Ingenious
A Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Scientist
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
“[A] sparkling biography.” —Erin Douglass, Christian Science Monitor
The dramatic story of an ingenious man who explained nature and created a country.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the preeminent scientists of his time. Driven by curiosity, he conducted cutting-edge research on electricity, heat, ocean currents, weather patterns, chemical bonds, and plants. But today, Franklin is remembered more for his political prowess and diplomatic achievements than his scientific creativity.
In this incisive and rich account of Benjamin Franklin’s life and career, Richard Munson recovers this vital part of Franklin’s story, reveals his modern relevance, and offers a compelling portrait of a shrewd experimenter, clever innovator, and visionary physicist whose fame opened doors to negotiate French support and funding for American independence.
Munson’s riveting narrative explores how science underpins Franklin’s entire story—from tradesman to inventor to nation-founder—and argues that Franklin’s political life cannot be understood without giving proper credit to his scientific accomplishments.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
If you mostly know Benjamin Franklin as an architect of American independence, this eye-opening biography will show you a whole other side to the inquisitive physicist. This fascinating chronicle recounts how Franklin dedicated his life to understanding the science underpinning our physical world, from his iconic experiment flying a kite in an electrical storm to his impact on trade by studying currents in the Atlantic Ocean. Author Richard Munson also goes inside Franklin’s mind, exploring his fear of becoming a scientific failure and his motivation to establish the soon-to-be United States as a new scientific epicenter. Munson masterfully connects the dots, linking Franklin’s physics research with his diplomatic work by showing how his research impressed the French and garnered their support for American independence. Whether you’re interested in science and history or just wonder what might make a high achiever tick, Ingenious shines a surprising new light on a well-known figure.
