Philip Dray talked about his book Stealing God’s Thunder: Benjamin Franklin’s Lightning Rod and the Invention of America, published by Random House. Mr. Dray used slides to accompany his talk as he expounded on the life of one of America’s Founding Fathers and the period in which he lived. The discussion focused primarily on Ben Franklin’s invention of the lightning rod and his revelation of the mysterious workings of lightning and thunder - studies that made him one of the foremost scientists of his day. Mr. Dray explored the importance of Franklin’s discoveries in America as it emerged as a new country and his battles for recognition and respect from the world of science. Following his presentation, he responded to questions and comments from members of the audience.