Benjamin Franklin Audiobook By Edmund S. Morgan cover art

Benjamin Franklin

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Benjamin Franklin

By: Edmund S. Morgan
Narrated by: Rick Adamson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.60

Buy for $15.60

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Benjamin Franklin is perhaps the most remarkable figure in American history: the greatest statesman of his age, he played a pivotal role in the formation of the American republic. He was also a pioneering scientist, a best-selling author, the country's first postmaster general, a printer, a bon vivant, a diplomat, a ladies' man, and a moralist - and the most prominent celebrity of the 18th century.

Franklin was, however, a man of vast contradictions, as Edmund Morgan demonstrates in this brilliant biography. A reluctant revolutionary, Franklin had desperately wished to preserve the British Empire, and he mourned the break, even as he led the fight for American independence. Despite his passion for sciences, Franklin viewed his groundbreaking experiments as secondary to his civic duties. And although he helped to draft both the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution, he had personally hoped that the new American government would take a different shape. Unraveling the enigma of Franklin's character, Morgan shows that he was the rare individual who constantly placed the public interest before his own desires.

Written by one of our greatest historians, Benjamin Franklin offers a provocative portrait of America's most extraordinary patriot. The book is published by Yale University Press.

©2002 Edmund S. Morgan (P)2010 Redwood Audiobooks
Americas Historical Politicians Science & Technology Funny Imperialism
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Superb... The best short biography of Franklin ever written... [A] concise and beautifully written portrait of an American hero." (Gordon Wood, New York Review of Books)

What listeners say about Benjamin Franklin

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    21
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    17
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book...but,

I wish the book was read by a more dynamic narrator. The story of Benjamin Franklin is fascinating and rich and Mr. Adamson’s read is a bit flat.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring

After reading this book I felt a sense of inspiration to emulate what a virtues human being Ben Franklin was.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Took a while to get into, but it was worth it.

Would you consider the audio edition of Benjamin Franklin to be better than the print version?

No. The narration was clear and well done though a bit dry and monotone. I fell asleep several times while I was listening. I'm not sure if narrators are aloud to act out parts when a person is actually speaking, but I'd personally enjoy it.

What other book might you compare Benjamin Franklin to and why?

Have already read Isaacson, Brands (currently) and Kidd. I like Brands prose the most but this book had lots of information and points of view not covered in other books, so I liked it very much.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narration was clear and well done though a bit dry and monotone. I fell asleep several times while I was listening. I'm not sure if narrators are aloud to act out parts when a person is actually speaking, but I'd personally enjoy it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Over 9 hours? I don't think so. I tried for 1 to 2 hour sittings at a time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful