Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin - Walter Isaacson
Benjamin Franklin is one of the most famous Americans of all time. The United States owes much of their independence and views on virtues to the efforts of Ben Franklin before America was even a country.
Ben Franklin was an inventor - of himself as much as of things. He spent his life in a wide variety of roles and has been the inspiration for countless individuals to this day.
The biography by Walter Isaacson is another great example of Isaacson's power as a biographer. While Franklin wrote about his "Plan for Future Conduct" which was his coda for pragmatic rules for success, he was as human as the rest of us and dealt with struggles and scandals. Isaacson maintains a neutral standpoint throughout the various disputes that arise around Franklin throughout his life so that you don't see him only as a titan of industry and inventiveness.
I do like some of Isaacson's other biographies better than this one, like Da Vinci for the beautiful colour photos of the artwork being discussed that's incorporated into the book. I was still happy that I read this biography since I wanted to learn more about Ben Franklin and his life.
Life Value: 4/5
Entertainment Value: 4/5
Who's This Book For:
- anyone interested in early American history.
- biography lovers
Who's This Book Not For:
- Anyone who can't stand long biographies with some fairly dry sections.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci - Walter Isaacson
Walter Isaacson fast become one of my favourite biographers after I read the Steve Jobs biography he wrote. Any story can be made interesting and suck you into turning page after page to read on if it is well crafted. More goes into a great biography than simply a factual retelling of an individuals life. Isaacson has such great skill at making you feel like you are right there with these great people throughout history while they are writing history and mastering their own craft.
Leonardo da Vinci was a thoroughly fascinating human being whose inquisitiveness knew no limit and is what set him apart in being recognized as a creative genius. This biography tells the story of his own life as well as the life da Vinci breathed into his world famous works of art. The hardcover copy of this book is well worth buying to get full-colour copies of all of the artwork described throughout the book so that you can see for yourself what is being referred to as Isaacson describes the subtle details of each image and the signature trademarks that indicate them to be works of da Vinci.
Anyone who thrives on curiosity and asking questions to get to the root of a subject is going to love this story of a legend who honed his creativity by always maintaining a childlike curiosity.