The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: A Benjamin Franklin Autobiography Classics (The Original 1791 Edition) Paperback – 19 Feb. 2022

I bought this autobiography after it was recommended in Dale Carnegie' classic book 'How to win friends and influence people' and I wasn't disappointed. To quote Dale Carnegie from the aforementioned title:'If you want some excellent suggestions about dealing with people and managing yourself and improving your personality, read Benjamin Franklin's autobiography-one of the most fascinating life stories ever written, one of the classics of American literature.' p. 133Although the autobiography is unfinished, there is a time line at the back of the book, outlining the key events in Franklin's life. The book itself can double up as a self-help book if you follow Benjamin Franklin's plan to live a virtuous life. There is a list of 13 virtues and he worked on one at a time until he became efficient in them all. It's a interesting read, some of his suggestions on living are extremely beneficial and the price isn't bad either.

As one of the "discoverer" of electricity and one of the Lunar Society in 18th century, I picked up this book with anticipation. It hardly mentions his work on electricity and does not mention his involvement in British society.For all its selectivity it is a fascinating book about a self made man with few privileges who went on to have huge impact on framing the US Constitution.As the youngest of 17 children born in Boston, USA to a tallow chandler, he left school at 10 and was bound as an apprentice to his brother, a printer. At 17 he ran away to Philadelphia and from there made his own way in life establishing his own printing business, importantly his own newspaper "the Pennsylvania Gazette" and position in Philadelphia society.The autobiography focuses on his early years. It is full of homilies on self improvement, on the art of conversation, and on reading and work. In 1732 he began issuing his famous "Poor Richard's Almanac" borrowing and composing pithy utterances of worldly wisdom. In 1758 the Almanac was published as "Father Abraham's Sermon" and is now regarded as the most famous peice of literature produced in Colonial America.But it was a raw and hard life. The travails of establishing a business from nothing and with very tough communication. For example Boston was a fortnight sailing from Philadelphia. On one typical journey "we struck a shoal in going down the bay and sprung a leak; we had a blustering time at sea , and were obliged to pump almost continuously, at which I took my turn".As he became more involved with public affairs he founded an "American Philosophical Society" for the purposes of enabling scientific men to communicate their discoveries to one another. His electricity discoveries gave him a reputation in Europe. But his fame as a statesman rests on his connections and negotiations with the British and the French. "The Colonies" (i.e Americans) went to enormous lengths to work with the British Government and the King and try to persuade them to avoid the iniquitous and one sided taxation that led to the American Revolution. Despite his efforts at compromise, Franklin became second only to George Washington as the champion of American Independence.A very selective and incomplete autobiography but so illuminating.

Nuff said

May be worth bearing in mind that these wise words were written before paragraphs became fashionable, otherwise a great read.

In this candid autobiography, B. Franklin unveils his vision and tactics in business, political, social, religious and sexual matters. His colonial viewpoint stands in sharp contrast with his `moral' attitude.American DreamB. Franklin is the perfect example of the fulfillment of the American Dream. Working from the age of 10 in his father's business, he goes to New York, `a boy of 17, without the least recommendation or knowledge of any person, with very little money in my pocket' and becomes a wealthy and influential businessman.Character, colonialism, protestant influenceHe was a ferociously independent mind with a huge aversion for arbitrary power. He was a generous, good-hearted man, who refused to patent his inventions, because `as we enjoy great advantage from the invention of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.'(!)But he was not so generous with the aboriginal US population: `rum may be the appointed means to extirpate these savages in order to make room for cultivators of the earth.'He was a perfectionist, wanting to become completely virtuous. He even composed a catalogue of moral virtues (13) with temperance (eating, drinking), frugality (no waste), industry (useful job) and chastity (sex only for health and offspring).Business, general tacticsUnder the influence of his father, he became a writer (of almanacs) and a printer and later launched his own newspaper.He never published pamphlets or proposals in his own name, but under pseudonyms like `some publick-spirited gentlemen', thereby avoiding `the presenting myself to the publick as the author of any scheme for their benefit.'Another tactic was: `I shall never ask, never refuse, nor never resign an office.'Politics, religionHe sees through the political game: `while a party is carrying on a general design, each man has his particular private interest in view. Man primarily considered that their own and their country's interest were united.'In religious matters, he was a deist, but never became a member of a sect, because he saw their blatant hypocrisy: `each sect grievously calumniated other sects' and `every other sect supposing itself in possession of all truth.' Even the Quakers got easily rid of their principle `that no kind of war was lawful.'Sex, marriageCandidly he confesses that `that hard-to-be-governed passion of youth hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women, which were attended with some expense besides a continual risque to my health.'For marriage, `the business of a printer being generally thought a poor one.' `I was not to expect money with a wife, unless with such a one as I should not otherwise think agreeable.'These sincere autobiographical notes are a must read for all those interested in US history.