 I really enjoyed Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs and Einstein biographies, so I was excited to complete the series by reading Benjamin Franklin: An American Life.
I love science, so I was interested in learning more about Franklin's scientific pursuits. While the book did go into lots of details about his experiments and discoveries, well over half of the book was devoted to his political accomplishments (which were of course enormous as well). Thus, I enjoyed Isaacson's other two books a bit more than this one, but it was more because of subject matter differences. My favorite parts of this book actually were the little details and stories that revealed Franklin's inner character and humor, like his mock proposals to study farts and the way he would flirt with young women at age 70+. He was above all a pragmatic, worldly, reality-based person who focused on enjoying this life and contributing as much as possible while being his best self, and that part of the story appealed to me greatly. This biography reminded me of Neal Stephenson's fictional account of a similar time period in history in Quicksilver. Both Stephenson's and Isaacson's books made the history come alive through stories and personal details of the characters' lives; something that was really missing from my formal history classes in high school. I really enjoyed how Isaacson analyzed Franklin's letters and writings, even the secret ones, and I was extremely impressed at how people were able to communicate so effectively and eloquently back then without email. Scientist Inventor Business strategist Continually reinvented self Helped craft all founding docs 1 Ben franklin and invention of America Arrival in America Self-deprecation Founding father who winks Ruling class of middle class and ordinary Protestant ethic separate from dogma American identity Self improvement ethic and virtues How does one live moral life 2 pilgrim's progress, Boston Puritan migration Free thought and free enterprise Public virtue and private profit Lots of children by parents Ben made himself swimming gear to swim faster Made himself kite Frugality Engrossing intellectual discussions at dinners Fish and guests stink after 3 days Education Transcribed sermons in his own shorthand No formal education, just writing and math (failed math) Became more practical, variety of interests Apprentice Tinkerer Newspaper Defoe progress Wrote anonymous essays Aversion to hereditary titles Runaway Ch 3 journeymen, London Vegetarian to save money for books Philadelphia Don't carry head too high Lessons about rivalry, resentment, pride Learned self deprecating humor Calvinism and deism Reason and studying nature, deism, vs simple faith Fascinated by swimming Book: the art of swimming Made himself paddles Laid out his own pragmatic credos to not confuse his life To live like rational creature Be frugal Speak truth and sincerity Apply self industriously Speak Ill of no men Scientific curiosity Philadelphia Man as social creature Ch 4 printer, Philadelphia Shop of his own Created his own font: Franklin gothic Apostle of industriousness Formed the junto club of young tradesmen Love mankind in general Pursue truth for own sake Ben Franklin, printer (title for life) Mock debates Soft, Socratic queries Feign naive curiosity 14 possible topics of importance for junto discussions Mutual benefits for self and society Busy body essays Wanted his own content and distribution network in addition to printing Built media conglomerate First gossip column Newspaper wars Apology for printers essay for free speech Print both sides of story and truth wins out over error Exercise discretion in what printed when could be damaging Foolish to avoid criticism Sexual and moral advice columns Crime and sex stories sell First Tabloid Practical marriage Developed pro con method for making decisions Keep eyes open before marriage and half shut during William Illegitimate child (later would be 3 generations of illegitimate children) Francis Second child Smallpox vaccinations Belief in faith without dogma Evaluate religions by their utility Religious tolerance Moral perfection project List of 12 virtues Practical democratic selfish Enlightenment creed Age of reason Poor Richards almanac Doing well by doing good Follies of everyday life Good source of revenue for printer Created many pseudonyms for writing Ch 5 public citizen, Philadelphia Organizations for common good Lending library, hospital, fire station Individualism and community interwoven Don't claim credit if want to get support of others Freemasons American philosophical society Philadelphia militia Separate from British colony government Colonies can accomplish more through unions Retired at age 42 Ch 6 scientist and inventor Storms and catheters Science of weather prediction Stoves and chimneys Magician inspired him to study electricity Lightning experiment Kite flying Conservation of charge, single fluid Insulators, conductors, batteries, capacitors, grounding, lightning rods Practical experimenter, less theoretician Ch 7 politician Educational reformer Created u penn, first non sectarian college Raised money for hospital Created idea of matching grant Magic squares American political philosophy Volunteerism Public, private partnerships Non ideological Interested in finding out what works Hated establishment authority, class systems Middling class Vision of America of people rising based on their industriousness Opportunities for all to succeed Slavery Changed to abolitionist Began political career in assembly Reformed post office Colonial cooperation Snake cut into pieces cartoon Federalism concept Catherine Rey Became colonel 8 troubled waters, london 9 home 10 agent provacateur Stamp act Boycott English goods Wrote with pseudonym join or die cartoon Loyalist and American Fight against British taxes and parliament control 11 rebel Scientific mAgic tricks Calming water with oil from cane People having 6-17 kids Wrote autobiography Wanted girls to learn accounting More science Oil to calm ship waters Size of molecule Source of colds Linking exercise to calories or heat Lead poisoning Ships in canals harmonica invention Trickle down economics But also common good Tariff on tea Tried to negotiate peace 12 independence Choosing sides Voluntary taxes to pay for truth Colonies had to band together Wrote first articles of confederation Created first paper currency First postmaster Willingness to be involved in practical details even at age 70 Made edits to declaration of independence Trip to Paris to get French help for revolution 13 courtier Worlds most famous American Realism and idealism Spies Greatest diplomatic victory 14 Bon vivant Voltaire Uncomfortable with deep emotional bonds Love letters written with stories, public playfulness Half serious flirtatious at age 70 Epeherma, flies, Elysian fields bagatelles/stories he wrote Gout Chess games, not enough exercise Translated across languages and got corrections from friends Imperfect grammar Chess and farts Morals of chess Metaphor for diplomacy and life Invented daylight savings time Mock scientific proposal to study farts Invention of fart perfume (farce) 15 peacemaker Negotiated with Britain peace Negotiated with France for multiple loans throughout Never was a good war or bad peace Invented bifocal glasses Ch 16 sage Drafting constitution Debates over congressional representation by population vs by state Authored compromise Evil of presumed infallibility Kidney stones and gout Anti slavery last effort Jefferson was successor to him in promoting reason, tolerance 17 epilogue 18 conclusions Patron saint of self help movement American common sense More flirting than commitment Less like his autobiography Gave up public salary Pragmatism Disentangling morality from theology Snatched lightning from sky and scepter from tyrants
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