Benjamin Franklin

"Benjamin Franklin" by Paul Elmer More is a biography that explores the life of Benjamin Franklin, looking at him as a politician, inventor, and thinker. The book starts by showing Franklin's simple beginnings in Boston and how highly he was thought of after he died, especially in places like Paris. More points out that Franklin was good at many things—being a soldier, a politician, a scientist, and a writer—and sees him as a perfect example of what it means to be American. The book tells us about Franklin's childhood in a big family that didn't have much money, his early schooling, and the things that happened to him when he was young that helped him form his ideas. Stories like his first attempts at writing and his love for reading help us understand how Franklin grew into a smart and knowledgeable person whose ideas would greatly affect the United States for many years to come.