Apology for Printers

by Benjamin Franklin

Slightly revised from 1965 edition. Nicely illustrated. xxv, 16, 4 pages. stiff paper wrappers.. 12mo..

16 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1731

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

[Bill Lawrence]

I picked this up last night close to the surface of my piles of books. I bought it when I casually wandered around second hand bookshops. It is a nice little volume that was made as a "keepsake" for The Celebration of Printing Week in New York in 1967, commemorating the 261st birthday of Benjamin Franklin. (It says on the first page). A reprinting of two of Franklin's essays and running to 33 pages including illustrations, it is a quickly read, even if I did find the 18th century writing a little difficult to follow at times. Apology for Printers is well worth reading as it rehearses many contemporary issues. While Franklin was definitely a printer, he was also speaking as a publisher and very carefully lays out the responsibility of such and the problems of getting it wrong. In the second essay, On the Providence of God ... he argues rationally for the providence of God in 4 different options concluding that only one is inevitable. It was an interesting argument, but I didn't fine it convincing, largely, because of the premise. However, both essays have made me want to read more of Franklin's thoughts.

[Tyler]

Read for my journalism class