Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Middle School Science Wizard
I purchased this book for Hanukkah for my 12 year old grandson. He is a science lover and adores experimenting. The book incorporates English usage as well as history so it is a multi-learning experience. That's always good. I think other than for buying supplies and being on hand, these are experiments that he can do by himself.
I'll need to do another review after he works with the book.

Ben Franklin Rules!!!
Being a teacher of gifted and high achieving students, I'm always on the look out for ways to tie Social Studies and Science together.My class loves hands-on projects, so I thought this might be a good fit for us.Boy, was I right!The projects are easy to follow, the steps and supplies are well planned, and most importantly, the kids LOVED the projects.Wave bottles were a major hit, and we'll be making Bubble Bath next.

The historic details about Ben's life were not only great additions to the descriptions of his inventions, but there were lots of quirky details about him that my kids loved (although they're going to skip the air baths!).

I'll definitely pick up more of Ms. Van Vleet's project-based books to use with my class!

REDISCOVER BEN!
Ben Franklin's creativity and ingenuity has always amazed me.His fingerprints are all over American history.He was a statesman, an inventor, an author, and a scientist.Now we can get to know Ben and recreate some of his greatest triumphs with Amazing Ben Franklin Inventions You Can Build Yourself.

The inventions are either replicas of actual Ben inventions or they represent a concept of an invention or contribution.The projects range from making a Feather Pen (five minutes) to making a Long Arm for objects out of reach (35 minutes plus drying time for glue).Projects which require adult supervision are clearly marked.Other projects include a Solar-Powered Oven and a Street Light (powered by a flashlight).

As creative and entertaining as the projects are, this is more than a classroom project book.Ben's personality shines through, whether he's powering himself across a pond with kite power at age ten, or proposing as an adult that the streets of Philadelphia be paved with bricks to ease travel and keep the city cleaner.The author includes a glossary, a timeline of Ben's life, and dozens of his Poor Richard sayings.The book is a pleasure to read, thanks to Van Vleet's lively writing and her careful research.Bonus--some Almanac-style fonts and many pictures.

So whether you want to get crafty or whether you just want to rediscover Ben Franklin, Amazing Ben Franklin Inventions You Can Build Yourself is an excellent choice. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is both a systematic examination of the political and social thought of Benjamin Franklin and an exposition of the political ideas of his era. He was one of the few men of his time to have a vision of the incredible growth possible for America. His political views were based on this vision. ... Read more

Product Description
The tenth and youngest son of a poor Boston soapmaker, Benjamin Franklin would rise to become, in Thomas Jefferson's words, "the greatest man and ornament of his age." In this short, engaging biography, historian Edwin S. Gaustad offers a marvelous portrait of this towering colonial figure, illuminating Franklin's character and personality.
Here is truly one of the most extraordinary lives imaginable, a man who, with only two years of formal education, became a printer, publisher, postmaster, philosopher, world-class scientist and inventor, statesman, musician, and abolitionist. Gaustad presents a chronological account of all these accomplishments, delightfully spiced with quotations from Franklin's own extensive writings. The book describes how the hardworking Franklin became at age 24 the most successful printer in Pennsylvania and how by 42, with the help of Poor Richard's Almanack, he had amassed enough wealth to retire from business. We then follow Franklin's next brilliant career, as an inventor and scientist, examining his pioneering work on electricity and his inventions of the Franklin Stove, the lightning rod, and bifocals, as well as his mapping of the Gulf Stream, a major contribution to navigation. Lastly, the book covers Franklin's role as America's leading statesman, ranging from his years in England before the Revolutionary War to his time in France thereafter, highlighting his many contributions to the cause of liberty.Along the way, Gaustad sheds light on Franklin's personal life, including his troubled relationship with his illegitimate son William, who remained a Loyalist during the Revolution, and Franklin's thoughts on such topics as religion and morality.
Written by a leading authority on colonial America, this compact biography captures in a remarkably small space one of the most protean lives in our nation's history.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Everyone Should Read This Biography
Professor Gaustad has written another outstanding biography in the Lives and Legacies Series by Oxford University Press. I recommend highly his biographies of Roger Williams and Benjamin Franklin. While geared towards "young adult" readers, anyone interested in American history should read this book. Franklin was the prototypical American whose ideas and actions shaped so much of our republic's early development.

It is not a "kids" book. It combines first-rate scholarship in a concise (125 pages) format with clear, non-academic writing. This makes it accessible to readers of all levels and ages. It should be used in high school and under-graduate colleges and universities. While recent commendable biographies of Franklin by H.W. Brands, Edmund Morgan and Walter Issacson abound, this one is the best!

I hope that Professor Gaustad can contribute another work to the Lives and Legacies series. We need a new biography of William Penn. ... Read more

Product Description

Inventor, Writer, Statesman, Military Leader…Businessman

You are holding the only modern adaptation of Benjamin Franklin's 18th century autobiography. It is at its heart one of the greatest business stories ever told.

“Franklin's autobiography is America's first great self-help book. It teaches in a delightful way how to win friends, influence people and succeed in business.Professor McCormick makes this great work more accessible and adds his own insights.”

Customer Reviews (19)

first time Franklin reader
In reading this modern adaptation of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, I discovered that there is a lot more to him than someone who just flew a kite in a storm with a key tied to the string.Benjamin Franklin was an industrious and enterprising man who was self taught as a scientist, diplomat, military leader, linguist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and other things.What I was most fascinated by was reading about Ben's personal habits and characteristics which gives us a good profile of who he was and what made him that way.I enjoyed it mostly because there are character traits in him that I see in myself.Ben liked to read and study different things and ponder on them.He was never a member of organized religion, but was a very introspective man who always strived to better himself inside and out.There is a whole chapter on him discussing how he strived to attain moral perfection.

This book is very inspirational in that here is a man who had very humble beginnings as a print shop worker and became one of the most well known Americans.Even though I believe it's inspirational, I think men like Ben are not made but born.He was in a position where he was able to capitalize on his strengths.If you read this book as a "what-to-do-to-become-rich-and-famous" manual, you probably won't get much out of it.Try to read this book simply to learn about Benjamin Franklin and if you discover that he shares some traits of you, that is a plus.When one discovers personal traits in themselves the same as great men of history, it gives us all the more reason to accentute those qualities.

Great common sense and history in one
There are many forms of intelligence.Franklin's lessons from his younger years, may seem obvious to some.Reminds me of the lessons my dad passed down to me.Great book

Kindleusers ...don't waste your money!
Unfortunately, the first page of every chapter is an image with text too small to read(and not adjustable).Download the free sample and check it out for yourself.

Different spin...
I was expecting a book that was translated into modern readability, and that is exactly what I got.Although the book is incomplete, it gives the reader the best part of Ben's writings in a no-nonsense format. This book also helped be get a very good grade in my History Final.

The best Franklin book
I've read about a dozen books on Franklin, but this one stands out as the one I would recommend the most.First and foremost the excellent rewriting of Ben's text create the wisdom of Franklin in it's most accessible form.

Reading Franklin can often be challenging to sort out the entire meaning due to the antiquated language of his day.This book restates his thoughts and wisdom with updated syntax and language, so you can focus more on the wisdom, less on the translation.

The author (McCormick, not Franklin) did an outstanding job organizing both the time line of his life and his mastery of business, politics and science.

For those who have an interest in learning more about the greatest American, this is the book I would recommend most.For those passionate about Franklin this book feels fresh, rich and thoughtful.

--Cudo ... Read more

Product Description
A Museum in a Book featuring removable sketches, letters, & historical documents. This fascinating interactive biography brings to life Benjamin Franklin's personality & accomplishments, letting readers examine Franklin's amazing journey through replicas of actual documents such as: Sketches of Franklin's scientific inventions; An excerpt from Poor Richard's Almanac, Franklin's greatest & most humorous publishing venture; & Franklin's handwritten chart of his progress in reaching moral perfection. Full-color illustrations. Oversize. The perfect gift book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful book for young and old
The removable sketches, letters and historical documents add a wonderful touch to a delightful book. We have over a 100 history books in our personal library for the kids and this one is at the top of good ones.

Perfect for teachers , or individual enrichment
I love this item! I purchased it 2 years ago, for personal enrichment.It was such an enlightening read!I wish I had this in High School, perhapsI would have enjoyed American History more! My sister is a school teacher, and I gave her a copy as a gift last week, and she just loves it as well, and is looking forward to using it as a supplement in class, during "history week"!!! Nice investment for you, or for the teacher in your life!!! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Great Reader For Adults & Activities for Kids
So amazing the accomplishments of " BEN FRANKLIN " Inspired me to read more about our founding fathers, I just ordered the same series on AMERICAN REVOLUTION & GEORGE WASHINGTON. I Liked the book as an adult 33yo. The Activities Are A Good Way To Get Your Children Involved, However this is "Not A Quick Read For Kids" & Would Take A Few Hours To Read As An Adult. The Story of Ben's Life Was Unbiased, very Factual, Niether Conservative or Liberal. There are alot of facts about Ben In This Book That I didnt expect to be in a "Kids Book" But History isnt always pretty. The activities include making sugar rock candy, home made printing ect. This book also followed the life and accomplishments of Ben From Birth To Death. Alot of information boxes along the way filled with great information. Everything from his family life to Invention, Starting A Business, Helping Negotiate With England, Declaration of Independance, Constitution, & His later years in France. If you dont want to read a 400 page Bio on Ben & Need A Quick Summary of his Life... I highly recommend buying this book.

A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book and VOYA Honor Book
Just wanted to let you know Benjamin Franklin, American Genius was named A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book for 2009 and a VOYA Nonfiction Honor Book. Way to go Ben!

Stories for Children Magazine 5 Star Review
Reviewed by: Wayne S. Walker

Who do you think was one of the greatest men of colonial and early America? Several names might come to mind, such as George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, but someone who would likely be on everyone's list is Benjamin Franklin. Of course, Franklin knew and worked with Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. In fact, Franklin reviewed Washington's Continental troops in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the beginning of the American Revolution. He was on the same committee with Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. And he served together with Adams in Paris, France, as an emissary of the new United States government, seeking help in the war. Yet in addition to being an important statesman, Franklin was also a printer, a scientist, a philosopher, and an inventor.

This well-illustrated book starts with Franklin's birth into poverty in 1706 at Boston, Massachusetts, and his flight from home to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and traces his entire life, in which he achieved fame as an American renaissance man. To make his story more meaningful to youngsters in a hands-on way, there are 21 activities that relate to Franklin's life. His father was a chandler who made candles and soap, so there are soap- and candle-making exercises. Since Franklin became a printer, students can learn how to make paper and the leather apron that printers wore. While he was not a perfect man and made his share of mistakes in life, Benjamin Franklin exhibited many qualities that can well be emulated. Author Brandon Marie Miller points out that near the end of his life, Franklin wrote that he believed that God is the "Creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable Service we render him is doing good to his other children."

The use of original writings, illustrations, documents, and articles from the era, along with a timeline, a glossary, a list of resources for further research, and an index all help to make this book a wonderful tool for learning more about the life of this great American historical figure. Previously I had the privilege of reviewing another book in this series, Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Kerrie Logan Hollihan for Stories for Children Magazine. Other books in the series include Abraham Lincoln for Kids, George Washington for Kids, Franklin Delano Roosevelt for Kids, and The American Revolution for Kids.

Benjamin Franklin, American Genius: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities
//Benjamin Franklin, American Genius// brings Franklin and the times in which he lived to life. While rich with facts, this book entertains like a story. Franklin's ample wit and intelligence becomes readily apparent through his often-quoted words. Frequent sidebars give additional information about pertinent people, aspects of history, and Franklin'sinventions and writings. Hands-on activities, such as shooting a game of marbles, dipping candles, making hasty pudding, printing an almanac cover, playing a glass harmonica and making a barometer, give the reader a sense of daily life in this period and for Franklin's inventions. The author's use of portraits and paintings further immerses the reader in the period. Finally, the book includes a timeline of Franklin's life, a glossary and a listing of additional resources for further study. In the author's hands, Benjamin Franklin comes alive on these pages. In reliving Franklin's life, the reader also witnesses the birth of a nation. I think both teachers and homeschooling parents would be hard pressed to find a book better able to encourage an abiding interest in our history.

Reviewed by Annie Peters

Franklin Brought to Life
Benjamin Franklin is brought to life in this fascinating and informative biography. The book is nonfiction, of course, but it has the feel of a good story. The author fleshes out the famous man as she tells that story and supplements our understanding of Franklin and his times with interesting sidebars and selections from his own writing. Plenty of relevant and fun activities are included, making this a good book for teachers and home-schoolers. ... Read more

Product Description
Most people know the story of Benjamin Franklin flying his kite in a thunder and lightning storm. Others may know that he was one of the Founding Fathers for the United States and that he signed the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. But who was Benjamin Franklin? How did a man who liked to fly kites in thunderstorms become important enough one day to sign two of the most important documents in the history of the United States? In the Hands of a Child invites you and your students to explore the life and accomplishments of this well-rounded man in our unit, Benjamin Franklin. This hands-on Project Pack is 74 pages of everything you need to begin your studies on the life of Benjamin Franklin. Included in this unit is a 10-page Research Guide that introduces you and your student to the education, different trades, and accomplishments that made Ben Franklin internationally famous. In the Research Guide part of the unit, you will also find a complete timeline, an extensive vocabulary list, and fun activities to complete your studies. In addition to the guide, you will find 20 hands-on activities complete with instructions and reproducible graphics to complete your studies and offer a fun approach to learning about this great founding father, scientist, inventor, and writer. ... Read more

Product Description
From Benjamin Franklin to Bill Gates, this ranking of the 100 richest Americans, past and present, offers surprising portraits of these individuals and how they amassed their fortunes. The Vanderbilts, the Astors, Howard Hughes, John D. Rockefeller, Warren Buffett--their fascainting stories are all here, great reading for anyone, regardless of financial stature. Photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent reference book
This book is an excellent reference for those involved in wealth management or research in wealth or related areas. It is easy to read and provides a starting point for further study.

A Must Read!
I loved this book.Not only is it jam packed with information, but so easy to read because each overview is short and to the point.I will keep this in my study to read again and again.It's great history, but also inspirational for those in business today.

I read this every year!
This is one of my favorite books and I read it every year. The book ranks the top 100 wealthiest people in U.S. history by wealth/GNP. It is not a perfect system, but it is the best one and it gives a good idea of how wealthy people were for their time.

Each person has a few pages describing their business accomplishments and a few other interesting facts. I wish it was more comprehensive, but the book would be 1000's of pages long in that case.

I sincerely hope the authors do an updated version of this book. I would buy multiple copies the first day it came out.

There is no better book to give you a glipse into the lives and fortunes of America's wealthiest.

In a nation where cash is king, meet the royalty.
Dreams.Visions.Wealth and Power.Within the pages of this book you will learn about the lives of 100 extraordinary people and their amazing accomplishments.Coming from all walks of life, many were brought forthwith very little to their name, and yet each one has possessed anoverwhelming desire to be the best.In many cases, they pursued a visionand achieved unimaginable success.Their empires and ideas haverevolutionized society and their names will forever be etched in stone withtheir legacies.If you have ever been inclined to command wealth, here iswhere you will find out how it was done by those before you.

--TakingNotes

100 highly readable vignettes on wealth-obsessed individuals
Let me start by saying that I would never have picked up a book on this topic were it not for the fact that one of its authors is my brother.I am so repelled by the "get rich" mentality that is exhibited by a certain segment of our population that I would have avoided the book for fear of being lumped in with them by anyone seeing it open in front of me.Before buying the book, I had prepared myself to dislike it, and had already fired off some ironic messages to my brother by electronic mail on the aspiring Rockefellers who I supposed would be flocking to buy it.

Finally, I got the book home, and, after drawing the shades and closing the blinds, furtively looked inside.A wealth, not of money, but of biographical detail, emerged immediately from the first few pages of text.It became immediately clear that, whatever its political slant, this was a profoundly well-written and researched work.What's more, it painted realistic and, in many cases, quite damning portraits of its 100 plutocratic subjects.

The book orders its collection of mini-biographies according to the wealth of their subjects.Still, the bite-sized pieces are too irresistable to be consumed in a linear manner, and so I found myself jumping from one disciple of mammon to another some chapters away, devouring several at a sitting over a period of many days.I remember the sense of mild surprise that I felt at the time that someone who I have known on a personal level for years had produced something that could truly be appreciated by the greater world (and evidently has been, from the reviews and interviews that have followed).

The reason that this book "only" gets a nine (for me, a 10 would be reserved for a great classic like Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States," and maybe one or two other titles), is my perception that it pulls its punches slightly on some of its more contemporary subjects.The facts are all there, but there is a sense that the kid gloves are on when examining the negative consequences of more recent fortunes, such as Sam Walton's, on the broader community. Walton's Wal-Mart stores, for example, have been criticized as vacuum pumps that suck money out of small communities, destroying local shops that pay decent wages and recycle their earnings tolocal economies, while offering only low-paying jobs and marginally lower prices in return.The book brushes this aside as "protests from small rivals," and says nothing more on the subject.

Despite these issues, the book remains one of the most informative and interesting ones that I have read.And if the authors' point of view seems to favor, or at least accept, the system that created these Matterhorns of money, that view isn't imposed upon the reader, and there are plenty of facts and figures from which to derive a competing perspective.

--Carl Gunther ... Read more

Product Description
A charming and captivating biography of Benjamin Franklin that focuses on specific scenes in Franklin's colorful younger years. 7 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Wonderful transaction
Item as described, arrived within expected time frame and a general overall very smooth transaction

MDMIA
Benjamin Franklin for the hurried reader. Succinct, considering the breadth of his historical importance. Recommended for students grades 9+ and readers wanting a mature but not overwhelming read to celebrate BF's tercentenary. Just enough depth to inform the curious and whet the researching interests of those who need an intro. Content spans his childhood through 1775.

Uneven
The Most Dangerous Man in American: Scenes From the Life of Benjamin Franklin by Catherine Drinker Bowen, has good moments, but can best be described as uneven.Instead of a start to finish biography, it is actually a series of snippets from Franklin's long life. The sections are broken into the themes of The Dogood Papers, Franklin and Electricity, The Albany Congress of 1754, Franklin is Fifty, Franklin in London and The Making of a Revolutionary.

I was not very impressed with the first two sections.Extensive biographies by Walter Isaacson and others cover these areas in greater detail.But Bowen really comes on strong with her chapters about The Albany Congress.A group of representatives from most of the colonies met in Albany, New York in 1754.The purpose was to meet with the Iroquois Confederacy to gain their support against the French, and to purchase large tracts of land.Franklin brought to the table a plan to merge the colonies to form a "general government."While the goal at this time was not independence, Franklin felt that the colonies would be better able to defend themselves, would be able to combine some budget items and also, would gain some bargaining power against the British.While the representatives at Albany unanimously supported Franklin's Plan of Union, the individual colonies rejected it as they were afraid of losing their autonomy.Why this is so important is that it provided a dress rehearsal for what was to come 22 years later.

Subsequent chapters were also very fascinating and Bowen chronicles how Franklin progresses from staunch Englishman to Revolutionary.He is definitely one of the most fascinating men of the 1700's and perhaps one of the most brilliant.But the book stops in 1775 and has nothing on the last 15 years of Franklin's life.

In Bowen's defense, she passed away while writing the last chapter of The Most Dangerous Man in America.Knowing that she was dying of cancer, perhaps she had to rush the writing of this as there was much more that she could have included.Still, if you're a Ben Franklin fan, it can fill in a number of information gaps.But if you're looking for a comprehensive book on Franklin's life and work, there are better, more thorough books to be read.

For most of his life Ben Franklin was a loyal British
subject. He also spent more time in England than any of the "founding fathers". This is a biography but also the history of how the British lost America thru their own stupidity. Franklin had a logical & forward thinking mind. He knew that America would not be a colony forever. That America could be ruled for much longer by a small island accross the the ocean was not reasonable. But that would happen long after he was dead. His coming of age politically was The Albany Plan of Union in 1754 which dicusses such proposals as uniting the various states & a constitution. This was all in the context of remaining in the British Empire. This book is his story of disaffection & final break with the mother country. Truly America's first world wide celbrity.

The Most Dangerous Man In America, Scenes from B. Franklin..
Most illuminating, well written ,historical accuracy not found in our educatonal institutions.The views of Franklin's life are incisive.The work demonstrates that he, as select other men, had the vision, theeducation , the conviction and the ability to follow his thoughts throughto fruition.Mr. Franklin's thought about the need for a 'constitution'began its development in the 1740s, and ended in 1789 at the PhildadelphiaConvention. Miss Bowen alludes to this man's quite complicated personal andprivate life.Franklin's liasons arte tastefullymentioned as his styleof life is clearly presented.His wish for privacy is highlighed although he was outgoing and social.He remained faithful and loyal to his wife inspirit, with affection and support throughout his long married life. Theemphasis of this text is on Ben Franklin's many contributions to thedevelopment of this Country,and his wisdom in the nascent field of science. He was a fierce independent thinker who cared out "these unitedstates".

A book not to be ignored and to be put before out senioradolecents as a 'must' read. ... Read more

Product Description
In this engaging study of the much-loved statesman and polymath, Robert Middlekauff uncovers a little-known aspect of Benjamin Franklin's personality--his passionate anger. He reveals a fully human Franklin who led a remarkable life but nonetheless had his share of hostile relationships--political adversaries like the Penns, John Adams, and Arthur Lee--and great disappointments--the most significant being his son, William, who sided with the British. Utilizing an abundance of archival sources, Middlekauff weaves episodes in Franklin's emotional life into key moments in colonial and Revolutionary history. The result is a highly readable narrative that illuminates how historical passions can torment even the most rational and benevolent of men.Amazon.com Review
Who could have imagined that Benjamin Franklin, the genial inventorand policy-maker who gained international popularity during the RevolutionaryWar was found by some to be "foul-mouthed" and "a very uneasySpirit"? Robert Middlekauff, a historian at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, examines Franklin's long battle not only with ThomasPenn, son of the founder of Pennsylvania, but John Adams, a bright lawyer whogrew to hate Franklin, primarily out of jealousy over Franklin's celebrity.Though Franklin's attempts to have Penn stripped of his charter powersbackfired, fortunately for Americans, he and Adams were able to rise aboveanimosity for the good of the country. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Read Van Dorn's First
Well worth reading, especially if you previously read
Van Dorn's biography. Otherwise you may miss much
of what is missing in Middlekauff's book. Great for any
Ben Franklin fan!/

Extraordinary!
This is an extraordinary literary work of history and biography.Middlekauff stikes the right balance here between erudition and urbanity.Seeing Benjamin Franklin through the eyes of his enemies reveals not just the complicated character of the man but also the complicated moment in history that he occupied.I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Described by Carl Van Doren as "a harmonious human multitude," Benjamin Franklin was the most famous American of his time, of perhaps any time. His life and careers were so varied and successful that he remains, even today, the epitome of the self-made man. Born into a humble tradesman's family, this adaptable genius rose to become an architect of the world's first democracy, a leading light in Enlightenment science, and a major creator of what has come to be known as the American character. Journalist, musician, politician, scientist, humorist, inventor, civic leader, printer, writer, publisher, businessman, founding father, philosopher, Franklin is a touchstone for America's egalitarianism.

Volume 2 takes Franklin from his marriage in 1730 to his retirement as a printer at the beginning of 1748, examining the mysteries of the illegitimate William Franklin's birth and mother and Franklin's increasing civic activities--starting the Library Company in Philadelphia in 1731, forming Pennsylvania's first volunteer fire company, and becoming an advocate for a clean Philadelphia environment. J. A. Leo Lemay assesses Franklin's numerous writings, attributing to him for the first time a deistic Indian speech, remarking on his use of the second African American persona in journalism, and analyzing his publishing sensation of 1747, The Speech of Miss Polly Baker. These belletristic works are complemented by Franklin's religious, political, and scientific writings, which he produced prodigiously. ... Read more

Product Description
Presents a brief look at the life of Benjamin Franklin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Informative and Quick
This is a children's biography about Benjamin Franklin that is written for the beginning reader with pictures every other page but still contains some interesting facts. It points out he was an inventor, printer, author, scientist and even helped make a new country. The point is to do different things. Quick read--only takes five minutes!

--Karen Arlettaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

Teach kids American history!
This series of books is absolutely wonderful for little kids, and even some older ones.They tell the story of the people who started our country, in simple terms and beautiful illustrations.I look forward to buying them for my grandchildren some day. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
”The Electrical Matter consists of Particles extreamly subtile, since it can permeate common Matter, even the densest Mettals, with such Ease and Freedom, as not to receive any perceptible Resistance.”

So starts Franklin his discussion of electricity in “Opinions.” The emerging and revolutionary idea of electricity as a fluid is clear in his argument and interpretation of findings (the “Stream of Electrical Effluvia”).This text is one of the earliest examples of an American scientific article, that was considered path-breaking by contemporaries and established Franklin as one of the foremost scientists, and scientific writers of his time. Franklin further: “The beneficial Uses of this Electrical Fluid we are not yet well acquainted with; tho’ doubtless such there are and great ones.”

This eBook contains the full text of the original, and keeps Franklin’s style and spelling. It is not mixed with commentaries or explanations.

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A polymath, he was a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, political leader, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He formed both the first public lending library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.

His inventions also included social innovations, such as paying forward. Franklin's fascination with innovation could be viewed as altruistic; he wrote that his scientific works were to be used for increasing efficiency and human improvement. One such improvement was his effort to expedite news services through his printing presses.

In recognition of his work with electricity, Franklin received the Royal Society's Copley Medal in 1753 and in 1756 he became one of the few 18th- century Americans to be elected as a Fellow of the Society.

“And as in Plucking the Hairs from the Horse’s Tail, a Degree of Strength, insufficient to pull away a Handful at once, could yet easily strip it Hair by Hair; so a blunt Body presented, cannot draw off a Number of Particles at once; but a pointed one, with no greater Force, takes them away easily, Particle by Particle.” (Franklin)
... Read more

Product Description
Benjamin Franklin was not only one of America's Founding Fathers — he was also a fascinating character who lived an exciting life. Whether carousing with prostitutes in Paris, taunting lightning bolts with kites, or founding America's first volunteer fire fighting organization, Franklin was always at the center of activity. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin details this American's early years, his career, and his conflicted relationship with his son. Performed by noted actor Fredd Wayne, this recording brings the classic American to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Explore the life of a remarkable man
He was one of the most extraordinary human beings the world has
ever known. Born into the family of a Boston candle maker, Benjamin
Franklin became the most famous American of his time. He helped
found a new nation and defined the American character. Writer,
inventor, diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humorist,
civic leader, international celebrity . . . genius.
Explore the life of a remarkable man.

Very inspirational
It is aslways great to hear a successful persons own words. I have enjoyed many autobiographies but this is the first one that is as old as this. I was very glad to hear some of the exploits of Ben Franklin's youth. It is amazing how much history chooses to skip, the thing churches and teachers leave out of real people's lives. Grab this one for some insight. I had expected to hear more about the signing of the constitution, but I believe that Franklin completed this work before that period in his life. ... Read more