Benjamin Franklin - The Atlantic

Benjamin Franklin

Why the Gulf Monarchs Shower Trump With Gifts

November 30, 2025

A big sparkly gift balanced on a finger

The Ideal That Underlies the Declaration of Independence

Walter Isaacson

November 9, 2025

Illustration of the American flag as two overlapping text bubbles—the stripes are a bubble coming from the right, and the stars are a bubble coming from the left

What the Founders Would Say Now

Fintan O’Toole

November 2025 Issue

black-and-white illustration of colonial American man standing in large room with portraits on wall and desk, wearing hat, coat, and breeches with cane, looking at his distorted reflection in a fun-house mirror

How Native Nations Shaped the Revolution

November 2025 Issue

historical black-ink engraving of tribe assembled in seated circle under trees, with member standing in center speaking and gesturing with one arm

Behind The Atlantic’s November 2025 Issue Cover

Peter Mendelsund

November 2025 Issue

painting of tableau of figures from early American society both standing and seated, with heavy red drapes and pastoral scene behind

Why Did Benjamin Franklin’s Son Remain Loyal to the British?

November 2025 Issue

illustration of William Franklin seated, with powdered wig, wearing white shirt collar and dark green jacket with yellow lapels, in the style of an oil painting

If I Work Harder, Will You Love Me?

Arthur C. Brooks

September 25, 2025

Illustration of a hand reaching from beneath a desk to type on a keyboard

To Make Someone Happy, Ask for Help

Arthur C. Brooks

March 20, 2025

A jolly giant offering to help fix a person's broken-down car, from which a smiling plume of smoke billows

The Worst Advice Parents Can Give First-Year Students

Ezekiel J. Emanuel

August 25, 2024

A shriveled plant on top of a stack of books

There Are Exceptionally Sharp Octogenarians. Biden Isn’t One.

Ezekiel J. Emanuel

July 5, 2024

Illustration where portraits of Benjamin Franklin and Joe Biden are spliced together

How to Build a Life

Declare Your Independence—From Misery

Arthur C. Brooks

July 4, 2024

An illustration of a happy person amid exploding fireworks of color.

Ben Franklin’s Radical Theory of Happiness

Arthur C. Brooks

May 5, 2022

A kite with a smiley-face decoration and a key tied to its string

The Questions That Will Get Me Through the Pandemic

June 22, 2020

An illustration of a compass with check boxes