decisionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Ode to a Squirrelandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Cause of Coldsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Parody Rules and an Edict Directed at Britainandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 6: American Rebelandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;You Are My Enemyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Proposed Articles of Confederationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Rattlesnake as America's Symbolandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 7: Ambassador in Parisandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;An Appeal to France's Interestsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Sale of the Hessiansandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Form Letter of Recommendationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Twelve Commandments, to Madame Brillonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Proposed Treaty with Madame Brillonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bagatelle of the Ephemeraandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Madame Helvand#233;tius and Elysian Fieldsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;John Paul Jonesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;To His Daughter on Fame, Frugality, and Grandchildrenandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Morals of Chessandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bagatelle on St. Peter's Toleranceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;On Wine and the Elbowandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;To George Washington on Reputationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;John Adamsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Dialogue Between the Gout and Mr. Franklinandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Science of Fartsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Fable About Misguided Loyalistsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Seducing the Frenchandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;To Polly on Her Mother and the Futility of Warandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Critique of Excess Wealthandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;On Hereditary Honors and the Turkeyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Vision of Americaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;No Longer His Enemyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Daylight Savings Timeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Prodigal Williamandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;On Wishes, Age, and Bifocalsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 8: Constitutional Sageandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Constitutional Conventionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Motion for Prayersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Franklin's Closing Speechandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Miffy Familyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Webster's Dictionaryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;On the Abolition of Slaveryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Final Parody, on Slaveryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;On Jesus Christandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;To Thomas Jeffersonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Last Will and Codicilandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part 9: The Autobiographyandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Autobiography