Benjamin Franklin's Wise Words: How to Work Smart, Play Well, and Make Real Friends

by Benjamin Franklin

Discover history through the eyes of one of the smartest, funniest, and coolest figures from America's past. This book presents 50 of Benjamin Franklin's famous "wise words" from Poor Richard's Almanack, his personal letters, and other writings, with sage advice on everything from good citizenship and manners to friendship and being happy. Sayings are paired with hilarious illustrations and witty translations for modern audiences. It's a great go-to for inspirational and innovative ways to practice mindfulness, industriousness, and self-improvement.

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Biography

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 24, 2017

About the author

Benjamin Franklin was a writer, a philosopher, a scientist, a politician, a patriot, a Founding Father, an inventor, and publisher. He helped with the founding of the United States of America and changed the world with his discoveries about electricity. His writings such as Poor Richards' Almanac have provided wisdom for 17 years to the colonies.

Reviews

[G.L. Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that National Geographic has put the old man (and the public domain) to good use. No one is as witty as Ben Franklin thinks he is. He is the cis-het Oscar Wilde. I won't say any more cuz you know, spoilers. However, you've had 200 years to read it and if you haven't gotten around to it yet... will you?

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtesy of Media Masters Publicity Benjamin Franklin was a man who explored, invented and was a scientist and a philosopher. He lived a full life and many of his quotes are still used today.

“Without virtue man can have no happiness in this world.”

Basically, we should all do the right thing even when it’s hard. And in the end, we will be happy. This familiar quote was written in the 1760s when fighting broke out between new settlers and the Ottawa and Susque Hannock tribe. Franklin was angry when he heard about the killings. He wrote a pamphlet and stated,

“The guilt will lie on the whole land till justice is done on the murderers.”

This guide is all things Benjamin Franklin. There are plenty of quotes referencing parenting, happiness, being grateful, pride and many more. Readers will be enlightened on how to pursue their dreams, and get the best out of life. Colorful illustrations inside depict humor and expression of the quotes. Readers will enjoy learning about

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book of quotes, wisdom, and life lessons from Benjamin Franklin is written for upper elementary to middle-school-aged kids, adults will love it too. I did! I love books that involve quotes and bits of wisdom and I have several in my own personal library. This easy-to-read hardcover offers quotes from Benjamin Franklin along with bits of wisdom and explanation for kids to go along with each quote.

The illustrations are super fun. They appear as watercolors with fabulous caricature-like expressions and people in time-period appropriate clothing.

Benjamin Franklin was quite the interesting man and went on to be one of our Founding Fathers. Even though he didn't go to school after the age of ten, he still found ways to learn, explore, and create. He was an inventor, author, scientist, and political activist to name a few. No moss grew under his feet! Benjamin Franklin was known for his many sayings and advice and this book collects fifty of them important for kids and adults to ponder.

In all of his travels, Benjamin Franklin made numerous friends. Those connections helped him become one of our Founding Fathers. But, while visiting friends you could hear him say one of his famous quotes, "Fish and visitors stink after three days."

The book is broken down into chapters of Tranquility, Industry, Order, Humility, Resolution, Sincerity, and Moderation. Then each of the quotes is sorted according to their area of interest. Franklin's quote is shared first, then there is a retelling of the quote in easier to understand terms. Then a few paragraphs about Franklin and his life related to the quote fill the rest of the page. I learned a lot I didn't know about him and he was quite a fascinating man.

I thought this book was really great and is one I will be keeping on my shelf. I could see teachers using these quotes as a type of 'bell-ringer" activity. Opening with the quote and asking students to write about what the quote means to them would also encourage some great discussion. This would be a great gift for history buffs and students who like stating witty quotes or learning about our great leaders.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who ever thought that learning could be so much fun? My guess is that the folks at National Geographic Kids (amongst others) decided that kids need a bit of incentive to encourage them to delve into the lives of historical figures, historical events, and applying what happened "way back then" to today's world. With the creation of Benjamin Franklin's Wise Words publisher, author, and illustrator have teamed together to compile, categorize, and present familiar quotes of Ben Franklin as well as those obscure words of wisdom that this grand old man from history bandied about.

I love the way the quotes are categorized which helps to go back and find a quote specific to a subject. I think the terse explanation in varied typesets directly under the quote "spot on" in being appropriate. And the couple of great anecdotal paragraphs follow which tell a bit about Mr. Franklin himself throughout his life and how his choice of words (specifically the quote on the page) applied to him.

So while the young reader (and parents and teachers as well) is absorbing these "wise words" they are gaining a bit of knowledge about how it can apply to them and read a short bit about Mr. Franklin. (He was apprenticed at age 12. He had three children of his own. He wrote furiously about the colonists' massacre of native Americans.)

This is a fun, educational, and timely book that I hope will find its way into libraries everywhere and into teacher resources for classroom use. Perhaps someone wants to bless a school library or a classroom with a copy as school for the year 2017-2018 begins. I highly recommend.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from MMPublicity on behalf of National Geographic Kids Books and the author to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

An quick rundown of Benjamin Franklin's famous sayings as well as tidbits about his life. It contains some good advice to live by and quirky pictures to help get the point across. A good book to read with a child to impart ideas for living a good productive life. It's not an end all be all but a great starting point. Plus you get to learn a little more about BF like the fact he was at one point a vegetarian, and he help start the first firefighting company. Did not know that, all I ever remembered was that he did experiments with electricity and invented the light bulb. At least I think he'd the one who did the light bulb. It might have been Thomas Edison. History is so not my strong point.
BF was an interesting guy.
Recommended? Sure, it makes history interesting and you learn some good life lessons along the way
Buy/Borrow? Borrow

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words uses 50 of Franklin’s own quotes to help kids navigate life. There are seven chapters, each with its own topic (tranquility, industry, order, humility, resolution, sincerity, and moderation). The foreword, written by H. W. Brands (a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his book The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin), begins with one of Franklin’s poems . . .

“If you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten
Either write things worth reading
Or . . ."

After reading Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words, readers will have a better understanding of the man and his beliefs. The 50 quotes and life snippets reinforce how fascinating a man Benjamin Franklin had been. Intended for age eight to twelve, Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words will give kids a new, more complete view and appreciation of the man, plus useful advice to help guide them through life . . .

Originally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews. Read the full review and see interior images by going to: http://bit.ly/BenjaminFranklinsWiseWords

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW:
This book is fantastic. What a great way for kids to be inspired...through the words of the amazing Benjamin Franklin. This book has 50 of the most inspirational and powerful saying Franklin ever spoke. It was whimsical, funny and illustrated beautifully and quite ingenuously...really just brilliantly. This is one of those books that brings history to life. It allows the reader to become part of history and to explore and think about things like friendship, happiness, humility and sincerity, just to name a few. I was transfixed by this book and will certainly read it again. My kids also loved it so much! They were quite moved by this amazing man and this book was one that created great dialogue between my boys and I. Absolutely loved it!

[Cheryl]

Here's hoping that this will inspire more ppl to read the original, and *not difficult*, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. That book is the one that made me decide BF is one of my heroes... this one probably would not have done so for me. But I dunno, so I won't rate

[Two BookWorms Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume, young readers get these and many more of BF’s sayings, with explanations that pertain to today’s situations – and they are not so different from the past as you might imagine. Kostyal also works in plenty of interesting biographical and historical information.

For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a fun surprise. My kids keep hiding it from each other and my son wouldn't put it down for days.

My full review for Media Masters Publicity can be found here: http://agoodreid.blogspot.com/2017/07...

[Gail Sacharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book highlighting the wisdom of Founding Father/Scientist/Inventor/Publisher Benjamin Franklin. Each chapter uses popular sayings/beliefs to impart wisdom geared toward kids about how to be a good friend, a hard worker, & get the most out of your life. Great illustrations.

[Bon Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good and i thought it told a lot of good lessons. I learned a lot of Ben Franklin's sayings.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy kids books like this that take sayings from our founding fathers and explain them in current terms. In this case it's all about Ben Franklin and some of his famous sayings, with an explanation of how they relate to kids today. Add in the historical information that relates to the sayings and this book is super interesting with illustrations that are fun to look at!

[Zach Koenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no doubt that Benjamin Franklin is one of the most interesting figures in U.S. history. He has so many little nuggets of wisdom attributed to him that ring true even to this very day. Because of the times in which he lived, however, the language and structure of those quotes can sometimes be confusing to young people of today’s generation(s). This is where “Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words” really shines, as it takes those wisdom nuggets and makes them easily-digestible for young minds.

This is a very simply-laid out book: A quote from Mr. Franklin is given in its original form, that quote is then explained in more common English, an example of the quote in action during Franklin’s real life is given, and a fun animated picture is also used to hammer-home the message.

Easily, the hallmark of this book is its ability to reach its target audience (upper elementary or lower middle school readers). The drawings are instantly eye-catching, while the overall text/formatting is bold and fun. If I were a kid who wanted to (or had to) read a book about U.S. history/biography, this would probably be the one I would choose.

I also, however, think this book could “play up”, so to speak, in that it really is dispensing some great wisdom. Older readers can just zero-in on the quotes themselves and still not be bored by the experience.

So, overall, I had a good time reading “Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words” and would recommend it to any student or educator of Franklin, bios, or U.S. history.

[R.J. Huneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quotes and information - incredible illustrations- and new things to learn for all ages about the amazing BF!