The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin FranklinThe First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin Franklin
Score Modern
What it's about
H. W. Brands tells the life of Benjamin Franklin: a runaway apprentice who became Philadelphia's most successful printer, the scientist who proved lightning was electricity, the inventor of bifocals and the lightning rod, a long-time loyal Briton turned revolutionary, and the diplomat whose charm won France to America's side in the war.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Pulitzer finalist. It's a lively, full portrait of the founder who was the most famous American of his day.
You'll love it if you liked
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
1776
Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary GenerationGood to know
It's over 700 pages. It covers his estrangement from his son and his long absences from his family.
By the numbers
- Readers65 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller9 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #33 of the 44 politics books we rank
- #202 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #816 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1519 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by H.W. Brands
If you like this, read next
When Breath Becomes Air
The Passage of Power
Master of the Senate
A Promised Land
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Quick answers
Is The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin Franklin worth reading?
Yes. It was a Pulitzer finalist. It ranks #1,519 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin Franklin about?
H. W. Brands tells the life of Benjamin Franklin: a runaway apprentice who became Philadelphia's most successful printer, the scientist who proved lightning was electricity, the inventor of bifocals and the lightning rod, a long-time loyal Briton turned revolutionary, and the diplomat whose charm won France to America's side in the war.
How long does it take to read The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin Franklin?
About 20 hours (786 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin Franklin?
If you liked it, try The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin, 1776 by David McCullough or Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis.