The Best Biographies of Benjamin Franklin
With the first Founding Father in the books, some reflections and recommendations on the best of what I read
At the beginning of the year I set a goal to read through as many books as I could on the Founding Fathers period in the run up to America’s 250th anniversary next year. With such a momentous milestone, I wanted to immerse myself in that distinct time and place of American (and world) history, to ground today’s events in the past. I also wanted to finally read through the shelves of books I’d been stockpiling over the years (a fool’s errand, I’ve quickly realized).
When scoping this project, I contemplated skipping Franklin altogether, starting directly with George Washington and proceeding chronologically with the era’s major players at least through James Madison, if not the other James (Monroe) if I was lucky. I then decided to read just two books on Franklin, treating him as more of a stage-setting subject in the build up to the 1770s. Six months later, I’ve read five total biographies of Benjamin Franklin, bought seven new books, and I’m about four months off my planned reading schedule. Such are the joys of the reading life.
Franklin is a fascinating character study to start such a journey with. Firstly due to his distinct perspective on the day’s events. His role as the political representative to Great Britain for several of the colonies and as Postmaster General for all 13 colonies provides the reader with a unique backdrop and overview of the broader American outlook in the road to Revolution, and how that outlook clashed with those of the British in power.
But a study of Franklin’s life is about far more than just this. Born in 1706, his contribution to the Revolution came obviously much later in life. He is 70 years old at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and more than double the average age of all the other delegates at the Constitutional Convention. He was most famous among his contemporaries as a scientist (often referred to as “Dr. Franklin”), and was also a printer, satirist, virtuist, firefighter, assemblyman, husband, father, military leader, diplomat, general store shopkeeper, pamphleteer, and founder of the colonies’ first public library and public university. Franklin leads an entire life before the tumultuous events of his homeland.
He is also one of America’s first truly self-made men, establishing the archetype of the young, scrappy, and hungry American rising on the back of his own merits rather than the family legacies and landed estates others were born into. He does not rise because of his political contributions; he makes political contributions due to his prior rise. In this way Franklin is probably one of the most relatable Founding Fathers to readers today. Add to this his dashing wit and constant self deprecation, his willingness to be undogmatic, and his pragmatism that is quintessentially American, and he seems distinctly modern against the Washington’s and Jefferson’s of American history.
Such a varied life leaves ample room for biographers and historians to explore and dissect, and the reader can profit greatly through the contract and shading that multiple readings of the man can provide us on one of the most expansive lives in American history. However, as I fancy few people are willing to put themselves through the ordeal of reading multiple biographies on one person, it seems appropriate to pause and take stock of what I’ve read so far, with some general recommendations for readers that might approach Ben Franklin with different aims, and the books I added along the way that I would love to return to one day.
The Best Biographies of Benjamin Franklin
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - I started off the only true Franklin bio that I had intended to read. What a gem. It’s a shame I only first read this in my 30s, but I suspect that also gave me some different perspectives I wouldn’t have been receptive to earlier in life. It’s a short read at under 200 pages, but it packs a punch; Franklin had his eye on history as he wrote it. All the classic tales of Ben the virtuous striver are here, and it marks the start of the American self-help genre. But this is self-help in its most ardent form. While not a true biography as it ends before his Revolutionary involvement begins, this is still probably the best starting spot for anyone interested not just in learning about the man, but in what the man can help us learn about ourselves.
The First American - After the initial taste, I had to dive into a full biography to get a holistic sense of the man. H.W. Brands is a prolific author that I hadn’t read before, and as I had previously read Walter Isaacson’s bio published around the same time I wanted something fresh. It didn’t disappoint. The style can be a bit academic at times, but there are also some great literary flourishes that are delightful to come across. It is also the densest book on this list clocking in at almost 800 pages. But I found the added investment largely pays off, and walked away with a better sense of the Founder as you’d find him today, noble but flawed.
Book of Ages - I’m cheating a bit here, as this is really an attempted biography of Franklin’s younger sister Jane Franklin. But we know so little of Jane that isn’t connected to Franklin that it’s impossible to separate the two, and what’s left is a far more revealing look into the personal side of Franklin, likely much to author Jill Lepore’s chagrin. Lepore’s writing style is deeply engaging, I had no problem flying through the pages. But what I didn’t expect was Lepore’s meditations on what it means to read - and write - history, especially those who aren’t the Ben Franklin’s of history. It was easily my favorite Franklin read and a likely top book of the year so far.
Ben & Me - I next took up another surprise favorite, and the most recently written book of this bunch. Eric Weiner takes a less linear approach to Franklin, and instead approaches his life through an informal Q&A approach to expound upon Franklin’s intent with his autobiography, dissecting what Franklin can teach us today about how to be useful. Its the breeziest read of this list, but I found it to still be quite potent and well grounded in the essence of Franklin’s outlook and the advice he loved dispensing. If you’re not typically a fan of biography (but curious enough to click on this link in the first place), or don’t have the time investment for 800 pages, this is probably your best starting spot.
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life - At this point I was so heavily invested into my Franklin deep dive, and so far off my reading plan, that I decided to throw caution to the wind and pick back up the other most recent full-length biography by Walter Isaacson. There wasn’t a ton new that I took out of this book, but its only been five years since my last read so it could have been lodged into the unspoken recesses of my brain. Isaacson’s focus areas differ greatly from Brands, which despite similar publishing timelines and much different lengths (Isaacson’s bio is several hundred pages shorter) makes them for a great contrasts. He is far less critical of Franklin’s many shortcomings (a primary one: Franklin is a terrible family man). And while I found Brands to excel in the pre-Revolutionary age of Franklin, Isaacson clearly took a deep appreciation for Franklin as diplomat, and his coverage of Franklin’s years in France were the hallmark for coverage of that era.
And now, some recommendations:
Best short or introductory biography: Ben & Me, Autobiography
Best biography for someone already familiar: Book of Ages
Best complete biography: The First American
Books I’d like to return to one day (search the bibliography!):
Benjamin Franklin by Carl Van Doren
Benjamin Franklin by Edmund S. Morgan
On to Washington!