The Printer and The Preacher, a review

I have come to believe that most history geeks, myself included, tend to have a favorite time in history where they like to land for awhile... if not for a lifetime of study.  For me that has been the American Revolution.

Until a few years ago when I became interested in what changed in America which led up to the Revolution... and that began with my study of Jonathan Edwards.  It was in my "Edward's reading", that I learned of the odd friendship between Ben Franklin and George Whitefield. 

Franklin being one of our most famous Deists and Whitfield definitely one of the most famous preachers of the time.  He was THE most famous preacher if one doesn't include Edwards, who history probably views more as a writer and philosopher albeit he was also a pastor.

So it was with great interest that I agreed to review this book, subtitled Ben Franklin, George Whitefield, and the Surprising Friendship that Invented America.  The author, Randy Petersen, does a good job of bringing the reader into the lives of these two men.  We learn of their differences and similarities. 

We read what is going on in both England and America during their lifetime and the affects early religious upbringing has on both men.  The author takes us back to the founding of America for both religious and economic reasons and how this lays a foundation for what will become the Great Awakening.

It doesn't sugarcoat the history of America nor does it make an idol of either these two important men of the time.  America is seen as both a nation founded on the ideals of many Christian denominations (and how those denominational splits affected the founding of the States) as well as a place men came to seek their fortune.  

The book is interesting and informative, although at times a little choppy in the way it is set up.  Once you get past that, it is an easy read.  I would say this is an important addition to the library of any person with an interest in early American history. 

I would especially recommend it for homeschool families studying the American Revolution for there are few books describing the decades leading up to the revolt of the Colonies.  While this is a biography of two men and their friendship, it is provides a good "biography" of the nation in the eighteenth century.

This book was provided by the publisher for the sake of review but the opinion is my own.

Further information can be found on Amazon.com... here.*

*All links to Amazon.com are Associate links.