Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School [Paperback]

Benjamin Franklin (Author), Carl Japikse (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2002

Everyone knows Benjamin Franklin was one of the great philosophers of his time. But there was a side to him you were not exposed to in school--a bawdy, scurrilous side that was all too eager to ignite the fires of controversy. From time to time, he would put some of his satirical ideas down on paper. Fart Proudly is a testament to the rogue that lived inside the philosopher and statesman.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Still lively and scandalous, you'll find yourself reading passages aloud to anyone who'll listen--especially if upwind." -- Sacramento Bee, June 1997

About the Author

Benjamin Franklin was the first great satirist produced by America, as well as a scientist, businessman, philosopher, and statesman without equal.

Carl Japikse is the author or editor of more than 50 books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Enthea Press (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089804801X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898048018
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carl Japikse is the author, co-author, or editor of more than 75 books on the mind and creativity. He also writes a twice-weekly column distributed by internet called Above the Mean, and a companion report, The Mass Consciousness Reconnaissance Report. (The collected columns are available in books entitled Above the Mean, Toward the Light, You Are What Your Read, and Our Greatest Gift.)
His bestselling book is Fart Proudly, a collection of the humorous writings of Benjamin Franklin, which has sold over 200,000 copies. Many of his better known books are issued under pseudonyms, as in the case of two books by his cat Waldo Japussy, The Tao of Meow and The Ruby Cat of Waldo Japussy--and his parody of books on Zen, The Zen of Farting by a student of Zen master Reepah Gud Wan.
All of Japikse's works are designed to stimulate thoughtfulness and help people shed the shackles of prudery, superstition, and careless thinking. His titles include It's All in the Mind--a collection of mystery stories--The Light Within Us, The Story of God, Love Virtue, Light and Night, The Fabled Gate, The Hour Glass, A Primer of Love, The Spirit of America, We Hold These Truths, Enjoying Poetry, and What's the Big Idea?
He has also written two plays--Plato's Cave and The Last Laugh.
Japikse has collaborated with Robert R. Leichtman, M.D. for the last 35 years. Together and individually, they have written seminal books on the topics of the human mind, creativity, personal growth, and human psychology, from the recent Brainwashed! to such standards in personal growth as Active Meditation, Forces of the Zodiac, The Art of Living, The Life of Spirit, and Enlightenment.
The team of Leichtman and Japikse is also responsible for the works of Xavier Crement, M.D.--A**hole No More, A**holes Forever, and The A**hole Conspiracy. A fourth book in this series, The Bulletproof A**hole, is in the works.
Japikse is publisher of Ariel Press, Enthea Press, and Kudzu House, as well as president of Light, a nonprofit corporation that encourages the spread of enlightenment throughout the world. As such, he has overseen the publication of reprints as diverse as the complete poetry of Alexander Pope and Richard Hovey to the novels of H.G. Wells, Talbot Mundy, Joan Grant, A.E. van Vogt, Dion Fortune, and Henry van Dyke. He edits two journals of inspired writing--Sophy and Sophy for Kids.
He is the developer of the Enlightened Management Seminar, the Enlightened Classroom, and Walden Grove schools.
A graduate of Dartmouth College, Japikse worked in his youth as a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal. He lives with his wife Rose and their cat Pericles in the mountains of northern Georgia, where he writes and teaches.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let one go..., November 29, 2002

By 

ewomack "ewomack" (MN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School (Paperback)

This is truly a fun little book. It's worth having on your shelf when friends come over and peruse your collection. Without fail they'll pull this one out thinking it's nothing but potty humor. Then they see WHO?!?! Ben Franklin?!?!!? WHAT?!?!?

This very small book is a collection of the satire of Ben Franklin. Those of you looking for a good book of fart jokes will be deeply disappointed. Those looking for a good laugh will not be. Those looking to learn more about Ben Franklin will learn a great deal.

A few must-reads are "Rules on Making Oneself Disagreeable" (though farting is not mentioned), "On choosing a Mistress" (again, no farting, but it's hilarious), and the best of all "A Letter to a Royal Academy" in which Franklin makes a suggestion to a group of scientists: throw away all your abstract theory and find a way to make farts smell nice. It is the most subtle and disparaging piece I've ever read, and it rides that line between "is he SERIOUS?!?" and "is this is a joke!??!"

There are actually historically important pieces in this book, believe it or not. Don't let the title throw you. "Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced" is cutting satire from right before the American revolution. It ran in papers of the time and made an impact. "The Speech of Miss Polly Baker," about a woman having children out of wedlock, was reported as fact throughout the colonies until Franklin admitted the joke.

And finally, for those looking for good fart humor, there's "The Dream" from which the book takes its title. Read and giggle 'till you cough.

Something the book does not mention is that many of these pieces were originally published anonymously, as was the custom in the 18th century. You would not have seen "'Fart Proudly' by Benjamin Franklin" in the press. Instead there would have been no name on the piece or a false one. Franklin assumed numerous false names throughout his life, as did most authors of the time. Writing was more about what was being written than who was writing it. This has changed drastically in the intervening centuries.

Hopefully this selection will whet your appetite for more Ben Franklin. He wrote an incredible amount, much of it is very funny as well as significant. He was no stodgy old professor, as this book more than proves. If you enjoy this collection, go out and get more, or read a biography. You'll find there's much more to Ben Franklin than you ever thought.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The book is about the Ben Franklin I wish I knew in school, September 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School (Paperback)

Fart Proudly is a collection of Ben Franklin's lesser known but most interesting writings. They cover a variety of subjects but all exhibit Franklin's questioning nature and many show a sense of humor I never guessed present in Ben. The book's title is derived from a letter he wrote to the scholars at the Royal Collages in England, whom he considered petty and constipated. Highly recommended.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Why Don't They Teach This Side of Ben in School?, August 17, 2002

By 

TheHighlander (Richfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School (Paperback)

This is a good book to go along with all the policitcally correct studies of Mr. Franklin in our public schools. This is the more controversial side, the cantankerous side, the mischievous side of our great American patriot.

Mr. Franklin's writings on choosing a mistress are both funny and eye opening. His letter to those holding a scientific competition asking that they find a way to improve the smell of 'human wind' is absolutely hilarious. His perceptions on what happens when you try to please everyone are very insightful but seldom taught.

Mr. Franklin's article that tears down the actions of the free press of his day are also relevant today. He was a great believer in freedom of speach but a watch dog of press.

Although this book is short, it is worth the read. We should be teaching our children the entire Ben Franklin (as we should with all historical figures) not just the politically correct view that we now teach to them. Read this book, decide for yourself.