James Srodes’s biography of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin: The Essential Founding Father, was selected as one of the three titles for the 2006 One Book One Philadelphia citywide reading campaign. An author, journalist, and broadcaster, Srodes’s previous books include Allen Dulles: Master of Spies and Dream Maker: The Rise and Fall of John Z. DeLorean. In addition to his books, Srodes is a contributing editor for the magazines U.S. Industry Today and Industry Europe, and he also presents a weekly business and finance commentary program on the BBC’s World Business Report.