Product Description

Ben Franklin was the most famous American in the entire world during colonial times. No wonder! After all, the man could do just about anything. Why, he was an author and an athlete and a patriot and a scientist and an inventor to boot. He even found a way to steal the lightning right out of the sky.

Customer Reviews (3)

Brilliant, amazing, captivating illustrations
The illustrations place this book at the top of the heap.Rosalyn Schanzer did an amazing job putting meaning and detail into the illustrations.There is so much information on the page -- there's the text, and then all the information in the illustrations.It's marvelous.

Actually, Ben Franklin comes across as quite adorable in this book.

Extremely well-done book.I'm impressed.

What a great book!Fun and educational.
I loved this book!I am so impressed with the way Rosalyn Schanzer approached the subject matter and made it a fun read for kids and grown up's alike.The book is a biographical look at the life and inventions of Ben Franklin, but written in very kid-friendly language and in a way that keeps your child's attention throughout the entire book.While the title references him "stealing" lightning, and hence laying the groundwork for electricity, it is just one of the many inventions she talks about in his lifelong pursuit of making things better for all of society through his marvelous inventions.Ben Franklin really was the epitome of a Renaissance Man.His curiosity led to some great inventions, but he was also a statesman, musician, author, philanthropist, and even started the first public lending library (a new fact I had not known).After reading about all of his adventures, I wished I had been around when he was alive just to see how exciting it must have been to live during a time when all of these things came about.I loved this book because it presented one of the greatest Americans in such a fresh and engaging way, that my 8-year old son was more than willing to sit through the book with me and asked to hear it again.It lead to many follow up discussions about his inventions and how they apply to the world today.

The author made the story so engaging it did not feel like you were getting a history lesson while you read the book, but that is exactly what you got.And it was fun.And the illustrations were great.I hope she continues to write books about other popular historical American figures, because she writes these books so well. This is exactly the type of book kids need to read to get excited about history.Which leads me to one side note.She has written other historical picture books for kids, like "John Smith Escapes Again" and "How We Crossed the West".They were good books.But, those two books were much more in-depth and the storiestook a lot longer to read.My son was not nearly as enthralled with those books because they were much longer and the stories were far more complex, so do not think that this book will be like those.It is a shorter book, an easier read, and far more engaging.

Teachers should use this book in the classroom when discussing Ben Franklin, and any parent who has a child who likes historical fiction or historical non-fiction will absolutely love this book.My son is not all that interested in historical non-fiction and he LOVED this book.You will not be disappointed if you buy this book.

The Ever-Inventive, Ben Franklin.....
"It's true!The great Benjamin Franklin really did steal lightning right out of the sky!And then he set out to tame the beast.It goes to figure, though, because he was a man who could do just about anything..."So begins Rosalyn Schanzer's engaging introduction to one of colonial America's most fascinating men.Ben Franklin was a man of many talents andaccomplishments.He was a writer, politician, soldier, musician, inventor, and entrepreneur.He helped lead our country to independence, and traveled the world as a statesman.But he often best known for his inventions and boundless curiosity.This of course leads to his interest in electricity and the well known kite and key experiment.....Ms Schanzer's entertaining text is written in an easy to read, conversational style, and is rich in history, trivia, fun facts, and wit.Her playful illustrations complement the text beautifully and are filled with bold color, humor, and captivating, eye-catching details.Together word and art provides a clever and appealing history lesson that is sure to whet the appetite and send kids out looking for more.With a marvelous Author's Note at the end to further enlighten and augment the story, How Ben Franklin Stole The Lightning is a masterpiece of fun-filled learning, perfect for kids 7-11, that shouldn't be missed. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
Pulled from his autobiography, this entertaining and thought-provoking book explores the innovative management principles Franklin pioneered and reveals how today's business owners and managers can use those principles effectively. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Intriguing read...
Read this book at the advice of my boss and wasn't disappointed at all...In practice and theory, very relevant to the rules of business today.I wish this was required reading in my company but one can only dream...I, for one, intend to implement some of the ideas (linking pay and performance especially) to see what kinds of results I get...

If you are in a management postion, you need this book.
Blaine has given us the essential principles that are the essence of the business man, Ben Franklin.We are very familiar with many of the aspects of Franklin's life. We forget that, above all,his sucesses came from important principles he utilized.These are still valid today.It is about time someone has addressed the business side of Franklin. This is a MUST READ for everyone in business.

Outstanding Read
I think it is important to understand who writes these reviews and where they are coming from.I am a Team Leader for a 70 member real estate firm.Therefore anything that can help me better manage 70 independent contractors is well worth the read.I found this book to be exceptional because (1) it kept my interest peaked, (2) it contains a lot of great quotes and theories, (3) it reinforced what I am doing right and (4) more importantly, provided me with food-for-thought about how I can do a lot more things better.I intend to use Ben Franklins method of concentrating on just one "trait" per week and then grade myself on how well I advanced the concept during the week until I work my way through all 12 Rules.Should be an interesting couple of months.I highly recommend this book to anyone in management or who is interested in business.

Synthesis of good management practices, not history
This book is an interesting read, as it uses Ben Franklin, one of the most celebrated characters in history, to give substance to certain abstract concepts relating to good managers and leaders.

In many ways, it is a very pragmatic book, even Machiavellian.For example, Franklin made sure people had an impression of his being a hard worker, by keeping his lights on till very late and by making sure people saw him leaving his work very late.Translated to today's world, such a rule could be translated into the realm of "face time".Like this one, the rules in the book are timeless.

My only concern about the book is the limited historical scope of it.It focuses on the period before Franklin got involved with politics and the revolution, so the more interesting parts of his life are not present.When I grabbed this book, I was expecting both a management lesson and a history one; forget the history one.

One should keep in mind the title of the book: 12 Rules of MANAGEMENT.That is very accurate, and it is clear that those rules are focused on management and NOT leadership.If you are looking for good manager advice, this is a very good book.

Understandable to a new business venturer
After reading McCormick's book, being a first year business student, I had no trouble at all understanding the points made in each chapter.I thought the overviews at the end of each chapter made the vital points clear and helped me follow along with what McCormick was trying to convey to his readers.

Not having too much business experience, I can say that after reading this book, business is definitely something I want to look further into. ... Read more

Product Description
“Dray captures the genius and ingenuity of Franklin’s scientific thinking and then does something even more fascinating: He shows how science shaped his diplomacy, politics, and Enlightenment philosophy.”
–Walter Isaacson, author of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

Today we think of Benjamin Franklin as a founder of American independence who also dabbled in science. But in Franklin’s day, the era of Enlightenment, long before he was an eminent statesman, he was famous for his revolutionary scientific work. Pulitzer Prize finalist Philip Dray uses the evolution of Franklin’s scientific curiosity and empirical thinking as a metaphor for America’s struggle to establish its fundamental values. He recounts how Franklin unlocked one of the greatest natural mysteries of his day, the seemingly unknowable powers of lightning and electricity. Rich in historical detail and based on numerous primary sources, Stealing God’s Thunder is a fascinating original look at one of our most beloved and complex founding fathers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Ben
One of the best books I have ever read and I recommend it.The book came out clean and prompt.Thanks!

Patents and Franklin

A recently published book may be of some interest to the intellectual property community."Stealing God's Thunder" details the history of Benjamin Franklin's invention of the lightning rod, and goes on to sketch Ben's role in the invention of the United States' system of government.

In a few places, the book touches on subjects which are of particular interest to the intellectual property professional.

Eschewing a patent, Franklin published a complete description of his lightning rod invention in "Poor Richard's Almanac" in November 1753.Much to our delight, the author includes the entire text of the article in his book, on page 91.The Poor Richard article is entitled, "How to Secure Houses, etc., from Lightning."

In his "Epilogue," the author makes the following statement:
"Benjamin Franklin's refusal to patent his `instrument so new' likely contributed to the competitive free-for-all that began to characterize lightening rod design, manufacture,and sales within a few decades of his death."
This is so wrong on so many levels I hardly know where to begin.Dray seems to say that because Franklin did not obtain a patent on his invention, the market forces did not apply to Franklin's invention.Why is this the case?Also, why "a few decades" when a patent's term was generally limited at the time to 14 years.And what does his death have do with it when the rod was published in 1753 and Franklin lived until 1790?

However, Dray does not confine himself to the lightning rod.He also discusses the invention of the famous "Franklin stove."In discussing the stove the author describes Franklin's philosophy toward patents:"As he would with all his inventions, Franklin, although he stood to profit from the sales of the stove, did not apply for a patent.He believed that products of the human imagination belonged to no one person, and should be shared by all."

In this we are reminded of the comments of Rosalyn Yalow, a physicist who, together with Soloman A. Berson, a physician, developed radioimmunassay (RIA).On receiving the Nobel Prize, Yalow said, "In my day scientists did not always think of things as being patentable.We made a scientific discovery.Once it was published it was open to the world."Fortunately, today's scientists may take advantage of the statutory invention
Registration (SIR). For further details, see, "Rosalyn Yalow's Patent and H.R. 1127" in "The Law Works," January, 1996, at page 17 (the predecessor to the present publication.)

Page 1



One further aspect of the book may be of particular interest to the intellectual property community, and that is the aspect of the patents of the colonies and the States.Remember, Franklin's rod was published in 1753 and the United States Constitution was not ratified until 1789 and the first federal patent law was not enacted until 1790.As Dray notes about Franklin's refusal to patent his inventions, on page 37 "Besides its commendable altruism, this philosophy probably saved him from a tremendous amount of aggravation.Anyone seeking to patent a new mechanical innovation in the New World would need to secure it in each colony individually..."

This is further complicated by the fact that after the Revolution and before the adoption of the Constitution the government took the form of the Confederation, turning the colonies into States.A number of patents were issued both by the colonies and the States. Some examples of these appear in the Twelfth Census of the United States in 1900 Vol. X, Part IV, page 75 and is quoted in Deller's Walker on Patent's 2nd Ed at pages 53 through 58:


Year Inventor Invention Term

CONNECTICUT
1717 Edward Hinman Making molasses from cornstalks 10 years
1783 Benjamin Hanks Self-winding clock 14 years

NEW YORK
1787 John Fitch Steam Boat

NEW HAMPSHIRE
1786 Benj. Dearborn Printing Press 14 years
1789 Oliver Evans Elevator 7 years

PENNSYLVANIA
1717 Thomas Masters Cleaning, curing, and refining Indian corn 14 years

MARYLAND
1787 Oliver Evans Steam Carriage 14 years


In conclusion, "Stealing God's Thunder" is an interesting light read for the technically and historically minded intellectual property professional.

Benjamin Franklin, the scientist
Stealing God's Thunder by Philip Dray is extremely well-written.Unlike many biographies of Franklin, it focuses on his science first and his role as a founding father second.This way of characterizing Franklin's life was more interesting than writing about him as a politician first and scientist second.What is most interesting is the influence that Franklin's science had on his politics and on his philosophy.Dray wrote about complex subjects without ever becoming too wordy and overall the book was extremely readable.
Some of Franklin's most interesting work was put into small inventions rather than large ideas.Franklin said that the armonica, a device that spun glass to make music, was his favorite invention.Although Franklin did important work linking lightning and electricity, and as a proponent of lightning rods, his small inventions were extremely interesting as well.Franklin learned a great deal about electricity during his life and this allowed the next generation of scientists to build on his discoveries.He also challenged the views of Christianity, while still believing in God and remaining religious throughout his life.Franklin believed in the power of reason and he thought that this did not conflict with belief in God.Franklin is one of the most interesting characters of the American Revolution and the Enlightenment.

A Patent Lawyer Speaks
I am a registered patent agent and a retired patent attorney, so this review is slanted from the view of the patent professional. "Stealing God's Thunder" details the history of Benjamin Franklin's invention of the lightning rod, and goes on to sketch Ben's role in the invention of the United States' system of government.

In a few places, the book touches on subjects which are of particular interest to the intellectual property professional.

Eschewing a patent, Franklin published a complete description of his lightning rod invention in "Poor Richard's Almanac" in November 1753.Much to our delight, the author includes the entire text of the article in his book, on page 91.The Poor Richard article is entitled, "How to Secure Houses, etc., from Lightning."

Further, in his "Epilogue," the author makes the following statement: "Benjamin Franklin's refusal to patent his `instrument so new' likely contributed to the competitive free-for-all that began to characterize lightening rod design, manufacture,and sales within a few decades of his death."
This is so wrong on so many levels I hardly know where to begin.Dray seems to say that because Franklin did not obtain a patent on his invention, the market forces did not apply to Franklin's invention.Why is this the case?Also, why "a few decades" when a patent's term was generally limited at the time to 14 years.You will see evidence of this later on in the review.And what does his death have do with it when the rod was published in 1753 and Franklin lived until 1790?

However, Dray does not confine himself to the lightning rod.He also discusses the invention of the famous "Franklin stove," inter alia.In discussing the stove the author describes Franklin's philosophy toward patents:"As he would with all his inventions, Franklin, although he stood to profit from the sales of the stove, did not apply for a patent.He believed that products of the human imagination belonged to no one person, and should be shared by all."

In this we are reminded of the comments of Rosalyn Yalow, a physicist who, together with Soloman A. Berson, a physician, developed radioimmunassay (RIA).On receiving the Nobel Prize, Yalow said, "In my day scientists did not always think of things as being patentable.We made a scientific discovery.Once it was published it was open to the world."Fortunately, today's scientists may take advantage of the Statutory Invention
Registration (SIR). For further details, see, "Rosalyn Yalow's Patent and H.R. 1127" in "The Law Works," January, 1996, at page 17.
One further aspect of the book may be of particular interest to the intellectual property community, and that is the aspect of the patents of the colonies and the States.Remember, Franklin's rod was published in 1753 and the United States Constitution was not ratified until 1789 and the first federal patent law was not enacted until 1790.As Dray notes about Franklin's refusal to patent his inventions, on page 37 "Besides its commendable altruism, this philosophy probably saved him from a tremendous amount of aggravation.Anyone seeking to patent a new mechanical innovation in the New World would need to secure it in each colony individually..."

This is further complicated by the fact that after the Revolution and before the adoption of the Constitution the government took the form of the Confederation, turning the colonies into States.A number of patents were issued both by the colonies and the States. Some examples of these appear in the Twelfth Census of the United States in 1900 Vol. X, Part IV, page 75 and is quoted in Deller's Walker on Patent's 2nd Ed at pages 53 through 58:


Year Inventor Invention Term

CONNECTICUT
1717 Edward Hinman Making molasses from cornstalks 10 years
1783 Benjamin Hanks Self-winding clock 14 years

NEW YORK
1787 John Fitch Steam Boat

NEW HAMPSHIRE
1786 Benj. Dearborn Printing Press 14 years
1789 Oliver Evans Elevator 7 years

PENNSYLVANIA
1717 Thomas Masters Cleaning, curing, and refining Indian corn 14 years

MARYLAND
1787 Oliver Evans Steam Carriage 14 years


In conclusion, "Stealing God's Thunder" is an interesting light read for the technically and historically minded intellectual property professional.

Ben Franklin's Favorite Invention, the Armonica.
From 1760 to 1766, Ben Franklin lived in England as a gentleman scholar with his son, William, who studied law.While there, he invented "a homespun musical instrument" he called 'armonica.' which he always claimed to be his favorite invention.It was a stand-alone contraption in which glass disks were turned in a treadle and rubbed gently with the performer's fingers, which he kept moistened with a damp sponge."The musical method of rubbing fingers on the rims of glasses or bowls filled with water appeared in Europe in the late Middle Ages; Galileo, himself the son of a musician, experimented with it."

This era also produced the piano.The armonica could be the primitive precursor to the organ (a drawing of which is shown in this book); it had such soft, subtle tones it could not compete with the piano and was never used in an orchestra."Its haunting tone and deep sustain did have a numbing effect on listeners, so much so that it was later used by Franz Mesmer and other healers to put patients into a trance."Mozart wrote an armonica composition called "Adagio for Glass Harmonica, Flute, Oboe, Viola and Cello' which he even performed in Vienna, playing the Viola.Franklin wrote one musical composition, "Quartet in F Major" (also known as "The Open String Quarter") for the violin.

He was a music enthusiast with a music room at his Philadelphia home which held his daughter's harpsichord."He and Sally played duets [he on the armonica], some classical pieces, but mostly the Scottish folk ballads Franklin liked."Thousands of armonicas were built and sold, but its popularity was of brief duration.Thomas Penn, one of William Penn's sons who had control over the state of Pennsylvania at that time, was heard to complain that Franklin was wasting his time on "philosophical matters and musical performances on glasses."

Not only was he famous for his "revolutionary scientific work, especially his experiments with lightning rods and electricity," he stirred up a controvrsy about evolution."In Franklin's time, the study of the earth's oldest living things, later known as paleontology, was just emerging as an area of scientific inquiry" when he became involved in 1764 concerning a salt marsh called Big Bone Lick on the Ohio River, forty miles south of present-day Cincinnati.Bones were found there of "mastodons, elephant-like creatures with heavy coats and huge upward-curving tusks that are said to have appeared anywhere between about 20 million and 3.5 million years ago, and survived until as recently as 10,000 years ago."This new curiosity raised the question of extinction, "the most disturbing discovery which upset even the "Newtonian universe."

He explains the legacy of the mythical creatures, the cyclops and the unicorn.'The cyclops' solitary eye was suggested by the gaping proboscis cavity of extinct dwarf elephants; the unicorn legend arose from the fossilized tusks of elephants and rhinoceroses, which, prized for their magical and medicinal virtues, were traded both by the ancients and in medieval Europe."

Franklin was involved in this scientific debate "that was one of the most stimulating of the Enlightenment" the question of the age of earth and of living things, including man.Like the arguments about lightning rods "presumption," this inquiry challenged long-received ideas about the relationship between God and man, and went so far as to call into question the biblical version of Genesis and Creation."Extinction was a heavy concept "and to pursue it brought one square against not only prevailing views of God's kingdom but the accepted wisdom about the age of earth itself."

Franklin published in his 'Poor Richard's Almanac' "some excerpts from a popular chronology of the history of commerce that dated the [Biblical] Flood at 2348 B.C.,...likely reprinted the material chiefly for its comical fastidiousness about a number of pseudo-momentous dates in human history, such as the invention of playing cards (1391) and the first silk stockings worn by a king (1547).

In 1712, Cotton Mather reported to the Royal Society that a tooth weighing more than four pounds and a thigh bone seventeen feet in length had been unearthed near Albany, New York; he asssumed that the remains were those of a giant man who had perished in the Great Flood.African slaves in America were likely the first to point out that the bones unearthed at sites in New York and Virginia resembled those of the elephant."In the nineteenth century Georges Cuvier would lay the formal groundwork for paleontology, and Charles Darwin's therories of evolution and natural selection."America's first museum of fossils and paleontological curiosities, including mastodon relics, would be operated by the Philadelphia artist Charles Willson Peale, in conjunction with the American Philosophical Society."

In 1774, Franklin was publicly accused of revealing to his contacts in Boston that "Britain would likely need to dispatch troops to North America" and was stripped of his office of postmaster general of the colonies.His reputation tarnished, and his usefulness in London, now weakened, he sailed home in March 1775.

In 1806, Thomas Jefferson (then President of the United States), "upon the return of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark from exploring the Louisiana Territory ...dispatched Clark to Big Bone Lick to collect additional relics, which he then stored in the East Room of the White House."

Philip Dray previously wrote the multi-award winning AT THE HANDS OF PERSONS UNKNOWN: THE LYNCHING OF BLACK AMERICA which also was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. ... Read more

Product Description
A generous selection of writings that brings to life the attractive, complex, and guileful genius of the most celebrated American of his age

It takes a very inclusive anthology to encompass the protean personality and range of interests of Benjamin Franklin, but The Portable Benjamin Franklin succeeds as no collection has. In addition to the complete Autobiography, the volume contains about 100 of Franklin’s major writings—essays, journalism, letters, political tracts, scientific observations, proposals for the improvement of civic and personal life, literary bagatelles, and private musings. The selections are reprinted in their entirety and organized chronologically within six sections that represent the full range of Franklin’s temperament. The result is a zestful read for Franklin scholars and anyone wanting to know and enjoy this American icon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"Early to bed, early to raise..."
I give this book a five, not just because I got the product on time, but mostly because it is an American patriot's own account of his life...worth the price of admission. ... 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
This little boardbook uses approximately 200 words to introduce young children to one of America's most fascinating historical figures. Franklin was the only man to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Treaty of Paris. Stephanie Britt's gently humorous illustrations make this boardbook fun for the young child. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Story of Benjamin Franklin
My almost 2-year-old really enjoys this series of books. This one is a favorite out of the series. I like that I can share a little history with him as an introduction to something other than letters, numbers, colors, etc. I was shocked that he enjoyed it so much. We received it as a gift and have since purchased others by the author. I'm looking forward to seeing how he "grows" with this book as he has learned to appreciate books differently as he gets "older". ... Read more

Product Description
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin details the life of this famous Founding Father, inventor, philosopher, satirist, political theorist, statesman, and diplomat. Franklin's irreverent, yet intelligent and pure-intentioned, thoughts on life shaped the idea of what it means to be both a free thinker and a United States citizen. Follow the accomplishments of this influential man in his own words, and discover a life well spent. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

a renaissance man
It's amazing to think of all the things Franklin accomplished during his life. He was a scientist whose famous famous kite and lightning discovery was recently verified as plausible on an episode of Mythbusters (it had to do with the type of string used back then being able to conduct electricity). He was a political thinker and Founding Father, helping create a constitution that became an inspiration to the world. He was an inventor. He was a successful newspaper man. Any one of these accomplished areas would mark a man who was very successful, but he did all of these and many others. He pursued anything that interested him, and he contributed his own observations and innovations to all of them.

An amazing life and a great man
Ben Franklin was an amazing person. His thoughts were original, and he loved to experiment and study everything around him. His lifestory is not only entertaining to read but it's a reminder for me to get serious and get to work on meeting some of my own goals. It's the best autobiography I've read.

Inspiring
Franklin was a brilliant man, a real Renaissance Man. His writing style is great--makes you feel like he's talking right to you. I found it inspiring. ... Read more

Product Description
A compilation of important American government documents including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of America, the Bill of Rights and all amendments to the United States Constitution. An excellent educational reference tool to have on hand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Good God - Independance ???
Page 53, in large, all caps, bold type, the title page for the "Declaration of Independence", SOHO Books demonstrated they cannot spell independence. An inexcusable error in this book. Of course it is five stars for content but the misspelling made it 4 stars for me - especially when it was spelled correctly numerous times throughout the book. This must have been done by a human, not a spellchecker, as there is no such word as "independance" the spelling used by SOHO Books.

Next best book after the Bible.
We need to know the details of our Constitution and what made America great. Especially when our freedoms are in jeopardy.

Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of American, Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments
It's important to have verbatim evidence of our constitution and its amendments and the bill of rights, etc., because in today's political climate, we must know the limits of the bureaucracies to know whether or not boundaries are being overstepped (which I believe they are!).This puts all this vital information together in one place for easy reference.

Founding documents of the United States of America
The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights is the law of the land that does not change. It is not a "living document as activist judges want to believe, it is the written unchanging law of our land that explains what America is all about. These documents are very important; you should read them, know them.

a-must-have
A document every American should have and understand.Also, should be required reading in our school systems. ... Read more

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Product Description
Comprehensive and accessible, this Companion addresses several well-known themes in the study of Franklin and his writings, while also showing Franklin in conversation with his British and European counterparts in science, philosophy, and social theory. Specially commissioned chapters, written by scholars well-known in their respective fields, examine Franklin's writings and his life with a new sophistication, placing Franklin in his cultural milieu while revealing the complexities of his intellectual, literary, social, and political views. Individual chapters take up several traditional topics, such as Franklin and the American dream, Franklin and capitalism, and Franklin's views of American national character. Other chapters delve into Franklin's library and his philosophical views on morality, religion, science, and the Enlightenment and explore his continuing influence in American culture. This Companion will be essential reading for students and scholars of American literature, history and culture. ... 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
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Give em Hell Franklin!
Great book.Anecdotal wisdom that is truly timeless.I'd recommend it for just about any situation where you need a quick pick me up.

A nice book but with only four Rockwell Illustrations
This is a large format book, containing the text of each of the 26 issues of the almanac that Franklin published, minus the meteorological and astronomical information and a few factual articles.To boost sales the publisher has added four Norman Rockwell color prints.In my opinion, the book is good enough to stand on its own merits, without the need sell it as a Rockwell illustrated version.The book retains Franklin's wit and wisdom.It is nice to be able to see the whole of Franklin's almanac, instead of just reading excerpts, quips and sayings that have been taken from it.

The edition that I have is a hardcover reprint of the original Limited Edition version.According to the publisher it contains everything that the original had, but for a small fraction of the price of the Limited Edition. (Only 1500 Limited Editions were published, probably with real Rockwell prints instead of reproductions and the limited edition was therefore priced accordingly.)

A wealth of timeless knowledge
This book holds easily digestable nuggets of wisdom from one of the most influential men in history. This should be required reading in our schools

Wit and Wisdom Indeed
What can you say about this book.........other than it's a collection of timeless sayings and thoughts from the mind of one of America's original great thinkers. This should be required reading (in all formats)for high school students if for no other reason than to have them explore humor without 4-letter words. Once read, some of these bits of wisdom will stay with you for life. Enjoy and pass along. You will be a part of re-braining this country!

Sage Advice
Though Benjamin Franklin never suggests that all the words are his, his assembly of commonly used phrases and sayings provides the reader with material that will make them think. Do remember, that this doesn't read like a novel. ... Read more

Product Description
A funny, entertaining introduction to Ben Franklin and his many inventions, including the story of how he created the "magic square." A magic square is a box of nine numbers arranged so that any line of three numbers adds up to the same number, including on the diagonal! Teachers and kids will love finding out about this popular teaching tool that is still used in elementary schools today!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

"Magically magic"
Very highly recommended, this Step 4 book that comes with longer paragraphs for ready readers grades 2-3 introduces kids to Benjamin Franklin, one of the greatest figure in the American history - his life and his many accomplishments through humorous texts and vivid illustrations. It starts with Ben as a curious and inventive kid, to his famous newspaper (The Pennsylvania Gazette), his Almanac as well as his well-known quotes such as "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". BEN FRANKLIN AND THE MAGIC SQUARES also reveals many inventions that are attributed to him and adds dimensions to the Ben Franklin whom I simply know as a great writer who helped Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Over the years, he also started America's first library, first fire station, first hospital and when he was a clerk for the Assembly, he invented the magic squares. I am very happy that my kids get to know this founding father first from the book: his greatness is fully humanized and the kids also get to meet his cute squirrel pet, Skugg. In one book, kids learn good English,great American hero and also amazing math - Franklin's magic square that the sum in any vertical, horizontal and diagonal row and colume will all add up to the same number - 15! This book, like what Ben shouted, is itself "magically magic".

Too much slang and "super smart" language
After reading the book on Lincoln's hat and Washington and his dogs, I looked forward to this book. Unfortunately, someone made the decision to make it "cool" and the language is not what I'm teaching my son. Old Ben was many things, but I think the label "super smart" would make him roll over in his grave.
Into the Goodwill bin.

Great Series!
My second grader who is a struggling reader had no problem with this book. He really enjoyed reading it. He was amazed at how much Ben Franklin accomplished, even at a young age. It inspired him to create his own invention book. I guess we will be buying more books in this series.

ben franklin and the magic squares
Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares
Author: Frank Murphy

Reviewed by: Brianna-a Stockbrideg Central School 3rd Grader
***


This book is about Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin was a very successful inventor. Ben invented: flippers in 1717, the Franklin stove in 1742, and found out that lightning was made of electricity. He all so started: America's first library, America's first fire station, and first hospital too he even helped Thomas Jefferson write and rewrite the declaration of Independence in 1776.
There is narration through out the book and on every page there is information. There is very little text so it is easy to read. The book is told as a story it starts when he is a boy and goes through his life. I like this book because it gives a lot of information. I recommend this book to children who would like to learn about Benjamin Franklin.So read the book or you will be missing out!!!

Awesome book!!!
I love this book! It introduced me to magic squares. Sometimes they're hard but not always. I read the book in 3rd grade. We were doing math groups and Mrs. Wrigely said" Today we are doing Magic squares."
What is a magic square?" I asked.
"It is 9 cubes that all have to equal the same number." Mrs. Wrigely
And that's how I was introduced to magic squares. I recommend this book for kids 6 and above. I think that because some words may be a little challenging for kids that are 5 or 4.


Mitchell S. 4th grade
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Product Description
A biography of the eighteenth-century printer, publisher, inventor, scientist, and statesman who played an influential role in the early history of the United States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great book.:)
We ordered several Ben Franklin books for my niece's 4th grade project, but this one was her favorite and the only one she really needed.It has tons of info and is written in a way that's interesting for kids.Cute pictures, etc.

Very Well Done
The book is an easy read, and kids would enjoy learning the bits of science and history included.

Fifth Grade Teacher
I have a half class set of this book, along with others in the series.I use this as a class assigned book, and have found it to be an excellent way to start the year.The writing is engaging, entertaining and informative. We end each week's reading with a corner book talk which always proves lively and fun.

Great subject for a children book.
Great subject for a children book. I got this series of books for my daughter and she really enjoyes reading them. Great read and educational too.

Great fun!
I read this book to my kids and they were completely engaged from cover to cover. Wonderful information is packed into this entertaining book with great illustrations. This book inspired several discussions and projects in our house and we all agree it is a must have for any home library. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Writer, inventor, diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humorist, and civic leader are only a few of the hats Franklin wore.Edwin S. Gaustad presents a balanced account of Franklin's life, emphasizing Franklin's character and personality and quoting extensively from Franklin's own writings. ... Read more