Travel Back in Time

A lot of well-researched history will be found between the covers of this book.  The author presents much in-depth information about both Ben Franklin and George Whitefield, individually.  This includes the time of their birth, along with what their parents were like, their family structure, and relationships with their siblings.  

There is a tremendous amount of background data about the society of the day, including people, events and religion.  The events that took place in both England and America are included since the men spent various seasons of their lives in both places.  All of the information the author has gathered is given in a very intriguing way.  He suggests the men might have been a part of the many interesting happenings that he renders.

However, this is supposed to be a book about the relationship between Ben Franklin and the pastor, George Whitefield.  Although there is a small amount of the book devoted to that, for the most part, this volume gives a history of these two men’s individual lives.  Very little of the book is devoted to interactions between the two, let alone the friendship, that these men were supposed to have had.

You will learn a lot about what life was like in the past.

I enjoyed learning about both Ben Franklin and George Whitefield, as well as, what life was like then.  Each man led a fascinating life.  The odyssey both men made from humble beginnings to living well-known successful lives is amazing.  George Whitefield’s faith journey was very thought-provoking.  I found the parts about Whitefield caught my interest the most.  There are also some interesting time-lines in the back of the book.  But I was really hoping to learn about the friendship the two shared, especially since that was part of the book’s title.  I also wanted to know more about how their friendship influenced America, which was also in the title.  It was disappointing to find very little information about that.

Although this is a well-written history, it doesn’t cover the subject matter it stated.  Because of that, this is a four-star book.  If you want to learn about a relationship between Ben Franklin and George Whitefield, and what that did for America, I cannot recommend this book.  However, as a compelling history of the time period both these men lived in, along with an account of these men’s individual lives, I can certainly endorse it.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of The Printer and the Preacher:  Ben Franklin, George Whitefield, and the Surprising Friendship that Invented America through The Thomas Nelson Publishing BookLook Bloggers Program for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner.  All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The book’s website:  http://theprinterandthepreacher.com

The author’s website:  http://randypetersen.com/