Benjamin Franklin The Great American

Benjamin Franklin - Russian Princess Stands With Franklin as Comrade of the Enlightenment

Date August 31, 2008

Russian Princess Stands With Franklin as Comrade of the Enlightenment
Ekaterina Dashkova, a Russian princess, was the first woman in the world to head a national academy of sciences. It is a rarity to this day.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Looking for Liberty
The Declaration of Independence is a national treasure but like many treasures, the quest it inspires may be more rewarding than the illusion of possession.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
Benjamin <b>Franklin</b>: An American Life” align=”left” style=”margin-right: 15px;” /> Benjamin <b>Franklin</b>, writes journalist and biographer Walter Isaacson, was that rare Founding Father who would sooner wink at a passer-by than sit still for a formal portrait. What’s more, Isaacson relates in this fluent and entertaining biography, the revolutionary leader represents a political tradition that has been all but forgotten today, one that prizes pragmatism over moralism, religious tolerance over fundamentalist rigidity, and social mobility over class privilege. That broadly democratic sensibility allowed <b>Franklin</b> his contradictions, as Isaacson shows. Though a man of lofty principles, <b>Franklin</b> wasn’t shy of using sex to sell the newspapers he edited and published; though far from frivolous, he liked his toys and his mortal pleasures; and though he sometimes gave off a simpleton image, he was a shrewd and even crafty politician. Isaacson doesn’t shy from enumerating <b>Franklin</b>’s occasional peccadilloes and shortcomings, in keeping with the iconoclastic nature of our time–none of which, however, stops him from considering Benjamin <b>Franklin</b> “the most accomplished American of his age,” and one of the most admirable of any era. And here’s one bit of proof: as a young man, Ben <b>Franklin</b> regularly went without food in order to buy books. His example, as always, is a good one–and this is just the book to buy with the proceeds from the grocery budget. <I>–Gregory McNamee</I></p> <p> <b>Author:</b> Walter Isaacson <br /> <b>Paperback:</b>  608 pages <br /> <b>Company:</b> Simon & Schuster  (2004-05-04) <br /> <b>ISBN:</b> 074325807X<br /> <b>List Price:</b> $18.00<br /> <b>Amazon Price:</b> $7.99<br /> <b>Used Price:</b> $3.90</p> <p><i>Source: www.amazon.com</i></p> <p><b>The Great Seduction </b><br />The most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money. <br /><i>Source: www.nytimes.com</i></p> <p><b>The Way to Wealth</b><br /> <img src= The first American book on personal finance, “The Way to Wealth” by Benjamin Franklin is still the best and wisest money book ever written. Originally published in 1758 as the preface to “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” this little gem has been through innumerable printings and sold millions of copies to those in search of smart but entertaining advice about hard work, earning and saving money and debt.

As the 21st Century charges along and the current economic climate continues to send out mixed messages, Franklin’s simple but wise commentary on the value of industry and frugality resonates as much for us today as it did for listeners nearly 350 years ago. Here is a sample:

- “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

- “If you would be wealthy, think of saving, as well as of getting.”

- “If you would have your business done, go; if not, send.”

- “Think what you do when you run into debt; you give to another power over your liberty.”

- “Creditors have better memories than debtors.”

Although older than the United States itself, “The Way to Wealth” is still very popular. It is handed out by major companies and financial institutions to friends, clients, and customers and is the January, 2004 selection of “The Washington Post’s” the Color of Money Book Club. As Michelle Singletary, director of the Club wrote in a column about The book, “At just 30 pages, this pocket-size book takes less than an hour to read but will give you a lifetime of financial wisdom–that is if you’re wise enough to follow the advice.”

Author: Benjamin Franklin
Hardcover:  30 pages
Company: Applewood Books  (1986-09-01)
ISBN: 0918222885
List Price: $9.95
Amazon Price: $5.30
Used Price: $4.75

Source: www.amazon.com

Ben Franklin Had the Right Idea for New Orleans
New Orleans and other coastal cities will never be safe if they go on relying on Washington for protection.
Source: www.nytimes.com

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