Today we have elevated science to a position formerly reserved for religion and, while declaring our minds therefore free, we are accepting as many superstitions as our ancient ancestors who painted themselves blue and copulated while howling at the moon. One of the great myths that we accept with joy is the story of Ben Franklin “Scientist”. The reality is that his electrical “apparatus” was a parlor trick purchased when he “retired” to the life of a “gentleman” and left commerce – hopefully to receive a royal appointment in the colonies. He was just about as “enlightened” as any of the other hack politicians of his – or our – day!
Stealing God’s thunder : Benjamin Franklin’s lightning rod and the invention of America New York : Random House, c 2005 Philip Dray Lightning , Experiments , History , 18th century Hardcover. 1st ed. and printing. xviii, 279 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. [229]-239) and index. Clean, tight and strong binding with clean dust jacket. No highlighting, underlining or marginalia in text. VG/VG
Stealing God’s Thunder is a concise, richly detailed biography of Benjamin Franklin viewed through the lens of his scientific inquiry and its ramifications for American democracy. Today we think of Benjamin Franklin as a founder of American independence who also dabbled in science. But in Franklin’s day it was otherwise. Long before he was an eminent statesman, he was famous for his revolutionary scientific work, especially his experiments with lightning and electricity.
Philip Dray uses the evolution of Franklin’s scientific curiosity and empirical thinking as a metaphor for America’s struggle to establish its fundamental values. Set against the backdrop of the Enlightenment and America’s pursuit of political equality for all, Stealing God’s Thunder recounts how Franklin unlocked one of the greatest natural mysteries of his day, the seemingly unknowable powers of electricity and lightning. Rich in historic detail and based on numerous primary sources, Stealing God’s Thunder is a fascinating original look at one of our most beloved and complex founding fathers.
“The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William L. Shirer was the first history of Nazi Germany, from Hitler’s youth through the Battle of Berlin, to be written in English. It continues to be one of the finest, as Shirer himself was eyewitness to many of the events and personalities he describes. Although lengthy, Shirer’s work focuses on characters, motivations, storytelling, and moral triumphs and failures rather than dates and facts; the end result is an incredibly readable work, one that brings to life this incredibly pivotal period of history. The book remains entirely relevant; not content to merely describe, Shirer examines the moral consequences of personal actions. He has come under criticism for blatantly labeling key historical figures as evil, cowardly, lazy, inept, brave, or visionary. While some claim this takes away from the work, it is refreshing to read such honest analysis, for Shirer does not make these conclusions without giving evidence of their reality. If it is true that history repeats itself, one would be wise to read this book.
But what in the world was it when the story ended? While the hero does something that is truly um, heroic, how much of what happens to John Tyree is his own fault? He breaks his word to Savannah, who is supposedly the greatest love of his life, leaving her free to move on with her life, which she does in Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. (By the way, doesn’t the book say Savannah is a brunette with dark features? Who’s THIS chick? What about John Tyree’s olive skin?)