The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin - The First American

This book has so much information on Franklin that I just dont care about. It even has information on people who interacted with Franklin, and some of their doings and thoughts. Lots of quoting letters and this and that, it gets really boring. This is not at all like "John Adams" by McCullough. I really dont want to know about every interaction and argument he had with everyone he ever met in his life. When you have to make yourself read when you really dont want to, you know the book is not very engaging.

If your into this mans life hardcore, this is your book, otherwise look for something else.

A Pulitzer Price Finalist. No surprise here. First, a great biography. I can’t imagine there being a better one about this particular individual. What makes this book extra special is the fact that you become truly convinced that Benjamin Franklin was, as the title suggests, the “First American”. At least the first American of any significance. Most know that Franklin was one of our country’s founding fathers. What a lot of people may not know is that Franklin was considerably older than the majority of the other key players. So he lived a full life before America’s independence, yet was one of the major figures that initiated the process.

I’ve read several biographies by this author, and one of his strong points is that, from time to time, he’ll take small detours away from his subject matter, and give the reader a good primer of other key events that were happening during the particular time. H.W. Brands correctly realizes that in order for his readers to truly appreciate and understand his subject, he or she needs to have a basic understanding of what was going on in the individual’s world at the time. So we get to learn an awful lot about Colonial America and of all of the events that led up to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.

Plus, Franklin was simply everywhere. Both in geography and in the headlines. He’s spends a significant amount of time representing his country as an ambassador to England and France. This allows us to, again, understand a bigger picture of why Americans were so concerned with independence. We read about several issues that England has (mostly with their main adversary, France) at the time that caused them to put such financial burdens on the colonists.

Had this book only focused on what Franklin did, this book still would have been quite remarkable due to his brilliant nature and restless mind. This retrospective, however, focuses an awful lot on Ben Franklin the philosopher. We get to read an awful lot of what the man’s thoughts were on such diverse topics as women’s rights, religion, relationships with the crown, romance, and the treatment of Indians (who we would now call ‘Native Americans’). He’s quite the progressive, and was quite brilliant in expressing his thoughts. Many know that Franklin’s first job was at a printing press. What many may not know is that working for a printing press also meant being a main contributor to the particular periodical that you were printing. Franklin was simply brilliant with the written word, and it was just as much a joy to read about what he said as it was reading about what he did. Franklin stands out in my mind as one of those people who, if you had one choice to go back in time, you would want to spend time in his company just conversing with the man.

Yes, all of his claims to fames are here as well. His ‘discovery’ of electricity, Poor Richard’s Almanac, the invention of bi-focals, and the strange fact that this septuagenarian was quite the Lady’s man while residing in Paris, France.

Like all of H.W. Brands’ work, I would strongly recommend it not just because of the attention to the particular subject, but also for becoming more learned about the particular period. I’m sure there are better, more in depth books on the quest for American independence, but this book is an awfully nice starting place – in addition to being a great biography on Benjamin Franklin.

This is an excellent biography of Ben Franklin. It is exhaustive and it is long at more than 700 pages. Further, at least the hardcover edition that I read, it is not easy on the eyes in terms of smallish font that makes progress feel like it's coming slow. But it comes and it is a story that I found well- and impartially-told. Professor Brands does a great job demonstrating how amazing the American Revolution really was when seen by the eyes of someone like Franklin, a devoted "British Citizen" who never dreamed as a young man that the American colonies could ever separate from England. Or that he would play such a crucial role in the event. He was so devoted to the British Empire that he seriously considered living there permanently there after having lived in London for some years (he thought the same thing of France later). Franklin's life offers us an amazing example of what it was like to be a loyal and successful British subject in the early 18th century and how it was possible to then become Public Enemy #1 in the eyes of many Britons. To make someone like Franklin eventually convert between such extremes, makes the one realize the inevitability of the Revolution.

I have a suggestion for readers who enjoyed this book, based on what I did. I happened to also have a copy of Gordon Wood's "The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin" and decided to read it right after Brands' book. It was a great idea; both books are very complementary to each other. Wood's is far shorter and easier to read in terms of layout and presentation. Having read Brands' detailed accounts will make Wood's book an even easier and more enjoyable endeavor. One might remember more of the background of some of Wood's stories after having read Brands' work.

I gave both books the highest rating. Both came to the same conclusion: There were no two men more essential to the success of the American Revolution than Ben Franklin and George Washington. I heartily agree.

WOW. I love Benjamin Franklin. There, I said it. And the author of this biography did a beautifully stunning job of writing his life and times. A book everybody should read.
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Most of my education in American history began with the Constitution. I only vaguely knew of Franklin as a printer, some sort of key totin' kite flier, and something about inventing bifocals. I was thrilled to read about this (myth and reality) as well as much much more that I'd never known. I quickly came to love Ben's attitude, demeanor, vitality and his love for positive liberty and the need for enlightened personal and civic responsibility. The author's subtitle, The First American, fits better than I would have never known without reading this book. I think I'll order some bifocals and hope to life as long as Ben if I can be of service to society.

This is a thoughtful and well written biography of a great Founding Father (but second American, next to George Washington). The author's analysis and opinions are interspersed with many quotes from Franklin's writings. While including quotes and "Poor Richard" sayings is unavoidable in a biography of Ben Franklin, for this reviewer the use of these is the book's primary shortcoming.

For me, reading about Ben Franklin is better than reading Ben Franklin. Franklin was expert at turning a phrase, many of which have become familiar to the point of cliché. No doubt, he was the master of the aphorism on par with today's Madison Avenue or political sound bite experts. Trouble is, he was too good, and reading what he wrote confuses the search to understand what he really believed or how he really lived, which is where the real learning occurs in a biography of Ben Franklin. For example, Franklin wrote adoringly of family life, but was not much of a husband or father. Moreover, one can find a pithy quote from him in support of a proposition and in opposition to the same proposition. Example: "There was never a good war or a bad peace" versus "Even peace may be purchased at too high a price". One will need to look someplace else to determine which is correct, and the quotations simply slow the analytical process. If the answer is that "It depends on the circumstance" (as I think it does), then what purpose is served by the quotations?

In contrast, there is no fluff or contradiction in what Franklin accomplished. Reading about his accomplishments (and few failures) is always interesting and usually informative. Furthermore, learning a bit about the brilliance of his thought processes and the patience of his diplomacy provide lessons for all of us. It is here that the book excels. Likewise, author Brands offers informed but debatable opinions throughout the book, which keeps the writing lively. In all, this is a well written book much superior to Isaacson's book (which I also reviewed and which can be summed up in one word: dull). I look forward to reading more of Brands's books. (February 2, 2013: I just reviewed another of Brands' books, that one his biography of Andrew Jackson. Unlike the Franklin biography, the Jackson book is a dud. It appears that author Brands needs to publish more slowly so that he can correct some inconsistency issues.)

This book is literally two volumes on Franklin made into one that provides just about everything you wanted to know about this extraordinary man. A truly amazing rags to riches story starting his voyage by fleeing from his brother's printing shop where he was literally an indentured servant and ends up in Philadelphia. The author provides an amazing amount of detail on Franklin's life with a good view of his personality that is amicable that although the leading printer in his new City cannot employ him, refers him to a competitor's printer while temporarily housing him. This is a very large book primarily due to Franklin's exhausting accomplishments from his advances in the print world eventually to run hi sown company to his experiments in electricity that make him a renown scientist all over the western world. His advances include serving as a colonel in the militia during, starting a Fire Department, running the postal service in a wide section of the colonies, representing serving colonial charters and colonies as a representative in England while being successful in assisting in the repeal of the Stamp Act. Franklin, as noted by the author, has such good standing that his son is named governor of New Jersey by the crown. As noted in the fascinating prologue, when Franklin, serving as a colonial representative, is humiliated in Parliament over the release of confidential letters from the English government, England loses its best friend to America. In addition, as the author notes, Franklin's unique ability to negotiate, as he later proves with the France, made him a necessary ally that England needed desperately. I found the first 500 pages the most interesting since the author fills any void that a reader may not know of Franklin's doings before the revolution and that is appropriate because his accomplishments are so immense. I was a little surprised that there wasn't more detail on Franklin and Jefferson regarding the Declaration of Independence; however, Franklin acted more as an editor enhancing the document and his skills were so great, his efforts, although substantial were not time consuming as they were proficient. Another area that may have required more detail was the relationship between Franklin and his wife. Franklin spends years away from home while his wife did not accompany him to Europe and when ill, Franklin is too far away to return in time for her death. The author covers Franklin so well that he blankets his every move; this may seem more of a challenge for those wanting a briefer account of Franklin's life. However, if you are looking for the most detailed biography of Franklin, then this book will enrich you.

The young Ben Franklin leaps off the pages in full flesh and blood. I was quickly hooked...and put off other hobbies to digest chapter after chapter of perhaps the greatest American who ever lived. This book exists successfully on so many levels: a biography, a study of colonial America, a political study, the creation of an innovative governance system, the founding of America....and I've never--in any textbook or lecture--had the issues leading to the revolutionary war so clearly crafted. (Who knew Ben and his compatriots strongly considered themselves Britons--and wanted closer ties to the Crown rather than Parliament?) And author Brands avoids one of the irritating issues affecting so many biographies: so much backtracking that the chronology becomes confusing. With a master's touch, Brands presents the writings of Franklin or his contemporaries at exactly the right moment. Yes, it is long, but the detail is great. I can't wait to read Brands' other works, if this is any indication. I felt I was right THERE, and when it was over, as if I'D lost a great friend.

A quick search in the store books under the name "Benjamin Franklin" comes up with 2403 matches. Based upon that criteria, many people would say that everything that could be said or that needs to be said about Ben Franklin has been said. Those people would be emphatically wrong, as has been proven by author and historian H.W. Brands in his work on Franklin, THE FIRST AMERICAN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Brands expertly brings this pivotal figure in American history, back to life, once more, in this book which was a Pulitzer finalist in 2002.

This book is not only about Franklin, but its pages are dotted with an unbelievable cast of secondary characters. Brands brings the friends and acquaintances of Franklin to life, ranging from Cotton Mather to Sir Isaac Newton. The book also spans the life of Franklin from his humble beginnings in Boston to world acclaim as one of the pivotal architects of American society and government. I believe this is the finest biography written on Franklin since Van Doren's Pulitzer Prize winner of some seventy years ago.

Of course, a book about Franklin would be incomplete without also being about the creation and formation of America, as the two are intricately attached. But Brands' work here is all inclusive, giving us not only the politics of Franklin, but his creative genius, business sense and so much more we've grown to appreciate about this Senior statesman in American history.

I have no idea how many biographies I have read about Benjamin Franklin, but this is definitely one of the best ever. H.W. Brands has a wonderful writing style with flowing narrative, meticulous detail and is one of the few Franklin biographers who successfully point the reader to Franklin's human side rather than keeping the attention on his mythical status.

Monty Rainey

[...]

H.W. Brand's biography of Benjamin Franklin of over 700 pages represents a tremendous feat and serves as a real contribution to the study of our "First American."

With that said though, the book does not begin well. The Prologue begins in medias res with Franklin standing in the Cockpit before the Privy Council. We later learn that, for Brands', Franklin's interview in the Cockpit was the pivotal moment in Franklin's life. During the prologue though, it seemed out of place.

The narrative continues its clumsy beginning with the first two chapters. Without getting into too much detail, the first two chapters are written in such a way as to cause the keen reader grave concern that this book is going to be nothing more than hagiography. The principle (but by no means the only) evidence for this hagiographic conclusion is Brands' repeated use of Franklin's first name (Ben or Benjamin) within the first two chapters. However, after page 53, Brands' use of "Ben" or "Benjamin" when referring to Franklin ceases, which makes you wonder why the monikers were ever used in the first place.

The narrative really picks up steam beginning with the chapter entitled "An Imprint of His Own" and very soon thereafter I found myself entirely forgiving and forgetting any shortcomings I may have found with the beginning of the book. The remainder of the book is exquisite in its well-written passages augmented by quotations from the correspondence from the day.

Brands' granting Franklin the title of "First American" can be supported for different reasons: that Franklin was a native born American, that Franklin was the elder among the group known as the "founding fathers," that Franklin was the first "American" to gain international esteem; that because of this international esteem, those in the international community began to think of America as a place spearate from Great Britain and to think of those "Americans" who inhabited America as being separate from Great Britain, that Franklin became the face for the fledgling colonies turned fledgling states during the war for Independence, and that America would become a place in which a man would not be judged by his social station alone but by his merits.

Though the book may exceed 700 pages, the time invested in reading the story of this great man is worth it.

Not only is this one of the finest historical biographies to appear in the past several years, but it is also a work that if taken seriously will reshape the popular notions of both the man Ben Franklin and the psychology of the American Revolution. H.W. Brands has made it forever impossible to conceive of Franklin as just an eccentric scientist and colonial sage, or of the American Revolution as a dispute over the price of tea. Prepare yourself for a barrage of paradigmatic shifts, all of them credible.
The first shock to the system is the very length of Franklin's life. He who would joust with Vergennes, Adams, and George III was born in 1705. His first foray into public controversy involved, of all people, Cotton Mather, who found the Boston newspaper of the Franklin Brothers a bit too racy for the stern capital of Puritan mores. Although he would later be credited as the inventor of lightning rods, efficient stoves, and bifocals, the 16 year-old Benjamin also invented the first "Ann Landers Column," assuming the persona of an older woman dispersing worldly advice to the lovelorn. Boston, not surprisingly, would prove too provincial for the young free-spirited Franklin, who also strained against the familial control of father and older brother. Two choices stood before him: the sea or Philadelphia. As an aspiring printer, Franklin judged Philadelphia the more congenial option. Mather breathed a sigh of relief, no doubt.
Brands traces Franklin's remarkable business success in the City of Brotherly Love. Franklin made a lot of money. Literally. In an age without public mints, the printing of currency was put out to lucrative bidding. Franklin, who sojourned in England briefly as an apprentice printer, had observed the English custom of printing from copper engravings, a method that foiled the efforts of counterfeiters. Franklin soon became a dealer in colonial currency, and his subsequent political connections led to government contracts for mail delivery as well. By the age of forty Franklin's incomes from printing and mail delivery were virtually a sinecure allowing him to retire to a life of scientific inquiry, invention, and public service.
Although Franklin's experiments with lightning and other forms of electricity would make him world famous, it was his civic contributions that proved most useful to Pennsylvanians. As French inspired Indian raids brought gruesome slaughter closer and closer to urban Philadelphia, Franklin organized a militia and arranged for the purchase of armaments from other colonies. As a loyalist for the British Crown, Franklin took pride in his own military achievements in the French and Indian War. He understood, as perhaps few others did, that the united force of American/British arms would in effect create an almost impregnable English basin of the Atlantic, and his vision of future glory for the British Empire knew no bounds.
After the defeat of the French he was only too glad to volunteer for what would become a nearly three decade sojourn of overseas service. The Pennsylvania assembly, long frustrated by the paternal and heavy- handed dealings of the Penn family, dispatched Franklin to London to seek redress against the Penns from Parliament. Arriving in England Franklin was indeed welcomed by the intelligentsia, but he could not have imagined the attitude of Parliament and the Crown against American colonists. Very few things surprised Franklin as a rule, but he could hardly have expected that his strenuous efforts on behalf of the Crown during the French and Indian War would be interpreted in England as insolent, disobedient, and even treacherous. Franklin was rudely treated in the halls of Parliament, but perhaps equally disconcerting to him was the so-called John Wilkes uprising, when a band of hooligans literally took control of the streets of London while the royal government cowered in terror. The Wilkes affair took the luster off of monarchical government and brought home to Franklin the effectiveness of what he and others had achieved in maintaining public order in Pennsylvania.
Brands is careful to portray Franklin as level headed to a fault. The changes in Franklin's thinking about America--from its status as most loyal of colonies to an independent nation in its own right-is steadied, an evolution in small incremental steps. As late as 1770 Franklin still entertained hope of union. Eventually realism and pride, along with a concern for his personal safety, led him to return to America in time for the early volleys of the Revolution. But Franklin's understanding of the European scene made him a logical choice to return overseas, first as ambassador to the French and later as a peace commissioner with John Adams and John Jay. The interplay of these three diverse statesmen is intriguing, but the story has been told in a number of other biographies and histories of the war.
Franklin would return to America, and when the time arrived to choose America's first chief executive, the Sage of Passy was nearly 85 years old. Did anyone take a Franklin Presidency seriously? Brands lets the idea dangle, perhaps in sport, but he does make note of the fact that Franklin was widely recognized as smarter than Washington, less threatening to those who worried about a military aristocracy, an accomplished civil administrator, and familiar with all of the major European powers. But then Brands dashes this whimsy with water-specifically, the bath water from the shoe-shaped tub where Franklin spent nearly all of his waking hours nursing an agonizing stone. One gets the sense that even the devoted biographer found the visual picture of old Franklin governing naked from the tub a bit too much theater for a new nation struggling for respect. The Franklin brought to life by Professor Brands would have enjoyed the laugh himself.

During the Revolutionary Era, George Washington was refered to as "The Essential Man." While this is true, it is also correct that Benjamin Franklin was the other essential man, and Brands's does a superb job in this biography of showing precisely why this was the case.
Benjamin Franklin was the first individual from the American colonies to achieve international acclaim, and to this day he remains one of the most remarkable--if not the most remarkable--individuals in American history. The range and variety of his achievements is nothing short of astonishing, and Brands does a magnificent job of illustrating this.
He also helps to break down some of the stereotypes foisted on Franklin. We frequently think of Franklin a plump, elderly, bespectacled, bald grandfather type, and have no conceptions of how he might have looked or appeared at a younger age. Brands writes about Franklin's extreme prowess as a swimmer, and talks of his tremendous physical strength as a young man, when he was able to carry a tray of lead type in each hand when others would carry only one tray with both arms. And while many portray Franklin as the archetype of the American capitalist and businessman, Brands's shows that Franklin in fact abhorred making money merely for the sake of making money, and himself retired at the age of 42 in order to follow his scientific and philosophical interests. Moreover, if he was, as some suppose, an ambitious businessman, one wonders at such behavior as refusing a proffered patent for his Pennsylvania Stove (a.k.a. the Franklin Stove), which he wanted to keep as inexpensive possible so that as many people as possible could obtain one in order to stay warm. As Brands shows, this incident was not unique in Franklin's life.
The first hundred pages of the biography are so heavily reliant on Franklin's AUTOBIOGRAPHY that they almost amount to a mere recapitulation. But in the remainder of the biography, Brands's fills in all the gaps that a reader of Franklin wishes he had been able to write about. Brands's writes at length about his time in England and France (which was, in fact, most of his life after his retirement). He also does a marvelous job of giving the reader a sense of the social setting of Franklin's life. Franklin enjoyed an immensely rich social life, and his many friendships are brought vividly to light in this book.
I should, however, register a tiny bit of unease about the accuracy of Brands's historical research. No one can expect an author to be master of every detail, but his account of the battle between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis was incorrect at several points. For instance, he writes that the two ships fought bow-to-bow and stern-to-stern. But John Paul Jones reported that they fought bow-to-stern, lashed together, but pointed in opposite directions. All the major paintings of the battle reflect Jones's account. While this doesn't mean that the rest of the book contains similar errors, it does slightly lessen one's confidence in the author's facts.

This thorough book explores the many facets of Benjamin Franklin. It is a wonderful mixture of prose and fact, using Franklins's own words to help illustrate a wonderfully readable story.
Franklin's many interests and his indefatigable nature are so rich that a seven or eight volume biography organized along his separate endeavors would be possible. He was a businessman, a publisher, a highly readable and widely read author; a scientist and experimenter; a civic leader and organizer, a politician, diplomat, Founder and revolutionary. Remarkably, he found success and satisfaction from all, failing only as a family man and father.
Brands does not explicitly explore whether or not Franklin's many interests simply crowded out his ability to be a devoted husband and father, or whether the single-mindedness and vanity that helped propel him to greatness left him immune to the needs of those immediately around him. The struggles of his wife and son make an interesting counterpoint to the many successes enjoyed by this remarkable man.
Brands weaves all these Franklins in this chronological exploration of his life. Franklin's interests are so varied and his energy so great that he reminds one of Teddy Roosevelt in the breadth and impact of his accomplishments. Indeed, Brands has written of both and I suspect he sees great similarities between them and great symmetry in the life of a man who made America possible and the life of a man who one hundred years later remade America.
Franklin is remembered and rightly so. His service to independence was critical in both helping gain the Declaration and in helping win French recognition (though one needs to recognize that ultimately France waded in on our side because it was in her interests to prick her longtime antagonist England and support for America represented a relatively safe and inexpensive way to do so). His aphorisms to this day help capture truisms of right living. Most know Franklin. Brand's great service with this book is that many can now enjoy knowing him in detail and gaining inspiration from a life well lived and lived for good causes.

Calling "The First American" the best book I've ever bought in an airport does not begin to do it justice. Everyone is familiar with Benjamin Franklin, or thinks they are- stories of Franklin and his kite are staples of grade-school science classes, and most Americans can summon up a mental image of Ben Franklin- grandfatherly, grey-haired and paunchy.
What "The First American" does for Franklin, in the face of these stereotypes, is twofold and therefore doubly effective. Firstly, it is an excellent personal biography, providing the evolution of the legend: the rise of Franklin the printer, the political theorist and the family man from his beginnings in Boston through his flourishing in Philadelphia to his public disgrace in London- a disgrace that indirectly contributed to the success of the American Revolution and the culmination of Franklin's personal glory. In the process, it illuminates the vital young and middle-aged man who became the institution that Franklin was in later life.
Secondly, "The First American" fills in the gap between the received wisdom that Benjamin Franklin was a great man and the reasons, which most students have never been taught, why. A scientist respected by the great minds of his age; a political theorist and practitioner adept enough to juggle the needs of an emerging America with the support of a negligent England and later a decadent France; a journalist whose personal opinions on the rights of the press helped shape the freedoms now enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Even if these were all of Franklin's accomplishments, they would be more than enough to warrant the esteem he gathered.
Franklin's contribution to the life of his times can best be summed up thus: When received by the French foreign minister as the second American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson was greeted with the question "You replace Doctor Franklin?"
Jefferson replied "I succeed him, sir. Nobody could replace him."

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.

Franklin's many and varied accomplishments are all told here in conversational language. The book moves ahead in a most interesting manner. There are no humdrum, boring passages here. It tells of Franklin's itch to go to sea as a boy and his dissatisfaction with his apprenticeship as a printer in his hometown of Boston. To be more independent, he left for Philadelphia at an early age and became one of the premier printers of that city. His scientific accomplishments and his well known career as a patriot, and statesman are told in a way that keeps one interested in reading more.
I think that few men have reached Franklin's level of varied accomplishments. He was the first person to begin understanding and mapping the Gulf Stream, one of the most successful pioneers in understanding the nature of electricity, the inventor of the lightning rod and many other such achievements. His political and civic endeavors started with forming the first Fire Dept., establishing forts, starting cultural clubs and his well known involvement with the forming of the United States as an independent country. His career as a statesman was such that, on his passing, he was severely mourned by two continents. Along with all this, Franklin's fine tuned wit and sense of humor are well shown.
This is a thoroughly researched and well written book. It seems to me a tour de force as a biography of one of the most interesting men of all time.

With a series of well researched and well written books, Texas A&M History Professor H.W. Brands has placed himself in such heady company as David McCullough as one of the preeminent history authors working today. Brand's biography of Benjamin Franklin is a lively, witty and very informative look at the senior statesman among America's Founding Fathers. Helped by Franklin's engaging personailty and prolifc writings, Brands brings him to life for modern readers.
"The First American" provides a sweeping overview of Franklin's life, from his Boston upbringing to his early audulthood as a Philadelphia printer to his later years when his stature as a philosopher, scientist, politician and diplomat made him world famous. Electricity, the Gulf Stream, the modern fire department, the lightening rod and bifocals are among the many deicoveries or inventions he either initiated or was key in developing. And oh by the way, Franklin was also the prime negotiator of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 and played host to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. On the whole, not a bad set of lifetime accomplishments.
Brands' account of Franklin's life is must reading for anyone with an interest in American History. The author has that rare gift that combines storytelling ability with scholarship. If more history professors could write (and lecture) this well, the subject would be all the more popular for it.

This is an excellent survey into the lives of perhaps the most important of the first Americans. This man lived nothing less than an adventure. He was strong willed and of a fervent opinion, but like many of America's founding brothers, he had his faults. It seems as if every early American was sex maniac. Today's scandals pale in comparison to some of the exploits of the late 18th century.
But enough of that, this is an excellent book. Mr. Brands has put forth a worthy effort of the highest praise, his synthesis of historical fact, historical fiction and storytelling is superb. His reputation has preceded him, but there is one flaw in the book. It is incredibly hard to read. I have a degree in history and have read many history books, but this is one of the more difficuly I have ever read. It ranks up their with The Swordbearers, the history of World War I and The Age Of Jackson, the Pulitzer Prize winning history of America during the Crisis perido leading up to the Civil War.
Don't be intimidated, this is an excellent book. It is worth the money to buy and is more than worth the time and effort to read. If you want to understand anything about the American Revolution on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, you must read this book. Ben Franklin was instrumental in his role in securing deals with France to win our independence. This gets my highest recommendation.

In a dialogue Franklin wrote while in Paris, "Madame Gout" comes to visit him and, while inflicting torment on Franklin with "corrections" of gout, she chastises him for his indolent lifestyle: "While the mornings are long, and you have leisure to go abroad, what do you do? Why, instead of gaining an appetite for breakfast by salutary exercise, you amuse yourself with books, pamphlets, or newspapers, which commonly are not worth the reading."
Madame Gout could not fault any of us for amusing ourselves with "The First American." It is a well-written, detailed, and objective look at arguably the most important of the United States' founding fathers.
It is hard not to become overwhelmed with Franklin's accomplishments. Yet he seemed to flit in and out of various fields of philosophy, science, and politics with an ease that seems impossible today, and with seemingly no more effort than most of us put into walking between rooms of our homes.
The book begins with an account of a pivotal event in Franklin's life that led to his eventual break with Great Britian. He was at first a reluctant revolutionary, but this event, in which he was publicly and in person humiliated by Britian, changed the course of his life and his loyalty. It is an excellent way to begin an account of Franklin's life.
After this the book moves in chronological order beginning with Franklin's upbringing and eventual abandonment of Boston. When he arrives in Philadelphia alone and poor the momentum begins and does not let up until we arrive at his deathbed. Death seemed to be the only thing capable of stopping him. The dizzying array of fields he dabbled in and made substantive contributions to is staggering.
The book has a level of detail that will allow you to appreciate the scope of Franklin's accomplishments within the time they occurred. It is not simply a "Wow! Gosh! Can you believe it?!" account. There is juice there. We even learn about the indeterminate date of Franklin's birth due to the implementation of the Gregorian calendar. No detail is spared.
The author also seems to have an appreciation for what Franklin really stood for. It is often thought Franklin stands for pure capitalism outright (thanks to his work "The Way to Wealth"). We learn that Franklin did not patent most of his inventions, passing up opportunities for obvious wealth of obscene proportions. He thought instead of "the common good" and his inventor's mentality had a more practical, down to earth bend to it. Franklin represents some of what the United States has lost in the intervening centuries, and what kind of thinking we (or any country for that matter) need to embrace to become a better society. True, he was wealthy, but he could have made himself much wealthier given his fame and talents.
Of course all of this comes at some price. Franklin was not an ideal family man, and the book also gives a taste of this side of Franklin. Family seemed to play a lesser role in his life than his philosophical and scientific (and later, political) interests. Due to his circumstances he was not able to attend the funerals of either his father or his wife. He had a falling out with his loyalist son that was never resolved. He spent most of his married life away from his wife (she feared sea travel and would not accompany him to Europe, where Franklin spent most of his adult life). He also had a flirtatious side, which the book hints at but does not delve deeply into. One question the book did not answer for me was why he is known as "Dirty Ben" in some circles.
The book also gives a brief but not insufficient history of the American Revolution. Franklin played a pivotal and probably still underappreciated role in securing victory for the colonies. Why he and George Washington are not considered at least "co-fathers" of the United States eludes me even more after reading this book. I would have liked to have seen more in the book as to why Franklin does not share Washington's ubiquity in modern America. Reading H.W. Brands book will probably evoke similar questions to all readers.
Lastly, a small point, Franklin's grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache (who accompanied Franklin to France and was at his deathbed), went on to notoriety of his own later in life. Some argue this was in the spirit of his grandfather. "Benny" is mentioned in "The First American," but no hint is made to his later life. Bache went on to question the authority of Washington, corruption in congress, and the kingly ambitions of some of America's politicians in his "American Aurora" (printed in what was Benjamin Franklin's own Philadelphia print shop). It is said that the Sedition Act was created in reaction to this newspaper. Though the book is not about Bache, a mention of this would have given a taste of Franklin's legacy and the undeniable influence he had on at least one of his descendants.
"The First American" tells the story of a great human being, not just a great American. It is a long read but well worth the effort. Franklin's personal philosophy, elucidated brilliantly in the book, is still relevant today. By looking at his life and how he shaped it one can learn much about one's own life and how to shape it.
This book has forever solidified my answer to the question: "If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be?" I cannot see this answer wavering from "Benjamin Franklin."
In short, find the time to read it. Madame Gout will be pleased.

It's curious how many biographies about prime ministers, generals, past presidents, and personalities from the Revolutionary War era have been published in recent years. Perhaps the phenomenon is not so strange in light of H.W. Brands' volume about Benjamin Franklin, a man who, even in life, appeared to be part mortal and part god. At a time when our culture seems to yearn for stories about persons of character and achievement, of people who were not merely good but who were also good for something, this book comes none too soon. Inventor, printer, writer, philosopher, diplomat, representative, treaty-maker, land speculator, abolitionist, patron of education, arts and sciences, to name a handful of things, it's fair to say Franklin seems to have "done it all," and what a life! His contributions to science, the infant United States and in other areas cannot be emphasized too heavily. To use a Franklinism, he was indeed a jack-of-all-trades, and master of many. In some respects the man almost seemed too big for his life, but the ever-evolving Franklin changed things when he couldn't change himself, and largely shaped his own world --and his legacy. It's a big legacy, a mighty story, and Brands does an honest and capable job sifting through the lore and legend surrounding Benjamin Franklin the man, although even after finishing the book, Franklin's myth still looms large. Perhaps it is only the titanic shadow he casts across recent history? Whatever it is, Brands presents the reader with a fully human Franklin who was capable of some seemingly superhuman undertakings, a mortal man with flaws and failings, subject to flukes of fate, as well as flights of the highest intellectual and moral insight and courage when it was most needed. Frankly it is astonishing that one man could have lived such a life in times that were as fascinating and exciting as they were dangerous and uncertain. Brands breathes life into the many worlds his subject inhabited, from Philadelphia to France, colonial Boston to Great Britain, and the broad strokes and fine points are all alive and vibrant. This biography is luxurious by turns and, in only a few spots, prosaic.
Brands may not quite possess the gift of flowing prose that other biographers like McCullough or Ellis have, but his rendering is decidedly readable and thoroughly enjoyable. In fact the only places where I was "rubbed" were instances when Brands presented Franklin in a situation or against a backdrop without saying more about the setting. E.g., one may well remember the particulars of Queen Anne's War and the French and Indian War from school days gone by. But for one who does not, a little more background would be helpful, though I concede it would be difficult to insert even more detail into such an already copiously detailed, opulent book. It is also evident that Brands admires Franklin. That's not so hard to understand, especially when reading his treatment of Franklin, and perhaps his enthusiasm is better momentum than a dispassionate, cold eye. He achieves an energetic, well-balanced portrait of Franklin without sacrificing academic integrity. Granted, there are places where Brands seems to gloss over or merely mention in passing some of Franklin's human weaknesses, vanities, and so forth --but that certainly does not damage the book, whether one chooses to view Franklin as a dissipated bon vivant or a philosopher-hero.
Brands also succeeds in putting the flesh back on Franklin through the use of the good Doctor's own words, gleaned from surviving letters and other sources. The reader is treated to the sometimes wry, sometimes subtle, and occasionally passionate, grand language that Franklin used. Franklin's words, carefully chosen and wielded with astonishing dexterity, are as pertinent now as ever they were and, quite often, eerily prescient. As any person who reads this highly accessible biography will soon come to understand, though, Benjamin Franklin was more than a mere wordsmith.
Often by his own designs and comportment, Franklin was many things to many people and few were ambiguous in their feelings toward him. To most, he was dearly beloved, sagacious --and in some cases, he was positively loathed. What can one expect from a man who could be so changeable yet steadfast, resolute? Charming, with a rapier wit, no one who was touched by anything he did was unmoved, and that applies to the modern reader of this book.
Brands has wrestled with a giant, and not even his meticulousness and inquisitiveness can do Franklin's fertile mind and piercing intellect full justice, but that he has done so and succeeded so well is an accomplishment. One can only hope new generations will be introduced to a Benjamin Franklin wholly new, or at least presented in a different light, a man more than just a kite-flying revolutionary whose face happens to grace the $100 bill. Undoubtedly this handsomely done book will be the authoritative work on Franklin for at least the next twenty to fifty years. Enjoy it. It's well worth the read.

H W Brands has mastered the art of measuring both his words and story. The life of this "First American" progresses at a leisurely, entertaining pace. Yet the occasional light-hearted treatment never gets in the way of the authors thesis - that Franklin was the quintessentail American with all the qualities we associate with being American - can-do attitude, inquisitive, lover of freedom, capitalist and achiever...as well as filled with an uncommon common sense.
BF is one of the few Founding Fathers that come across with a sense of humor - from practical jokes to the assumption of imaginary letter written to newspapers intending to invoke controversy. He was the only American to sign all four Revolutionary documents and without his tireless efforts both in the states and in Europe the struggle would have been harder. He was, despite all his genius and airs, a tradionalist while being a humanist, free-thinker, republican and a great believer in the notion of individual effort and personal responsibility.
His life - all 82 years - was extraordinarily rich, surpased only by his compatriot and sometimes rival, John Adams. Both men viewed the Revolution as a universal - not American - event that had great portents for the future. In this they have been cannily prescient.

This is a particularly fine, readable, and interesting biography of a man who was in the thick of the American revolutionary war's political and diplomatic struggles. Because Franklin was the oldest significant figure in the American revolutionary war, the story of his life gives a depth of understanding to the events that led up to that conflict and to the condictions in America, at least in Philidelphia, up to that point. Moreover, Franklin comes across as most charming, and that makes this biography a delight.
The First American is a good companion volumn to McCullough's John Adams. They naturally intersect, but they do not repeat each other. And while Franklin gets somewhat short shrift in McCullough's book, John Adams is similarly treated here. (The authors write from the perspective of their respective subjects, who evidently disliked each other.) Both books taken together provide a balanced history of these two great men. Not to say that one has to read John Adams to appreciate The First American: this book stands on its own.
I enjoyed Brands' book on Theodore Rooseveldt, but given the different natures of the two subjects, and the different times, these are very different books. If one word characterizes TR, it is "will" (or perhaps "action"). If one word characterizes Franklin, it is "wisdom". You may surmise therefrom which book will be better company for you.
Another special thing about this book is the selection of quotations from Franklin's writings, including his letters. These passages are worth reading and re-reading for the elegance and grandeur of his language.

I love early American history, primarily the period prior to the Civil War. As my reading in this areas has progressed I realized that I had not read a good biography covering the life of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin remained a figure on the edge of my reading, only entering when events like the Declaration of Independence or the Constitutional convention brought him into the spotlight. So, it was with great anticipation that I purchased H.W. Brands biography of Franklin. I had previously read Brands' biography of Teddy Roosevelt and found it first rate, so my expectations for this book were even greater.
Brands has written a comprehensive biography of Franklin that will certainly stand as a benchmark for years to come. It is obvious that Brands did his homework, the amount of research in this book is incredible. Brands gives great detail into Franklin's early life in Boston, his move to Philadelphia and his subsequent success as a printer. This detail is provided but not at the expense, as noted by another reviewer, of Franklin's involvement in the American Revolution. Franklin's transition from proud citizen of Britian to rebellious American is easily illustrated. Brands also gives great detail on Franklin's philosphical works and his many scientific inventions.
This book does border on the long side. It is over 700 pages and if you do not have an interest in American history or Franklin you will find the book to be a grind. I found Brands'a attempt to portray Franklin as the "first american" to be credible, however, his claim that Franklin did the most for American Independence after Washington was a bit more tenuous. I can think of at least half a dozen other men who could lay equal claim to that prize.
This book is only for readers with an intense interest in Franklin and the development of the early American Republic. Brands work is scholarly and well documented, presenting a wealth of detail about this seminal figure. If you are a serious history buff I would recommend this book to you, people with only an idle curiousity might want to look elsewhere.

Lately it seesm everywhere I go, someone is reading "The First American" and with good reason. It's an absolutely first-rate example of a readable, engaging and accurate historical portrait.
Most American readers have grown up with the story of Franklin the inventor and statesman, but the image we generally have of him is that aging gentleman on the fifty dollar bill coupled with a few notions about lightning and fireplaces and printing presses. But Franklin was so much more than that. He was a social philosopher who counted amoung his friends learned men such as David Hume and Bernard Mandeville. He was a natural philosopher whose observations on electricity led to his becoming the first American elected a fellow of the Royal Society. He was a lover of all things British, proud to be a Briton, and yet compelled in the end to take a stand with his Colonial brethern. And above all, he was a thoroughly modern man, who challanged many of the orthdoxies of the day and was nonetheless able to do so in a manner that made few enemies.
Brands' biography is both marvelous entertainment and a wonderful and detailed biography of a man who, perhaps more than any other single man, defined what it meant to be an American.

Having only read Franklin's unfinished autobiography, I was happy to get the rest of the story. First, I was surprised that Franklin spent the majority of his retired life living in Europe. As an architect of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, I had always thought that Franklin was close at hand during America's founding, but instead Franklin tended to American business overseas. He just happened to be around during the creation and signing of the two crucial American Documents.
What's great about Brands' biography is that he presents the story of the human Franklin without sinking to iconoclasm. Since it is so unfashionable to paint a compelling portrait of a known hero when you can instead make him out to be a vain phony self-promoter and greedy to boot, I was very happy that H.W Brands saw good in Franklin. That being said, Brands portrait is still an objective one leaving in the kinds of details that Franklin would have left out. As far as style, Franklin's own words leap off the page and Brands narrative is more straightforward. Since Franklin's autobio ends just where his life gets most interesting, I was very happy with the way Brands presents the rest of the story.

I learned a great deal about not only Dr. Franklin, one of the world's leading men, but of the happenings in Europe during his stay. I have read a bit of history about the revolutionary period but all of my reading has been to do with the occurrences on this side of the water. Brands' details not only the life of Franklin but the events surrounding it. The result is a book that provides a great deal of information on a variety of topics.
If there has been one American life that exemplifies the ideal it must be Benjamin Franklin's. A few years ago doing well by doing good was a popularly stated goal. That very well could have been a description of Franklin's life. Although, I imagine he would have thought "good" included a bit more than his civic contributions. The abstemious, industrious and frugal nature of the young Franklin described in this book should be taught more frequently.
Brands style is also lively enough to keep the reader interested. Often historical accounts of even the most remarkable lives can be rather a chore to read. Not so with this book. I recommend it; personally, I think, I will be reading a biography of Mr T. Roosevelt soon.

This is a very impressive biography of a very important American. Brands does an absolutely woderful job in taking Franklin's unbelievably full and eventful life and organizing it in such a way that it is a fast and enjoyable read.

What makes for this to be such a fascinating biography is Franklin himself, a lot of which he himself wrote in his autobiography. Yet Brands does an amazing job of interweaving what others thought of Franklin through their correspondence with him and others, as well as telling the history that revolves around virtually everything that Franklin did. This is what has made this biography such an amazing read, because we are given such a complete and full picture of the man and era that we feel as though we are there with Franklin.

I can really find nothing bad with this biography, nor with Brands. He writes in such a way that you want to continue reading, which is the mark of good writing. I would definitely recommend both this book as well as this author to everyone. An absolute joy of a biograohy.

5 stars.

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.

James Logan of Philadelphia knew Franklin as a neighbor and as a political ally. In 1748 Franklin retired from the printing business. He became a silent partner with David Hall in a very profitable enterprise. The science of electricity was in its infancy. Franklin's efforts to educate himself made him an enthusiast of formal education. His triumphs in electricity were another milestone in his career of self-education. In 1749 he wrote a pamphlet proposing an academy to educate youth. Gradually Franklin came to see himself as the most capable man he knew. His interests included optical science, ballooning, weather forecasting, establishing daylight savings time. He could look around Philadelphia and see his efforts in the Library Company, the fire companies, the Philosophical Society, and the academy. Getting into politics was a logical step.
Franklin sought to dilute the influence of the Germans in the colony. He feared that operation of the poor laws induced dependency. He pondered the question of nurture versus nature in the context of education for Native Americans. In 1754 Franklin argued that the American colonists should be considered full members of the English nation. In the 1750's Franklin's view on slavery was changing. He said that slaves could diminish a nation. Franklin has a sense of being virtue's agent, particularly in 1756 when he was elected colonel, head of the Pennsylvania militia. He never lost the conviction that virtue conferred right.
On 1757 the Pennsylvania Assembly appointed Franklin their representative to the government in England. He moved to London. He lived most of the rest of his life abroad. This move was as significant as his move from Boston to Philadelphia. Ultimately he helped to write the Articles of Confederation, he signed the Declaration of Independence, he played a large role at the Constitutional Convention, and he represented American interests in seeking assistance from France to wage war against Britain and in negotiating the terms of the peace. In the life and times format there is adequate emphasis on the life, and more emphasis on the times. Placing Franklin in context is useful.

James Logan of Philadelphia knew Franklin as a neighbor and as a political ally. In 1748 Franklin retired from the printing business. He became a silent partner with David Hall in a very profitable enterprise. The science of electricity was in its infancy. Franklin's efforts to educate himself made him an enthusiast of formal education. His triumphs in electricity were another milestone in his career of self-education. In 1749 he wrote a pamphlet proposing an academy to educate youth. Gradually Franklin came to see himself as the most capable man he knew. His interests included optical science, ballooning, weather forecasting, establishing daylight savings time. He could look around Philadelphia and see his efforts in the Library Company, the fire companies, the Philosophical Society, and the academy. Getting into politics was a logical step.
Franklin sought to dilute the influence of the Germans in the colony. He feared that operation of the poor laws induced dependency. He pondered the question of nurture versus nature in the context of education for Native Americans. In 1754 Franklin argued that the American colonists should be considered full members of the English nation. In the 1750's Franklin's view on slavery was changing. He said that slaves could diminish a nation. Franklin has a sense of being virtue's agent, particularly in 1756 when he was elected colonel, head of the Pennsylvania militia. He never lost the conviction that virtue conferred right.
On 1757 the Pennsylvania Assembly appointed Franklin their representative to the government in England. He moved to London. He lived most of the rest of his life abroad. This move was as significant as his move from Boston to Philadelphia. Ultimately he helped to write the Articles of Confederation, he signed the Declaration of Independence, he played a large role at the Constitutional Convention, and he represented American interests in seeking assistance from France to wage war against Britain and in negotiating the terms of the peace. In the life and times format there is adequate emphasis on the life, and more emphasis on the times. Placing Franklin in context is useful.

I received this book for Christmas and, having completed Carl Van Doren's "epic" biography from the 1930's, was reluctant to plunge into another book about Franklin's life. When I finally did, I was most pleased. While the facts of Franklin are essentially the same (differences apparently owing to additional research materials surfacing in the past 60+ years, H.W. Brands' style is completely different, replacing often tedious detail for a greater level of analysis and contextual placement.
This is not to disparage the Van Doren book; indeed, his is a classic. However the length of that book and excruciating attention to detail upon every aspect of Mr. Franklin's life, can discourage many readers. This book however, while somewhat shorter, covers all of the essential elements of Franklin's personal and professional life in a clear yet rich narrative. Even where he delves into conjecture (as in his musings upon the relationship between Franklin and his son William), his ideas are well grounded in fact, rooted in a myriad of source material.
I would recommend this biography highly. It is a most enjoyable read.

Sometimes it appears that Benjamin Franklin doesn't get the attention he deserves from American History courses. Often what many Americans know about him is confined to the Disney cartoon "Ben & Me", wherein he's portrayed as a somewhat eccentric inventor who befriends a mouse, and experiments with electricity by flying a kite in a thunderstorm. The reality is much, much more than that, and this new biography gives us the whole man, with all of his many accomplishments. After reading this long work, it is clear that American history would have taken an entirely different course if Franklin had not been the kind of Renaissance man he was, or had not used his prodigious talents in the service of his country. There is a lot of detail in this work, perhaps too much at times, but it does give as complete a picture of Franklin's life as we will see in this generation. With all of the political wrangling going on around us in this current election crisis, it's refreshing to step back and see the multitude of obstacles the Founding Fathers had to overcome to allow us to, more or less, peacefully settle a potentially divisive issue. Franklin deserves a lot of credit for how we are today, and this work more than adequately bestows it on him.

I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who has asserted that historical biographies are dry and unabsorbing. To those who read enough historical tomes I believe you know what I am referring to: those all to frequent passages within such books where the eye glazes over with the details of some should be forgotten incident. Luckily, Mr. Brands avoids this malady throughout most of the book and provides us with a very enjoyable narrative of the life and times of Ben Franklin, while at the same time providing us with the level of detail to verify the extensive research engaged in by the historian.
I must relate in passing, however, that I do agree with other reviewers as to the troubling nature of Mr. Fanklin's relationship with his wife. Maybe it is modern sensibility coloring an otherwise necessary and relatively common practice of the past (particularly given the difficulty of trans-Atlantic travel at the time) but I found it very easy to be sympathetic to the situation of his wife. She shared only a few years out of the last twenty with her husband, finally dying just before his return from an eleven year absence in England. The author addresses this issue in passing and perhaps that is all that can be done with the resources at hand but I found myself thinking about the long gaps in their relationship and wondering if this essential abandonment ought to be given more emphasis in revealing the true character of the man and the legend that is Ben Franklin. I am not impugning his character, mind you, but merely pointing out one aspect of his life which struck me as a reader of this book, as it apparently has others.
All in all, The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin is a comprehensive biography with the benefit a being a book that one hastens to read given the engaging writing style of the author and the compelling subject.

H.W. Brands masterfully breathes life into a complex, self-made Renaissance man who clearly deserves much more than the anecdotal remembrance that unfortunately stills exists today. Benjamin Franklin, though as imperfect as any human being, progressively spanned his wings to give full measure to his genius. Not only was Franklin an astute businessman and gifted writer but also an able statesman and brilliant scientist. Despite his evident flaws as a family man, Franklin was perhaps and foremost a humanist whose quest for knowledge and progress could not be satiated. Readers can only marvel at Franklin's inquisitive mind that could sometimes propel him so far ahead of his time as had done Leonard De Vinci's mind during his lifetime. Franklin was often wise enough to defer to others when he felt that he was not the best, most apt man. For these reasons, Franklin needs to be remembered as one of the key founding fathers of the nation.

Anyone who has ever taken American History knows about Benjamin Franklin. One of America's most beloved and skilled leaders, Benjamin Franklin's life has been told again and again for countless years. This makes it hard to distinguish one biography from another in terms of whether the authors did the most accurate and informative investigation that not only shows Mr. Franklin as "America's First Renaissance Man," but also as the human being he is with all of his flaws. And yet despite that, H.W. Brands does a remarkable job with his biography "The First American, The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin."

Throughout the book, you follow Benjamin throughout his life, from the lowly candle-maker's assistant to his involvement in creating the United States Constitution. A major theme throughout the book is the portrayal of Franklin as one of the world's most admired figures. There is evidence of even the French king's feelings: "speaking for the French Academy, and evidently for the French Crown, Mazéas declared that Franklin deserved the `esteem of our nation.'" France was just another country that considered Franklin an amazing and gifted scientist due to his experiments with lightning. There was also the example of what Ben Franklin did in his own state; it was easy looking "at the Junto, the Library Company, the fire companies, the Philosophical Society, the Association, the academy - and recognize[-ing] his hand in making a more civilized place." With his help in creating all of these improvements to the state, Benjamin Franklin's brilliance is evident. However, not everyone feels the same way about the book, as one review states that this version " may have been put together ad hoc in some places;" there are some places where the author does seem to adopt a stance that portrays Benjamin Franklin only in a positive view. Another review states "Brands relies on letters extensively in some areas, and only the history of the era in general, rather than focusing on Franklin's role or effect." There is also evidence of this, however I found that those segments were used to help us understand what was going on in that particular part of Franklin's life, like background information so that we do not fall behind on why certain events happened.

All in all, this is a rather fascinating book and one that definitely deserves high marks due to the completeness of the research put into Ben Franklin's life. If you want an exclusive look into the life of Mr. Benjamin Franklin, this is definitely a good place to start.

TJHS 12th grade student

I don't usually read biographies of historical figures, but in the interest of personal enrichment I decided to read about one of the greatest Americans ever.
The pace of the biography is even and keeps one interested, even one such as I who doesn't read historiography very often. Brands uses letters & memoirs of Franklin and his contemporaries. Those letters provide a fascinating insight into Franklin. Would that more people today had such an orderly, logical, mind and the ability to express it on paper. Franklin was not a perfect person. He had a child out of wedlock and was sometimes a bit bombastic. Franklin was enormously talented and had wide-reaching academic interests, but he wasn't showy about it; he had the ability to identify with all classes of people.
I have learned a lot about colonial life and British imperialism. Many times during the reading of this book I was able to fill in gaps in my own knowledge about 18th c. America, like how taxation worked and how colonial governments were set up. A little lightbulb appeared over my head, and that's a rarity. I also came away with a deep appreciation of the amount of work it must take to put together a biography like this.
If you want to know more about Ben Franklin and aren't afraid of a long read (approx. 750 pages) by all means pick this one up. It's far from boring and you will learn a lot. Keep a dictionary handy, as Brands flexes his vocabulary quite a bit.

What makes Franklin's life most outstanding is his unique position as practically the only man of his generation to forge the direction of our new nation. As a statesman, Franklin's views evolved as the emerging American state did. His ability to build consensus and ignore criticism, his forward-thinking, and his inalterable dedication to the cause arguably contributed more than other American to what became the United States.
But that was a small part of Franklin's contribution to posterity. As scientist, philosopher, author, businessman and neighbor, he brought forth numerous inventions and ideas that remain in practice in some form today.
Brands portrait of Franklin's life is emminently readable, which is important for a book of such length. His research is detailed and his writing unbiased. What you will take away from this book is extreme admiration for a man who can be placed at the head of the line of great Americans.

The founding fathers have been in danger of becoming mere icons for some time now -- Washington the military man, Hamilton the royalist, Jefferson the renaissance man, and Franklin, the comic foil. "Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately," Franklin quipped at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
But in this book, H.W. Brands lays out a broader, more important role for Franklin. Besides being the most famous American to the rest of the world, Brands argues, Franklin was the first American to recognize that the colonies could never achieve an acceptable freedom from Parliament within the British Empire, and would therefore have to fight to achieve full independence.
He was also the prototypical geek. Though he lacked formal education, Franklin had an amazing ability to arrive at the truth of a subject through observation and experimentation. His contributions on electricity and heating (the Franklin Stove) are well known, but Brands covers others in fields from oceanography to physiology to opthalmology.
An inveterate (if inexpert) chessplayer and skirt-chaser, Franklin's family life is fascinating and new to me. He fathered an illegitimate son, William, of an unknown mother before marrying Deborah Read; Franklin and Deborah raised him. Later, they would have a son (somewhat improbably named Francis Folger Franklin, and called Franky) who died of smallpox after the family failed to inoculate him, and a daughter, Sally. Franklin won William appointments as a deputy postmaster and later as royal governor of New Jersey, but when the revolution came, William sided with the crown. It was a blow to Franklin, who never reconciled with his son. He had a major role in raising William's illegitimate son, Temple, and another grandchild, Benjamin Bache (Sally's son).
His relationship with his wife was also somewhat curious. In 1757, Franklin essentially moved to England to represent the Pennsylvania Assembly with the English government (then under George II -- he later would be the agent of Massachusetts, Georgia, and New Jersey, as well), while Deborah stayed behind. He would spend 16 of the next 18 years in London, and 8 of the following 10 in France, but Deborah stayed in Philadelphia. She claimed a fear of ocean travel kept her from traveling, and Franklin wrote her constantly, but it's a heck of a way to run a marriage.
Franklin simplifies the biographer's job somewhat by the very volume of material he left behind. As a printer, he published Poor Richard's Almanac, and innumberable broadsides, pamphlets, newspaper articles, and memoirs. As a politician, he contributed to the Declaration, to several constitutions for the state of Pennsylvania (he was head of the Pennsylvania Assembly before the war, and 3 times president of the state after), and the the U.S. Constitution -- Brands credits Franklin with the compromise allowing state legislatures to elect 2 members each to the Senate, while the House of Representatives was elected by population (initial proposals would have had the Senate elected by the House). And as a celebrity, his letters were almost invariably saved, and provide insights into his remarkable perspective on the world.
There's a vogue of Revolutionary era non-fiction right now, including David McCullough's "John Adams" (Adams disliked Franklin pretty intensely, so this might be a good pair to read), "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation," by Joseph J. Ellis, and "The American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson," but the history-minded geek will probably prefer The First American.

'The First American' is an amazing book about the most amazing character ever to live in America. Benjamin Franklin is the hands-down leader in the shaping and development of our U.S. country and culture. He is still the most well known scientist of our time. He also contributed to our winning of the Revolutionary War and the development of our democratic process that we hold dear. Our country owes him gratitude for his creation of libraries, universities, and fire fighting. We are touched everyday by his innovations in science. The list of his accomplishments goes on and on. Unfortunately, so does this book. I often found myself struggling to get through fluff and a writer who at times finds it necessary to be long-winded. Yet, this book confirmed my praise to a man that always deserves more credit. The only reason I am giving this book a four is that I believe that the normal American would have a difficult time finishing it. All Americans should read the life story of a man that helped develop the freedom that we cherish. It should be required reading in college, and it should fill high school libraries.

An apt title, as the book successfully shows Franklin to have possessed the spirit, work ethic, independence, secularism, tolerance, aptitude and passion that are so quinessentially American (or I should say, allegedly American).

True, the book did drag a bit, and at the least expected times---during the revolution!; I wearied of reading about the subtle seductions and other flirtations between Franklin and his various French hosts' wives. Even more laborious and frustrating was plodding through some of the actual writings themselves---all while conscious of far more riveting exploits occurring elsewhere---namely, the Revolution itself! Still, I was grateful to gain a fresh insight on the war, from the perspective of this unexpected but indispensable, behind-the-scenes hero.

On the whole, I did find the book very enjoyable and interesting. Reading about Franklin's life inspires emulation, however daunting and futile such an undertaking might be.

Franklin was truly a remarkable man. I had no idea as to the degree of his intellect, the contribution he made to the end of war peace effort, the respect he demanded throughtout the Western world or the number of scientific interests he had.
Not since I read D'Este's biography of Patton, have I had the pleasure to read complex subject matter and breeze through it as if it were a novel for the beach.
Dr. Franklin was not a perfect man (he was a horrible husband and family man for example) but was an extrodinary pressence in a country just born and a world that did know really know what to think of the little colonies growing to the west.
Dr. Brands, thank you for the education.
Dr. Franklin, Bussiness man, Philosopher, Diplomat, Founding Father, Politician, Inventor, my hats off to you.
Like American history? Get this book.

I enjoy a good biography on a noteworthy subject, but this is by far the best one I've ever read, period. Not just because Mr. Franklin is a fascinating man in and of himself (that goes without saying), but also because Mr. Brands' approach and style of writing are easily digestible without being simplistic or condescending to the reader. From the first page, Benjamin Franklin seemed alive and real, a solid person of flesh and bone while simultaneously an intellectual demi-god. I found myself wistfully thinking that I'd love to have lived during his time, just on the off-chance that I could've met such a brilliant and personable man. Mr. Brands fully brings Mr. Franklin back to life without sacrificing any factual or historical integrity in the process. I enjoyed this book so much that I'm actually writing this review, which is something I rarely take the time to do. My hat's off to Mr. Brands - I can't imagine how this biography could possibly be any better.

Benjamin Franklin was an extraordinary man. This 700 plus page book gives the reader an in-depth account of his life from his early years in Boston until his death at 84 in Philadelphia. The narrative flows well and the author uses a great deal of Franklin's own writings to illustrate different periods of Franklin's life. But what this book does the best, I think, is take you beyond the myth of the man. Like many of our nations founding fathers Franklin has taken on legendary status that make it hard for us to believe he was very much a human being like the rest of us with our same foibles. Rather than diminishing Mr. Franklin it makes him all the more believable. This is truly a good book about a great man.

After a number of assigned papers on Franklin, I've enjoyed doing quite a bit of reading about him. This book covers his printing career and explains why this was important in Franklin's success. Most biographies I have read focus on either his inventions or his political career and do not say enough about the printer. There is enough information on Franklin to write many books; however, this is the best I've come accross. The writing is lively and makes the subject come alive. His relationships with his peers and family are covered, as well. A very well -rounded study of the original American.

In these times of America with or America against one wonders what is is that is America. This well written, if not riveting, biography is something to behold for any reader.
Brands shows us the humble beginnings and glorious ends of this truly unique individual in a masterful way. His prose is impeccable. His critiques are admirable. And his conclusions indefatigable. This is not a biography that placates the masses but highlights the individual. "He was a man . . . and I shall not see his like again" is a quote that comes to mind.
What an excellent read. What a wonderful foray. You really should pick it up . . to learn what is the ideal American, whether one is or is not.

I enjoyed this book very much; never realized all he has done for our country and civilization....Ethics, science, politics, publishing, Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary war, peace treaties, the Constitution, etc. He was a major part of everything that evolved in the 18th century.

This is an excellent and extremely thorough biography of Benjamin Franklin. It's a long book, which goes into great and occasionally tedious detail of every aspect of Franklin's life. My only complaints are more with the breadth of Franklin's experiences than any real failing on the part of the author. Franklin the scientist, soldier, printer, adventurer, philosopher, journalist, social activist, bon vivant and ladies' man are all fascinating portraits. Franklin the politician and ambassador are at times crushingly dull.

H.W. Brands mixes the well-known mainstream history of Benjamin Franklin with his unique blend of facts and the outcome is sensational. Brands presents us with a realistic portrait of Franklin. Yes, there are flaws in this great American. Nevertheless, one cannot help but put this book down and come away with tremendous admiration for one of our most important founding fathers. Franklin's social strata in Europe is impressive. But the outstanding quality of this very special book is the pivotal role Franklin played in the birth of a nation.

Brands has written a biography that is both immensely informative and wonderfully entertaining. He presents great amounts of detail but never allows the reader to become bogged down in it, and his fluid prose makes the book easily readable. Whether you know something about Franklin or nothing at all, this book will give you a solid understanding of the man's life and work. Franklin is history's greatest example of a well-lived life, and his story should be an inspiration to everyone. I strongly urge you to read this book: you will both learn something and be uplifted.

I like biographies. Ben Franklin is probably the best biography one could read. Who else made it to the tops of their profession in Business, Science, and Politics within one life? I bet the answer is no one but Franklin. The story is engaging, and one would think it was made up if there wasn't enough evidence to support it. I especially liked the revealing depth of his scientific thoughts and experiments. It also gives, unlike most biographies, some depth to his interpersonal relationships with the wife and kid.

The first third of this book was pretty slow, but then it really picked up and turned out to be a really informative and enjoyable read. The book spent a bit more time on Franklin's personal life than I wanted, but did not go into as much detail as I would have liked on Franklin's relationships with the other "Founding Fathers." But overall it was a well-written, interesting and well-researched book that gave me just what I was after--a definitive single volume biography of Benjamin Franklin.

This is perhaps the best biography I have ever read for the following reasons:
The author has the wit, ironic tone, and command of the language that is worthy of Ben Franklin the writer.
The prose is beautiful and is seamlessly interwoven with quotes from letters, articles, contemporary commentaries, and Ben's own memoirs.
This book reads like a novel, tells a great story about a brilliant, admired, and patriotic man who lived an incredible life. He was a true renaissance man whom Brands has captured in all his many facets.

The First American is an extensive look into the life of Benjamin Franklin, and should satisfy most readers interest in this extrordinary man. The work is scholarly, and the subject alone will pull you in because of such a grand life.
I felt that the research was thorough, but may have been put together ad hoc in some places. Brands relies on letters extensively in some areas, and only the history of the era in general rather than focusing on Franklin's role or affect, in others.
The end of the book seemed rushed, which left me a little disappointed with the lite coverage concerning Franklin's input into both The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I would think that this area of his life, and his processes concerning both his judgement and behavior would be fascinating. The fact is that Brands covers these areas rather quickly in comparison to the amount of detail given to Franklin's early years. I also wanted to learn more about Franklin's Freemason activity as well, and again, the topic was not given too much consideration.
I truly wanted to give four stars as the rating because there is an awful lot of information, and I do feel that I now know a heck of a lot more about Benjamin Franklin. I give it three stars because if I truly want to find out more about the areas that I felt should have been covered better in the first place, I still have to look elsewhere.

I must admit that this would be the first Franklin book I have read, and so my impressions are largely based off of the excellent quality of the writing, and I can not speak to that of the scholorship.

That said, I found this book to be of incredible interest, reading it in about a week, and largely finding that after a half hour of not reading it, I am yearning for more. It not only looks directly at Franklin's character and achievment, but gives one an excellent view of the culture and environment he was living in, both in France, England and of course Philidelphia and Boston (though he actually spent far more of his adult life in the former two.)

The only gripe with this book I have (would have made it 4.5 if the option was available) was the latter portion of his life containting the revolution and subsequent writing of the constituion seemed to be very quickly gone over and did not really get into very much detail. This is partially due in part to the lesser portion of work Franklin did in each (he was getting quite old by the time of the convention, and was in France for the War.) However I would have still enjoyed seeing a more comprehensive look at both then this book offered. A minor gripe.

A lengthy, detailed, earthy biography. The way he is presented, I think he really was the first American. He was very much the staunch British subject up until the early 1770's, even planning on retiring in England. Then Britain's treatment of the American colonies became too much for him, and he became a staunch American patriot. Not only a Renaissance man, but also quite the party animal and ladies man throughout.

The First American is an exceptionally entertaining, insightful and informative work of historical biography. I'm not a speedy reader, but I consumed this book in a few weeks of train commutes to and from work (I have no idea what's been going on in the world since late September) and am now bereft that it is finished. I was struck by how much Franklin's legacy suffers from the iconography (another reviewer correctly called it historical caricature). Franklin the Myth, as it turns out, is far less than Franklin the Man. The Doctor is more than an American giant -- he is in the first tier in the pantheon of modern civilization's geniuses; right up there among Leonardo and Shakespeare and Gutenberg.
A minor quibble: I was disappointed not to learn how Franklin's son William (a notorious Tory during the War of Independence)and his grandsons Temple Franklin and Benny Bache fared in their lives, and how subsequent generations of Franklin progeny coped with the giant's legacy. I know the book was the Life and Times (I most appreciated that Brands took "The Times" part of the equation as seriously as "The Life") but somehow I think the Doctor would have been tickled if the reach of his Life and Times had been extended to include the following generations.
Again, a masterwork, for which I am grateful and privileged to have enjoyed as well as I did.

Not that Ben Franklin needed much assistance from H.W. Brands to be an enjoyable read, but Brands does a marvelous job engaging the reader with his observations. I appreciate the lack of conjecture and the respect for the reader as he allows us to look at the circumstances and surrounding events without making too many suppositions and allowing us to understand what can't be known for certain. I hope that this book develops a following, as it is well deserved and certainly a life every American should know about.

Bar none one for the best written historical books out there. The writer writes with authority and facts. It shows that the entire book was well thought out and planned meticuously. It's pleasure to read. I just wish the subject matter was more desireable. Every american does owe a great amount to Benjamin Franklin. He was a man that accomplished great things. And I'm sure that he was the first person to pat himself on the back every time he accomplished something. Taken from his writings and demeaner is could be said that he was a self-centered, pompous jerk. He was his own greatest fan and looked down on anyone he deemed intellectually inferior. But with that aside I highly recommend this book.