Benjamin Franklin The Great American

Knowing a Man (Ben Franklin), but Not Melons (Benjamin Franklin)

Date July 18, 2008

Knowing a Man (Ben Franklin), but Not Melons
Benjamin Franklin is celebrated for being both a pragmatist and visionary in two new shows in Philadelphia and Washington.
Source: www.nytimes.com

The Long Hot Summer and the More Perfect Union
In his book about the framers of the Constitution, Mr. Stewart has done a nimble job of retelling a familiar story.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Shaking the Foundation of Faith
Science, religion and the Cape Ann earthquake of 1755.
Source: www.nytimes.com

American Footprints in the Old Country
England is dotted with both large and small tributes to American history and culture. No need to feel homesick here.
Source: travel.nytimes.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

Time Out of Mind
The misguided notion that time is money actually costs us money. And it costs us time.
Source: www.nytimes.com

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Dover Thrift Editions)
Congress, ,

The Way to Wealth (Benjamin Franklin)

Date July 15, 2008

The Way to Wealth
The Way to Wealth 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: $5.35
Used Price: $6.06

Source: www.amazon.com

Benjamin Franklin Books
Benjamin Franklin, who turns 300 this year, has received a fine birthday gift in these two volumes.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Nonfiction Chronicle
New books by Philip Dray, Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels, John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger, Brian Murphy and Jesse Helms.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Time Out of Mind
The misguided notion that time is money actually costs us money. And it costs us time.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Tags: , ,

Religious Intent (Benjamin Franklin)

Date July 13, 2008

Religious Intent
A Christian America? A secular America? Steven Waldman argues the founders had in mind something else entirely.
Source: www.nytimes.com

American Footprints in the Old Country
England is dotted with both large and small tributes to American history and culture. No need to feel homesick here.
Source: travel.nytimes.com

Poor Richard’s Almanack
Poor Richard's Almanack

Benjamin Franklin’s classic book is full of timeless, thought-provoking insights that are as valuable today as they were over two centuries ago. With more than 700 pithy proverbs, Franklin lays out the rules everyone should live by and offers advice on such subjects as money, friendship, marriage, ethics, and human nature. They range from the famous “A penny saved is a penny earned” to the lesser-known but equally practical “When the wine enters, out goes the truth.” Other truisms like “Fish and visitors stink after three days” combine sharp wit with wisdom. Paul Volcker’s new introduction offers a fascinating perspective on Franklin’s beloved work.

Author: Benjamin Franklin
Hardcover:  144 pages
Company: Skyhorse Publishing  (2007-11)
ISBN: 1602391173
List Price: $9.95
Amazon Price: $5.85
Used Price: $12.76

Source: www.amazon.com

Time Out of Mind
The misguided notion that time is money actually costs us money. And it costs us time.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution
Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution They were legalized pirates empowered by the Continental Congress to raid and plunder, at their own considerable risk, as much enemy trade as they could successfully haul back to America’s shores; they played a central role in American’s struggle for independence and later turned their seafaring talents to the slave trade; embodying the conflict between enterprise and morality central to the American psyche.

In Patriot Pirates, Robert H. Patton, grandson of the battlefield genius of World War II, writes that during America’s Revolutionary War, what began in 1775 as a New England fad–converting civilian vessels to fast-sailing warships, and defying the Royal Navy’s overwhelming firepower to snatch its merchant shipping–became a massive seaborne insurgency that ravaged the British economy and helped to win America’s independence. More than two thousand privately owned warships were commissioned by Congress to prey on enemy transports, seize them by force, and sell the cargoes for prize money to be divided among the privateer’s officers, crewmen, and owners.

Patton writes how privateering engaged all levels of Revolutionary life, from the dockyards to the assembly halls; how it gave rise to an often cutthroat network of agents who sold captured goods and sparked wild speculation in purchased shares in privateer ventures, enabling sailors to make more money in a month than they might otherwise earn in a year.

As one naval historian has observed, “The great battles of the American Revolution were fought on land, but independence was won at sea.”

Benjamin Franklin, then serving at his diplomatic post in Paris, secretly encouraged the sale of captured goods in France, a calculated violation of neutrality agreements between France and Britain, in the hopes that the two countries would come to blows and help take the pressure off American fighters.

Patton writes about those whose aggressive speculation in privateering promoted the war effort: Robert Morris–a financier of the Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Continental Congress who helped to fund George Washington’s army, later tried (and acquitted) for corruption when his deals with foreign merchants and privateers came to light, and emerged from the war as one of America’s wealthiest men . . . William Bingham… John R. Livingston–scion of a well-connected New York family who made no apologies for exploiting the war for profit, calling it “a means of making my fortune.” He worried that peace would break out too soon. (“If it takes place without a proper warning,” said Livingston, “it may ruin us.”) Vast fortunes made through privateering survive to this day, among them those of the Peabodys, Cabots, and Lowell’s of Massachusetts, and the Derbys and Browns of Rhode Island.

A revelation of America’s War of Independence, a sweeping tale of maritime rebel-entrepreneurs bent on personal profit as well as national freedom.

Author: Robert H. Patton
Hardcover:  320 pages
Company: Pantheon  (2008-05-20) (2008-05-20)
ISBN: 0375422846
List Price: $26.00
Amazon Price: $8.00
Used Price: $13.99

Source: www.amazon.com

The Great Seduction
The most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money.
Source: www.nytimes.com

The Long Hot Summer and the More Perfect Union
In his book about the framers of the Constitution, Mr. Stewart has done a nimble job of retelling a familiar story.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Tags: , ,

The Way to Wealth (Benjamin Franklin)

Date July 10, 2008

The Way to Wealth
The Way to Wealth 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: $2.99

Source: www.amazon.com

The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin
The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin <b>Franklin</b>” align=”left” style=”margin-right: 15px;” /> 		Benjamin <b>Franklin</b> may have been the most remarkable American ever to live: a printer, scientist, inventor, politician, diplomat, and–finally–an icon. His life was so sweeping that this comprehensive biography by H.W. Brands at times reads like a history of the United States during the 18th century. <b>Franklin</b> was at the center of America’s transition from British colony to new nation, and was a kind of Founding Grandfather to the Founding Fathers; he was a full generation older than George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry, and they all viewed him with deep respect. “Of those patriots who made independence possible, none mattered more than <b>Franklin</b>, and only Washington mattered as much,” writes Brands (author of a well-received Teddy Roosevelt biography, <I>T.R.: The Last Romantic</I>). <b>Franklin</b> was a complex character who sometimes came up a bit short in the personal virtue department, once commenting, “That hard-to-be-governed passion of youth had hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women that fell in my way.” When he married, another woman was already pregnant with his child–a son he took into his home and had his wife raise.
<p>  <b>Franklin</b> is best remembered for other things, of course. His still-famous <I>Poor Richard’s Almanac</I> helped him secure enough financial freedom as a printer to retire and devote himself to the study of electricity (which began, amusingly, with experiments on chickens). His mind never rested: He invented bifocals, the armonica (a musical instrument made primarily of glass), and, in old age, a mechanical arm that allowed him to reach books stored on high shelves. He served American interests as a diplomat in Europe; without him, France might not have intervened in the American Revolution. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He possessed a sense of humor, too. In 1776, when John Hancock urged the colonies to “hang together,” <b>Franklin</b> is said to have commented, “We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” <b>Franklin</b>’s accomplishments were so numerous and varied that they threaten to read like a laundry list. Yet Brands pours them into an engrossing narrative, and they leap to life on these pages as the grand story of an exceptional man. <I>The First American</I> is an altogether excellent biography. <I>–John J. Miller</I> </p>
<p> 		           <b>Author:</b> H.W. Brands 		  <br />          		<b>Paperback:</b>  		784 pages 		 		<br /> 		<b>Company:</b> Anchor  		 		(2002-03-12) 		 		(2002-03-12) 		 		<br /> 		 		<b>ISBN:</b> 0385495404<br /> 		 		<b>List Price:</b> $17.00<br /> 		<b>Amazon Price:</b> $6.78<br /> 		 			<b>Used Price:</b> $3.00</p>
<p><i>Source: www.amazon.com</i></p>
<p><b>The Autobiography of Benjamin <b>Franklin</b> (Dover Thrift Editions)</b><br /> 		    <img src=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

Shaking the Foundation of Faith
Science, religion and the Cape Ann earthquake of 1755.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Knowing a Man (Ben Franklin), but Not Melons
Benjamin Franklin is celebrated for being both a pragmatist and visionary in two new shows in Philadelphia and Washington.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Tags: , ,

American Footprints in the Old Country (Benjamin Franklin)

Date July 7, 2008

American Footprints in the Old Country
England is dotted with both large and small tributes to American history and culture. No need to feel homesick here.
Source: travel.nytimes.com

Time Out of Mind
The misguided notion that time is money actually costs us money. And it costs us time.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Poor Richard’s Almanack
Poor Richard's Almanack

Benjamin Franklin’s classic book is full of timeless, thought-provoking insights that are as valuable today as they were over two centuries ago. With more than 700 pithy proverbs, Franklin lays out the rules everyone should live by and offers advice on such subjects as money, friendship, marriage, ethics, and human nature. They range from the famous “A penny saved is a penny earned” to the lesser-known but equally practical “When the wine enters, out goes the truth.” Other truisms like “Fish and visitors stink after three days” combine sharp wit with wisdom. Paul Volcker’s new introduction offers a fascinating perspective on Franklin’s beloved work.

Author: Benjamin Franklin
Hardcover:  144 pages
Company: Skyhorse Publishing  (2007-11)
ISBN: 1602391173
List Price: $9.95
Amazon Price: $5.93
Used Price: $12.90

Source: www.amazon.com

Religious Intent
A Christian America? A secular America? Steven Waldman argues the founders had in mind something else entirely.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Benjamin Franklin Books
Benjamin Franklin, who turns 300 this year, has received a fine birthday gift in these two volumes.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos
Jefferson, ,

Benjamin Franklin - Count Us Frankophiles for 300 Years

Date July 7, 2008

Count Us Frankophiles for 300 Years
A real hero for Presidents’ Day: Benjamin Franklin, an American giant who just turned 300.
Source: select.nytimes.com

The Prosperity Bible: The Greatest Writings of All Time On The Secrets To Wealth And Prosperity
The Prosperity Bible: The Greatest Writings of All Time On The Secrets To Wealth And Prosperity In a beautiful, durable volume suited to a lifetime of use, here is the all-in-one “bible” on how to harness the creative powers of your mind to achieve a life of prosperity-packaged in a handsome display box with a ribbon bookmark.

The Prosperity Bible is a one-of-a-kind resource that collects the greatest moneymaking secrets of authors from every field-religion, finance, philosophy, and self-help-and makes them available in an attractive, keepsake edition. This is a book to treasure and return to again and again for guidance, ideas, know-how, and inspiration.

Here is the only single volume where you can read success advice from Napoleon Hill, P. T. Barnum, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Fillmore, Wallace D. Wattles, Florence Scovel Shinn, and Ernest Holmes-along with a bevy of million-copy- selling writers who have one key element in common: a commitment to understanding and promulgating the laws of winning.

These are the beloved teachers and writers who created the idea of a mental formula for success. Their principles, comprehensively collected in nineteen selected writings, have been proved in the experience of millions of men and women who have cherished their works from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Now they are enshrined in this all-in-one treasury-complete in a handsome display box with a ribbon bookmark.

Author: Napoleon Hill, Wallace D. Wattles, James Allen, P. T. Barnum, Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Holmes, Charles F. Haanel, Robert Collier, Florence Scovel Shinn, Elbert Hubbard, Russell Conwell, Charles Fillmore, Ralph Waldo Trine, William Walker Atkinson, F. W. Sears
Hardcover:  1280 pages
Company: Tarcher  (2007-11-08)
ISBN: 1585426148
List Price: $35.00
Amazon Price: $6.85
Used Price: $7.35

Source: www.amazon.com

The Way to Wealth
The Way to Wealth 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: $3.00

Source: www.amazon.com

Religious Intent
A Christian America? A secular America? Steven Waldman argues the founders had in mind something else entirely.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Tags: , ,

Real Benjamin Franklin (American Classic Series) (Benjamin Franklin)

Date July 5, 2008

Real Benjamin Franklin (American Classic Series)
Author: Andrew M. Allison
Paperback:  504 pages
Company: Freemen Institute  (1982-08)
ISBN: 0880800011
List Price: $14.95
Amazon Price: $14.50

Source: www.amazon.com

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
The Autobiography of Benjamin <b>Franklin</b>” align=”left” style=”margin-right: 15px;” /> 		<BLOCKQUOTE>“The first book to belong permanently to literature. It created a man.” <P>– From the Introduction</BLOCKQUOTE><P>Few men could compare to Benjamin <b>Franklin</b>. Virtually self-taught, he excelled as an athlete, a man of letters, a printer, a scientist, a wit, an inventor, an editor, and a writer, and he was probably the most successful diplomat in American history. David Hume hailed him as the first great philosopher and great man of letters in the New World.<P>Written initially to guide his son, <b>Franklin</b>’s autobiography is a lively, spellbinding account of his unique and eventful life. Stylistically his best work, it has become a classic in world literature, one to inspire and delight readers everywhere.</p>
<p> 		           <b>Author:</b> Benjamin <b>Franklin</b> 		  <br />          		<b>Paperback:</b>  		160 pages 		 		<br /> 		<b>Company:</b> Touchstone  		 		(2003-12-23) 		 		<br /> 		 		<b>ISBN:</b> 0743255062<br /> 		 		<b>List Price:</b> $10.95<br /> 		<b>Amazon Price:</b> $3.92<br /> 		 			<b>Used Price:</b> $3.75</p>
<p><i>Source: www.amazon.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: $3.00

Source: www.amazon.com

The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin
Constitution, ,

Poor Richard’s Almanack (Benjamin Franklin)

Date July 3, 2008

Poor Richard’s Almanack
Poor Richard's Almanack

Benjamin Franklin’s classic book is full of timeless, thought-provoking insights that are as valuable today as they were over two centuries ago. With more than 700 pithy proverbs, Franklin lays out the rules everyone should live by and offers advice on such subjects as money, friendship, marriage, ethics, and human nature. They range from the famous “A penny saved is a penny earned” to the lesser-known but equally practical “When the wine enters, out goes the truth.” Other truisms like “Fish and visitors stink after three days” combine sharp wit with wisdom. Paul Volcker’s new introduction offers a fascinating perspective on Franklin’s beloved work.

Author: Benjamin Franklin
Hardcover:  144 pages
Company: Skyhorse Publishing  (2007-11)
ISBN: 1602391173
List Price: $9.95
Amazon Price: $5.93
Used Price: $6.04

Source: www.amazon.com

The Great Seduction
The most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money.
Source: www.nytimes.com

The Long Hot Summer and the More Perfect Union
In his book about the framers of the Constitution, Mr. Stewart has done a nimble job of retelling a familiar story.
Source: www.nytimes.com

American Footprints in the Old Country
England is dotted with both large and small tributes to American history and culture. No need to feel homesick here.
Source: travel.nytimes.com

Nonfiction Chronicle
New books by Philip Dray, Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels, John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger, Brian Murphy and Jesse Helms.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Tags: , ,

Benjamin Franklin - The Prosperity Bible: The Greatest Writings of All Time On The Secrets To Wealth And Prosperity

Date June 30, 2008

The Prosperity Bible: The Greatest Writings of All Time On The Secrets To Wealth And Prosperity
The Prosperity Bible: The Greatest Writings of All Time On The Secrets To Wealth And Prosperity In a beautiful, durable volume suited to a lifetime of use, here is the all-in-one “bible” on how to harness the creative powers of your mind to achieve a life of prosperity-packaged in a handsome display box with a ribbon bookmark.

The Prosperity Bible is a one-of-a-kind resource that collects the greatest moneymaking secrets of authors from every field-religion, finance, philosophy, and self-help-and makes them available in an attractive, keepsake edition. This is a book to treasure and return to again and again for guidance, ideas, know-how, and inspiration.

Here is the only single volume where you can read success advice from Napoleon Hill, P. T. Barnum, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Fillmore, Wallace D. Wattles, Florence Scovel Shinn, and Ernest Holmes-along with a bevy of million-copy- selling writers who have one key element in common: a commitment to understanding and promulgating the laws of winning.

These are the beloved teachers and writers who created the idea of a mental formula for success. Their principles, comprehensively collected in nineteen selected writings, have been proved in the experience of millions of men and women who have cherished their works from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Now they are enshrined in this all-in-one treasury-complete in a handsome display box with a ribbon bookmark.

Author: Napoleon Hill, Wallace D. Wattles, James Allen, P. T. Barnum, Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Holmes, Charles F. Haanel, Robert Collier, Florence Scovel Shinn, Elbert Hubbard, Russell Conwell, Charles Fillmore, Ralph Waldo Trine, William Walker Atkinson, F. W. Sears
Hardcover:  1280 pages
Company: Tarcher  (2007-11-08)
ISBN: 1585426148
List Price: $35.00
Amazon Price: $7.09
Used Price: $7.10

Source: www.amazon.com

The Way to Wealth
The Way to Wealth 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: $5.15
Used Price: $5.30

Source: www.amazon.com

The Long Hot Summer and the More Perfect Union
In his book about the framers of the Constitution, Mr. Stewart has done a nimble job of retelling a familiar story.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Nonfiction Chronicle
New books by Philip Dray, Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels, John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger, Brian Murphy and Jesse Helms.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Tags: , ,

Of Cannon Fire and Daylight Saving Time (Benjamin Franklin)

Date June 28, 2008

Of Cannon Fire and Daylight Saving Time
Conserving energy has always been the object of daylight saving time, but a recent study indicates that it may increase residential electricity demand.
Source: www.nytimes.com

The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin
The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin <b>Franklin</b>” align=”left” style=”margin-right: 15px;” /> 		Benjamin <b>Franklin</b> may have been the most remarkable American ever to live: a printer, scientist, inventor, politician, diplomat, and–finally–an icon. His life was so sweeping that this comprehensive biography by H.W. Brands at times reads like a history of the United States during the 18th century. <b>Franklin</b> was at the center of America’s transition from British colony to new nation, and was a kind of Founding Grandfather to the Founding Fathers; he was a full generation older than George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry, and they all viewed him with deep respect. “Of those patriots who made independence possible, none mattered more than <b>Franklin</b>, and only Washington mattered as much,” writes Brands (author of a well-received Teddy Roosevelt biography, <I>T.R.: The Last Romantic</I>). <b>Franklin</b> was a complex character who sometimes came up a bit short in the personal virtue department, once commenting, “That hard-to-be-governed passion of youth had hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women that fell in my way.” When he married, another woman was already pregnant with his child–a son he took into his home and had his wife raise.
<p>  <b>Franklin</b> is best remembered for other things, of course. His still-famous <I>Poor Richard’s Almanac</I> helped him secure enough financial freedom as a printer to retire and devote himself to the study of electricity (which began, amusingly, with experiments on chickens). His mind never rested: He invented bifocals, the armonica (a musical instrument made primarily of glass), and, in old age, a mechanical arm that allowed him to reach books stored on high shelves. He served American interests as a diplomat in Europe; without him, France might not have intervened in the American Revolution. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He possessed a sense of humor, too. In 1776, when John Hancock urged the colonies to “hang together,” <b>Franklin</b> is said to have commented, “We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” <b>Franklin</b>’s accomplishments were so numerous and varied that they threaten to read like a laundry list. Yet Brands pours them into an engrossing narrative, and they leap to life on these pages as the grand story of an exceptional man. <I>The First American</I> is an altogether excellent biography. <I>–John J. Miller</I> </p>
<p> 		           <b>Author:</b> H.W. Brands 		  <br />          		<b>Paperback:</b>  		784 pages 		 		<br /> 		<b>Company:</b> Anchor  		 		(2002-03-12) 		 		(2002-03-12) 		 		<br /> 		 		<b>ISBN:</b> 0385495404<br /> 		 		<b>List Price:</b> $17.00<br /> 		<b>Amazon Price:</b> $6.99<br /> 		 			<b>Used Price:</b> $1.94</p>
<p><i>Source: www.amazon.com</i></p>
<p><b>Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin <b>Franklin</b> by His Good Mouse Amos</b><br /> 		    <img src=Philip Dray explores the scientific accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin, who was celebrated for solving the age-old mystery of lightning.
Source: www.nytimes.com

Benjamin Franklin Books
Benjamin Franklin, who turns 300 this year, has received a fine birthday gift in these two volumes.
Source: www.nytimes.com

American Footprints in the Old Country
England is dotted with both large and small tributes to American history and culture. No need to feel homesick here.
Source: travel.nytimes.com

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