Benjamin Franklin Book Summary - Benjamin Franklin Book explained in key points

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Benjamin Franklin summary

Name: Benjamin Franklin
Rating: 4.5 (185 reviews)
Author: Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson

An American Life

4.5 (185 ratings)

23 mins

11 key ideas

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What is Benjamin Franklin about?

In Benjamin Franklin (2004), you’ll discover the life and passions of one of America’s most respected and beloved personalities, from his early days as an essay writer to his budding scientific career to finally his inspirational role as one of the founding fathers of the United States of America.

About the Author

Former CNN chairman Walter Isaacson is the author of several bestselling books, including Einstein: His Life and Universe; Kissinger: A Biography; and Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different. Isaacson is the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, an educational organization.

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Benjamin Franklin
summarized in 11 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 11

Young Benjamin Franklin was rebellious yet highly intelligent, despite having had little formal schooling.

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1705. As a young boy, Franklin already showed signs of independence and inventiveness, evident for example in how he approached swimming.

Wanting to swim faster yet realizing his fingers and toes were preventing him from doing so, Franklin began tinkering with contraptions to help propel him faster through the water. His solution? Fashioning paddles for his hands and flippers for his feet!

His parents planned for Franklin to receive an education and then enter the church. Yet his father Josiah soon realized that his youngest son wasn't fit for the clergy. There are many anecdotes describing young Benjamin’s mischievous ways – and none paint him as especially pious.

For example, Franklin thought the grace his father recited before each meal was tedious. So after the meat for that winter had been salted and stored in a barrel, Franklin asked his father if he would instead say grace over the barrel, as it would save time!

Franklin spent just two years enrolled at a local school, where he was taught writing and arithmetic. Then, at just 10 years old, he started work as an apprentice. First he worked under his father, and then with his older brother James, who founded the New England Courant, the first independent newspaper in Boston.

Eventually Franklin grew tired of working alongside his brother, chafing at his subordinate role as an apprentice – especially since he had managed the newspaper on his own when James was away in England.

So even though he was still a teenager, Franklin decided to strike out on his own instead.

Benjamin Franklin’s wanderings took him to London and back, but his dream above all was to write.

In 1723, when Franklin was just 17 years old, he boarded a sloop heading for Philadelphia.

There he found a job with Samuel Keimer, a printer, whom Franklin thought “an odd fish” but stayed on with him because he enjoyed their lengthy philosophical discussions. It was during this time that Franklin honed the debating skills that would prove so important later in his life.

After founding a group of likeminded thinkers, Franklin’s ideas on community and government took root.

In 1727, Franklin founded a club named the Leather Apron Club, later known as the Junto. Unlike older men’s clubs at the time, Junto members were young tradesmen and artisans who met to discuss current events.

The Junto became a springboard for many of Franklin’s ideas for community improvement, such as a subscription library, a tax for neighborhood constables, a volunteer fire department and an academy – which later evolved into the University of Pennsylvania.

Franklin’s curiosity led him to make serious scientific discoveries, especially with regards to electricity.

Greek philosopher Plato said that the unexamined life was not worth living – and no one embodied this statement more than Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin’s insatiable curiosity would make him famous. During a visit to Boston in 1743, Franklin observed a performance which included some tricks using electricity. At the time, no one fully understood how electricity really worked.

Franklin crafted an initial plan to unify the American colonies, but the time was not yet ripe.

Since 1747, when Franklin established a voluntary militia, the question of who should finance the war against the French and native tribes continued to stoke tensions between the colonies’ proprietors and residents.

After George Washington was sent to the Ohio Valley in 1753 in a failed attempt to remove the French from the territory, the British colonial authorities requested delegates from each colony to attend a conference in Albany, New York.

Franklin brought the colony’s fight to Britain’s shores, but couldn’t get the proprietors to bend.

In 1757, three years after the Albany conference and Franklin’s failed unification plan, the Pennsylvania assembly raised the issue again.

It sent Franklin to London to press the issue with the powerful British families that had been granted proprietary rights – that is, ownership – over the colonies. Failing this, he was to talk with the British government directly. Franklin wound up spending five years in negotiations.

The Stamp Act was the last straw for the colonies; Franklin saw the need for the British to go.

Back in Philadelphia, Franklin was shocked at what he saw. Relations between colonial residents and native tribes had taken a serious turn for the worse. A mob of frontiersmen called the Paxton Boys were threatening to come to the city and kill native Indians there – as well as any colonial resident found hiding them.

It was obvious to Franklin that the colonial proprietary government wouldn’t be able to handle the situation – so Franklin once again set off for London. This time, he was gone for a decade.

Franklin’s prose started the conversation that led to the Declaration of Independence.

Franklin realized that they would have to depend upon one another, if the colonies were to claim independence from British rule.

On July 21, 1775, Franklin shared his ideas with the Continental Congress, an assembly of men representing the colonies’ interests against Britain. The content of Franklin’s draft of the “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union” was carefully considered and meticulous in its detail.

Franklin played a pivotal role in securing France as an ally in America’s fight against Britain.

With their declaration of independence from Britain, the 13 colonies of America now faced a very formidable enemy. To stand a chance of winning the fight, the colonies would need an ally, namely the French.

But who would persuade the French to support their cause? Benjamin Franklin, of course. The success of the American revolution was now in his hands.

After the Revolution, Franklin’s talent in diplomacy helped the young United States of America immensely.

After the fighting was over, it was time to patch up relations with Britain. Once again, Franklin’s composure and personality played a central role.

Early on in the fight for independence, Franklin had positioned himself as an isolationist, believing that America should avoid seeking support from other countries. However, he later changed his position and felt that the states should be grateful for France’s support.

As a coauthor of the American constitution and a national hero, Franklin made an indelible mark on history.

When the news of the British defeat reached Congress in 1781, there was so little money in the treasury that congressional members had to pay the messenger out of their own pockets.

As stipulated by the articles of confederation, Congress had very few practical powers and could not levy taxes. Now that the war was over, political change was needed.

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Best quote from Benjamin Franklin

What signifies philosophy that does not apply to some use?

—Walter Isaacson

Who should read Benjamin Franklin

Students of American history
People interested in American politics
Anyone inspired by how one individual can profoundly influence society

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Benjamin Franklin summary

What is Benjamin Franklin about?

About the Author

Benjamin Franklin
summarized in 11 key ideas

Young Benjamin Franklin was rebellious yet highly intelligent, despite having had little formal schooling.

Benjamin Franklin’s wanderings took him to London and back, but his dream above all was to write.

After founding a group of likeminded thinkers, Franklin’s ideas on community and government took root.

Franklin’s curiosity led him to make serious scientific discoveries, especially with regards to electricity.

Franklin crafted an initial plan to unify the American colonies, but the time was not yet ripe.

Franklin brought the colony’s fight to Britain’s shores, but couldn’t get the proprietors to bend.

The Stamp Act was the last straw for the colonies; Franklin saw the need for the British to go.

Franklin’s prose started the conversation that led to the Declaration of Independence.

Franklin played a pivotal role in securing France as an ally in America’s fight against Britain.

After the Revolution, Franklin’s talent in diplomacy helped the young United States of America immensely.

As a coauthor of the American constitution and a national hero, Franklin made an indelible mark on history.

Key ideas in Benjamin Franklin

Young Benjamin Franklin was rebellious yet highly intelligent, despite having had little formal schooling.

Benjamin Franklin’s wanderings took him to London and back, but his dream above all was to write.

After founding a group of likeminded thinkers, Franklin’s ideas on community and government took root.

Franklin’s curiosity led him to make serious scientific discoveries, especially with regards to electricity.

Franklin crafted an initial plan to unify the American colonies, but the time was not yet ripe.

Franklin brought the colony’s fight to Britain’s shores, but couldn’t get the proprietors to bend.

The Stamp Act was the last straw for the colonies; Franklin saw the need for the British to go.

Franklin’s prose started the conversation that led to the Declaration of Independence.

Franklin played a pivotal role in securing France as an ally in America’s fight against Britain.

After the Revolution, Franklin’s talent in diplomacy helped the young United States of America immensely.

As a coauthor of the American constitution and a national hero, Franklin made an indelible mark on history.

Best quote from Benjamin Franklin

Who should read Benjamin Franklin

Categories with Benjamin Franklin

Books like Benjamin Franklin

Discover the Blinkist catalogue

Popular titles

Most popular categories

Trending Collections

Benjamin Franklin summary

What is Benjamin Franklin about?

About the Author

Benjamin Franklin summarized in 11 key ideas

Young Benjamin Franklin was rebellious yet highly intelligent, despite having had little formal schooling.

Benjamin Franklin’s wanderings took him to London and back, but his dream above all was to write.

After founding a group of likeminded thinkers, Franklin’s ideas on community and government took root.

Franklin’s curiosity led him to make serious scientific discoveries, especially with regards to electricity.

Franklin crafted an initial plan to unify the American colonies, but the time was not yet ripe.

Franklin brought the colony’s fight to Britain’s shores, but couldn’t get the proprietors to bend.

The Stamp Act was the last straw for the colonies; Franklin saw the need for the British to go.

Franklin’s prose started the conversation that led to the Declaration of Independence.

Franklin played a pivotal role in securing France as an ally in America’s fight against Britain.

After the Revolution, Franklin’s talent in diplomacy helped the young United States of America immensely.

As a coauthor of the American constitution and a national hero, Franklin made an indelible mark on history.

Key ideas in Benjamin Franklin

Young Benjamin Franklin was rebellious yet highly intelligent, despite having had little formal schooling.

Benjamin Franklin’s wanderings took him to London and back, but his dream above all was to write.

After founding a group of likeminded thinkers, Franklin’s ideas on community and government took root.

Franklin’s curiosity led him to make serious scientific discoveries, especially with regards to electricity.

Franklin crafted an initial plan to unify the American colonies, but the time was not yet ripe.

Franklin brought the colony’s fight to Britain’s shores, but couldn’t get the proprietors to bend.

The Stamp Act was the last straw for the colonies; Franklin saw the need for the British to go.

Franklin’s prose started the conversation that led to the Declaration of Independence.

Franklin played a pivotal role in securing France as an ally in America’s fight against Britain.

After the Revolution, Franklin’s talent in diplomacy helped the young United States of America immensely.

As a coauthor of the American constitution and a national hero, Franklin made an indelible mark on history.

Best quote from Benjamin Franklin

Who should read Benjamin Franklin

Categories with Benjamin Franklin

Books like Benjamin Franklin

Discover the Blinkist catalogue

Popular titles

Most popular categories

Trending Collections

Benjamin Franklin
summarized in 11 key ideas