The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, with eBook

I’ll admit: I approached this expecting a starchy, reverent slog through ‘Founding Father Wisdom.’ Instead, I got Franklin’s *voice*—sharp, self-deprecating, and weirdly modern. Costello’s performance is the linchpin here. He doesn’t *do* a Franklin impression (thank god), but his measured, slightly gravelly tone sells the man’s blend of folksy charm and steely ambition. The pacing feels just right: brisk enough to hold attention during Franklin’s famous ‘13 Virtues’ list (which, let’s be honest, reads like a proto-productivity hacker’s manifesto), but unhurried during the juicier bits—like his escape from his brother’s apprenticeship or his *very* strategic silence about his illegitimate son. That said, two quibbles: First, the abrupt ending (Franklin died before finishing) leaves you wanting more—especially on his later diplomatic years. Second, Costello’s delivery occasionally flattens Franklin’s humor; a few dry asides (like his digs at ‘drunken’ German immigrants) land softer than they should. Still, the production is clean, with no distracting edits, and the eBook inclusion is a smart touch for quoting Franklin’s lists or timelines. This isn’t the audiobook for deep Revolutionary War analysis, but as a masterclass in ambition, reinvention, and the art of the side hustle? It’s damn near perfect. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a LinkedIn ‘hustle’ post, listen to the guy who invented the genre—then stole his rival’s newspaper subscribers by publishing at night.