This is a classic bio and a wonderful insight to one of our most popular founding fathers. Rather than viewing Ben Franklin as a stuffy guy in a powdered wig, we see Mr Franklin as a flesh and blood person - trying to build a career, falling in love (or just taking the company of women of ill-repute), making friends and eventually becoming family man.
Mr. Franklin was a true humanitarian and lover of the colonies. The number of public benefits that he created, developed or improved - hospitals, schools, libraries, post offices, street lamps, and of course the iconic Franklin stove - is staggering. The reasons why he did it are simple, he wanted to improve the life of all men as well as improve himself.
There are humorous vignettes of him at the dinner table discovering that his wife had bought pewter table settings without his consent to "keep up with the Joneses."He devotes quite a few pages to his personal beliefs and philosophy that are more insightful than almost any other Franklin bio you will read. Plus his attempt to keep his own 13 commandments had me trying to keep from waking my wife because of my laughing.
Although the end of the book drags a bit the last 30 pages or so, the whole thing is incredibly worthwhile to gain insight into the life of this favorite forefather (after Washington, typically polling #2 in popularity) and life in the early colonies.
A delightful read, and also a wonderful leather volume from the Easton Press.
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