The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a personal account of the life of the famous American statesman, businessman, philosopher, inventor and scientist. It is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest portraits of an American historical figure, and is all the more compelling due to the fact that it was written by the man himself. Here you will listen to stories of Franklin's early poverty, his rise to wealth through incomparable industry, and the direct stories of his relations, travels, and adventures. The story is not only that of one of the most famous men in American history; it is a tale of colonial life in a time just before the revolution, where men like Franklin were already defining what would eventually become the American character. This recording is narrated by Greg Houser.
Surprising and Compelling
Reviewer rcannon100
August 06, 2006
Both Surprising and Compelling. Moves well beyond the Disney / elementary school version of Franklin. While the autobiography is incomplete and stops before the revolution, it does great justice in explaining life and situation in pre revolutionary America and Philadelphia. Franklin was a vegitarian. Franklin was (like so many other founding fathers) a diest, not a Christian. The audio is a bit jittery, but after a while one becomes convinced that they are listening to Mr Franklin himself. The book is long and at times Franklin wanders - losing the listener for a bit. It was, after all, not finished and not tightly editted. It is thoroughly enlightening and sets the stage for better understanding the revolution. Our current political leaders would do well to read or listen to this.