The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
by Benjamin Franklin
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
history/bio buffs
This is a classic bio and a wonderful insight to one of our most popular founding fathers. Rather than viewing Ben Franklin as a stuffy guy in a powdered wig, we see Mr Franklin as a flesh and blood person - trying to build a career, falling in love (or just taking the company of women of ill-repute), making friends and eventually becoming family man.
Mr. Franklin was a true humanitarian and lover of the colonies. The number of public benefits that he created, developed or improved - hospital...more
Mr. Franklin was a true humanitarian and lover of the colonies. The number of public benefits that he created, developed or improved - hospital...more
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Read in February, 2008
This was a book about the early years of Ben Franklin, by his own hand. It was before all the controversy about his morals and womanizing. He was an amazing boy, youth and young man, self-taught and hungry for knowledge. In his middle teens he was on his own, and made something of himself. By the time he was 21, he owned his own printing shop in Philadelphia. He was the inventor of the subscription library, the fore-runner of public libraries and started the first fire department and made the p...more
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From the greatest president this country never had (to paraphrase Firesign Theater). Franklin was a successful businessman, diplomat, publisher,writer,scientist and all around colonial renaissance man.He truly was a founding father--signed every major document dealing with the incorporation of this country. I have read some criticisms of this autobiography that said that Franklin glossed over certain aspects of his formative years and that it wasn't as honest as it could have been. Oh well, it'...more
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Read in January, 2008
This was my book club book for the month. I really enjoyed learning more about Benjamin Franklin. The book was a little disjointed with the first part basically a letter to his son telling him about his early life through young adulthood. Then when he was more famous he was talked into writing more of his history to be eventually published, so it was directed more to the general public. The first part was the best and most interesting. There continued to be good stuff throughout, but it kind of ...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
Those who like History, Biography
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
no one
Required reading for my "American Idols" English course. Sadly, I would rather have watched American Idol. B-Frank tells us, in so many words, of his early genius, his indefatigable work ethic, his heroic yet humanitarian nature, and his kooky adventures as an international playboy straight outta Philly. In one memorable chapter, reflecting on the Ten Commandments and finding them irrelevant and distinctly lacking in substance, B-Frank formulates his own list of virtues. Humility regis...more
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Read in January, 2007
It is amazing to read something written by this person I've heard about all my life, but who has been dead over 200 years. To hear him talk about his life bridges the gap of time that separates us and makes him seem more real. He starts off by saying that he will probably endulge his own vanity in this autobiography...his narrative is full of clever statements like this that made me smile. He has quite an interesting personality that comes out in this book. I got a little lost in the later p...more
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Read in March, 2008
I'm enjoying listening to this book on audiobook. It's a bit dull, a long narrative of BF's thoughts and efforts. But it is intriguing both how the man painted his own life, and his constant action. It's an interesting if dully written tale which I am enjoying. I wish I had his "industry" or productivity! The book ended halfway through his life, he got busy and never finished it. Sadly, it ended even before the rise of revolutionary thought--it was a few years short of the declar...more
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Read in January, 2008
When I started this book weeks ago, I read the introduction, Notes and first three pages and put it aside for weeks since I thought it would be a rather boring book. I was pleasantly surprised when I picked the book back up yesterday and began reading it again. Once I got into it a bit I found it enjoyable to read and wished I had not set it aside so long. By the time I finished it I was wishing it had been longer and covered his whole lifetime.
A quote from the book:
"So convenien...more
A quote from the book:
"So convenien...more
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Read in April, 2006
recommends it for:
fans of American history
The very first autobiography ever written. It was customary in both ancient and up to then modern times that if you were worth writing about someone else would take up the pen. Socrates never wrote anything; it was Plato that recounted his life. Jesus did not write down a single word rather it was the Apostles who recorded his teachings. The Caesars left it to Tacitus to document their glory. Not Ben Franklin. Ben tells you how to get rich in America and make a name for yourself. Apparent...more
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Read in January, 2004
Benjamin Franklin is an amazing man, who accomplished many things in his life. He was continually reevaluating himself, his habits, and his beliefs. He was never satisfied in his quest for learning; he continually spent a large portion of his income on books for personal edification as well as that of others (through the library system his group of friends initiated in Philadelphia). Having known a lot about his historical roles, I found this autobiography to be a treasure to our nation by ex...more
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Read in March, 2008
I picked this book out of curiosity, from my regular browsing of audiobooks at my local library. Straight from the penmanship of one of the founding fathers, it is interesting and informative reading direct from 18th century America. I learned some about Benjamin Franklin as a businessman and statesman, his opinions, and his personal perspective and intimate insider's view of the goings-on between the British crown and the American colonies. The book also contained accounts of Benjamin Frankli...more
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Read in February, 2007
This book is basically Ben Franklin’s journal about himself. It was fascinating to learn of all of the everyday little things that he thought up. Things you don’t even think about having to be invented, like gutters. It was also interesting to hear of his early life since we usually think of him as a portly gray haired man flying a kite. He was really pretty adventurous. All that said, the style of it made it boring and hard to get through. I’d be more interested in reading a biography w...more
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Read in January, 2007
If I could pick one person to meet, Benjamin Franklin would be in my top 3. I love the tone he uses when writing about himself. He writes it with a tone that says, "Some people have suggested I record what I've accomplished, so I'll give it a whirl.... and then I decided it would be a good idea to have a fire department... and so I believe learning French and then learning Latin is better because at least you can use French..." He writes as if he only saw himself as practical, not a...more
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Read in September, 2007
This autobiography only covers Benjamin Franklin's childhood to middle-age. He never finished writing all of his later years' accomplishments. I would say his life's achievements are very gentleman-like and he is not boastful. I call him gracious. It was good to see how he and his thoughts of the world changed over time. Benjamin was very honest with himself even though he wrote the book at a later date. This book was type of guide on how to live a more noble life.
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Read in January, 2005
This is a wonderfully inspiring Read. It's a small book packed with great insights into virtuous living. His curiosity and observation of the world around him lead him to live an amazingly full life in which he accomplished much for the good of mankind. All this combined with his wit and writing style make it enjoyable to read and truly encourages the reader towards self improvement. I'm actually reading it again right now. It's great for new year's resolutions.
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Read in January, 2003
I loved this book. A prof at school suggested Benny was a little pompous and self-righteous... I on the other hand thought he had a lot of foresight and wisdom and nobody as intelligent as he was would willfully paint themselves negatively... cause that would just be dumb. I would reccommend this for my LDS friends- I think BF really paved the way for the restoration of the gospel... his "articles of belief" etc. Cool guy.
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Read in January, 2002
When I first read this I was only 20 and it taught me a lot about how great men are made. From an early age, B. Franklin was concerned about bettering himself and learning all he could to make himself more educated. He had no money and ran away from home as a teenager. He became one of our countries most famous founders. It really is interesting and enlightening. There is something for everyone to learn from this man.
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Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography, outlines precisely the "self-madeness" and the individuality that makes much of United States culture, in my mind, fundamentally flawed. The piece is important to Georgian history, but is ultimately the story of a man who thought too highly of himself. In between the clever writing, which might make you chuckle, it seems more exhausting than educational or entertaining.
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Ben Franklin is the epitome of practical wisdom. There's something almost Eastern about him. The autobiography is patchy and not all that coherent, but it provides a window to how this American statesman thought and lived. My favorite part was his character-building programme: Practice 13 virtues, each one week, so by the end of the year...
The whole autobiography is available online. :)
The whole autobiography is available online. :)
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.63 (799 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.95 (19 ratings) number of reviews: 110popular shelves
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