Jonathan Lyons speaks about his newest book, "The Society for Useful Knowledge: How Benjamin Franklin and Friends Brought the Enlightenment to America." Lyons' book tells the story of America's coming of age through its embrace of practical invention, applied science, and self-reliance. It offers fresh insights into such figures as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Rush, and the inimitable, endlessly inventive Franklin, and provides a new perspective on the founding of America. Lyons illustrates how the movement for useful knowledge is key to understanding the flow of American society and culture from colonial times to the present day.

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