Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School (Paperback)

by Benjamin Franklin (Author), Carl Japikse (Editor)

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

Product Description
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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Enthea Press (April 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089804801X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898048018
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #277,025 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 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)

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

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.

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not What You Think......, June 16, 2001

By	Mark Stanton (GERMANTOWN, WI USA) - See all my reviews

I found these works by Franklin to be very enlightening. The title may throw some off track, but it's not potty humour from one of America's most beloved statesmen. The title instead alludes more to figurative reference regarding the social conditions of Dr. Franklin's day. In today's society where political correctness is reaching new, dizzying heights, it's refreshing to read such down to earth philosophy and witticism as pertinent now as it was then. This short, easy read I highly recommend to anyone. You'll find many hidden treasures in the 127 pages, and trust me, it's not what you think.....

A tip of the cap to Carl Japikse, especially for the closing chapter "The Dream", told very much in the stylings of The Book of Revelations.