5/5 Excellent
  by James Smoot (Georgia/Panama)
Beautifully written book made difficult by the complexity of the man and still an enjoyable read.

5/5 excellent biographical documentary, inspirational
  by Haseeb (Tempe, AZ United States)
I have not seen many biographical documentaries, but this has to be among the best I've seen. It was very thorough in the treatment of Ben Franklin's life as a scientist, diplomat and bussiness man. Whether you are looking for a good introduction to Ben Franklin or looking for something to solidify and review your knowledge of him and or the times he lived, this is an excellent program. What I really like about this video is that it doesn't shy away from some of the more unflattering aspects of Ben. This shows that all men (small and great) have their faults. You will learn about his whole character which will provide an excellent foundation.



5/5 Franklin....the greatest American?
  by J. S. Kaminski (Aberdeen, NJ United States)
Many would say Abraham Lincoln, some maybe George Washington...but in my opinion, Benjamin Franklin was, and is, the greatest American. Why? Franklin was accomplished in so many areas, you'd have a hard time just trying to keep track of everything he did. Luckily, this program does it for you, and does it rather well.

It is split into three episodes, but throughout, you will see the many sides of Franklin: statesman, diplomat, inventor, scientist, philosopher, self-made businessman, humanitarian, visionary...and that's just what I can remember! Franklin was one of those rare individuals who was able to succeed at seemingly anything he tried; a multi-talent who, really, was a giant among his peers. That's what it comes down to, and one of the historians interviewed at the end of this program nailed it: Franklin was, simply put, a genius.

His story is told in a variety of ways - re-enactments, readings from Franklin's "Autobiography," letters, on-site location filming, commentary from noted authors, and more. It is all woven together rather neatly, which helps to make the 3+ hour program pass without noticing. In the end, even though Franklin lived to be 84 years old, you are left wishing there was more to tell.

Five stars. Anyone watching this program cannot help but come away with a new appreciation and admiration for Franklin, even if you already know his story. Let the others fight over Lincoln and Washington, because it's only for 2nd place anyway. Franklin tops them all!

5/5 super!
  by Edward M. Doyas
as a history this dvd gives a great view of one of our greatest founding fathers!

4/5 Ben Franklin Documentary
  by M. Altomare (San Francisco, CA)
Loved this documentary. Went between historians talking to actors playing the role. If you want to learn about Ben Franklin, this is a great way to do it.