Irp 2

This document provides a review of the biography Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson. The reviewer summarizes that Isaacson's biography takes a holistic approach to portraying Franklin's life from his roots and family history to his relationships and accomplishments. The reviewer notes that Isaacson shows how Franklin drew from his family's tradition of freethinking and independence. While most depict Franklin as flawless, the reviewer says Isaacson also depicts Franklin's flaws in failing to be present for his wife and children at times.

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Irp 2

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Aidan

Niles
Period 2
Ms. Hamilton
Independent Reading Project Product

Benjamin Franklin
By Walter Isaacson
Reviewed By Aidan Niles

American history, it is something we take pride in; it is something we honor

with every reciting of the pledge of allegiance and every act of democracy we take
part in. Yet it is the great men who built this magnificent nation of freedom who we
owe our liberty to. And no man was more supportive of building such a nation than
Benjamin Franklin. Authors and historians alike have always been trying to paint
the portrait of the genius inventor and freedom fighter that was Ben Franklin. For
years, people have written books, dissertations, and other such scholarly articles.
Yet it was Walter Isaacson who truly pieced those pieces together. Through
Isaacsons holistic portrayal of Franklin, as a reader I truly got to see the man behind
the genius.
In the beginning, we are taken back, beyond Franklins birth to his roots.
Franklins family was a group of free thinkers from the beginning; they were
different from most people. They were intelligent, smart, and quite crafty. However,
their freethinking ways often got them branded as dissenters. Ben Franklins great
grandfather, Thomas Francklyne, born in 1540, hid a copy of the banned English
Bible tied under a stool during Queen Mary Is quest to bring the Roman Catholic
Church back to England. This ideal of independence would be passed down
throughout the Franklin lineage. According to Isaacson, the clever ingenuity, seems
to have been passed down through four generations. This ingenuity obviously must
have touched young Ben Franklin, and like his forefathers, he was an avid
tradesman and a deep lover of learning. The book then takes us through Franklins
life as a shopkeeper, stressing the importance of his relationship with two men
especially in his early life, a Quaker by the name of Denham, and the other an
apprentice to Franklins earlier employer by the name of Hugh Meredith.
Denham was much like a father and mentor to Franklin. He took young Ben
under his wing. Even Franklin himself admitted to this in one of his many journals,
stating, We lodged and boarded together; he counseled me as a father, having a
sincere regard for me. I respected and loved him. These times would be Franklins
first introduction into the world of business, the world of selling, and most
importantly, the economics of America.
If Denham could be considered a surrogate father, then Hugh Meredith
would certainly have been considered Franklins unruly adopted brother for a time.
Hugh Meredith was a drunk, a son of a Welsh farmer; he was not what one might call
the sharpest tool in the shed. Yet he and Franklin bonded under some very unlikely
circumstances. Both were working under a man named Keimer. Keimer, as Franklin
figured out, was using him to train four cheap hands, the term Isaacson used for
laborers, and then would lay him off. One of those hands was Meredith. Meredith
and Franklin had a plan, a plan that would dramatically change Franklins life. They

Niles, Aidan

Friday, January 16, 2015 at 9:12:30 AM Pacific Standard Time

1
70:56:81:af:8d:61

Aidan Niles
Period 2
Ms. Hamilton
Independent Reading Project Product
wanted to start a printing shop funded by Merediths father. To make a long story
short, they were going to set up a business that would help make Franklin into the
powerful and experienced business man we have learned about and that would help
set the stage for his transition into a revolutionary scientist and freedom fighter.
Yet, like all giants of our world, Franklin was still human at his core. And all
men are flawed. Most portray him as a great man, flawless and perfect. Yet Isaacson
shows a new side to Franklin. Much like Edison, Franklin was a genius of
unspeakable proportions, but a fool when it came down to being a good father or
husband. Franklin was not there for Deborah, his wifes, death nor did he appear for
her when she was on her sickbed. Despite even her doctors advice that he should
attend her, he still did not come. Secondly, Franklin was quite distant even from his
children. He never appeared for any of their weddings, nor did he participate much
in their lives. Part of this was his opinion that because he was distant and was not
there, he had no right to meddle.
However, Franklin experienced the most conflict with his son, William.
William was a firm loyalist; he had a very high opinion of his king. Franklin and
William clashed often. Franklin, however, became more open minded about his
philosophies later in life, as he often debated with John Adams, a rival and comrade.
Adams was often jealous of Franklin and found him to be lazy at times. Franklin
appeared un-phased by Adams often times blunt and blatant criticism of his
mannerisms. Both men, particularly Adams, grudgingly admired each other.
This was partially due to the culture in France at the time. In America, to be
lazy was considered to be shameful. In France, to work too hard and often was
generally frowned upon and considered vulgar. Such a fusion and distinction of
cultures morphed Franklin into a somewhat cavalier man who spent most of his
days pursuing intellectual studies and women. Franklin, being quite political and
charming, had some relations with Mary Antoinette, queen of France.
I found this book to be a source of great knowledge and clarity, as it helped
erase the misconceptions I had formed about Franklin. I would highly recommend
this book to those who find American history to be fascinating and for those who
have decided to study Benjamin Franklin in hopes to piece together a portrait of this
genius. Great men are not created great; they become great through their actions
and more importantly, through their character. Through his works, his deeds, and
most importantly his determination, Benjamin Franklin found the secret to
immortality amongst the hearts of his people and carved for himself his own niche
in the aisles of history.