| Title | : | The Autobiography and Other Writings |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0140390529 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780140390520 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1791 |
The Autobiography and Other Writings Reviews
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One of the stories that I like from his autobiography is when he decides not to drink beer while working as a printer in London and all the other printers in the workshop are mystified why he doesn't make any type setting mistakes in the afternoon like they do.
Sadly Franklin's own life story dries up long before the interesting stuff of revolutionary politics, swanning about in Paris pretending to be some-kind of sage from the forest as opposed to coming from one of North Americas largest urban centres. Written for his son who was a loyalist, while he himself was a traitor and a member of a rebel alliance, the book is filled with the sense of young Ben's indignance at being apprenticed to his elder brother, running off to Philadelphia, visiting London and eventually establishing his own printing shop and his wonder at coming across an edition of
Pilgrim's Progress printed in Dutch which somehow he fails to turn into a money making venture -
This book, though obviously an unfinished work from Franklin's life, is a gem. Is so open, so unassuming, as to make one forget that we are being tutored by one of the greatest diplomats of all time. It feels like reading a neighbor's personal blog. It is full of words to live by. Such as:
“the wisest man will receive lights and improve his progress, by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise man.”
(Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 59-60)
“I made it a Rule to forbear all direct Contradiction to the Sentiments of others, and all positive Assertion of my own. I even forbid myself, agreeable to the old Laws of our Junto, the Use of every Word or Expression in the Language that imported a fix'd Opinion; such as certainly, undoubtedly, etc. and I adopted instead of them, I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine a thing to be so or so, or it appears to me at present. When another asserted something that I thought an Error, I denied myself the Pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately some Absurdity in his Proposition; and in answering I began by observing that in certain Cases or Circumstances his Opinion would be right, but that in the present case there *appear'd or seem'd* to me some Difference, etc. I soon found the Advantage of this Change in my Manners. The Conversations I engag'd in went on more pleasantly. The modest way in which I propos'd my Opinions, procur'd them a readier Reception and less Contradition; I had less Mortification when I was found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevail'd with others to give up their Mistakes and join with me when I happene'd to be in the right. And this Mode, which I at first put on, with some violence to natural Inclination, became at length . . . easy and . . . habitual to me.”
(Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 75)
“I shall never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign an Office.”
(Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 94)
“When Men are employ'd they are best contented.”
(Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 126) -
Am I the only one who has a hard time enjoying listening to someone who clearly loves himself so dearly go on and on and on about himself? I mean, he wrote like 46 autobiographies. Sure he may have been a genius, but I'd just as soon other people tell me about it.
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This is an interesting look at Benjamin Franklin's life. The first part is his autobiography, which he never finished. It tells mostly of his early life and his beginnings in the printing business. Then there are collections of his letters, scientific writings, and political writing. These are divided by topic, with short explanations from the editor giving general information surrounding those letters or publications. It shows his work as a scientist and inventor, his gradual assent into public life as a statesman and politician, and his personal life as a husband and father and his personal relationships.
I found it very interesting and readable, and I loved seeing how meticulous and sensible Franklin was in ordering and organizing his life. He had some excellent ideas and some crazy ideas. He was a person always searching and wondering and puzzling through the mysteries of life. He must have had a terrific amount of energy, since he often writes about diligence and industry. He was a rare personality.
I enjoyed this close look into American history! -
I don't know why but I get a real kick out of reading Ben Franklin. Not only are you getting opinions and observations straight from the horse's mouth when it comes to the 18th century, you're getting it from an oddly amusing and very pivotal figure in American history. What first appears quite stuffy is actually great entertainment...
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http://conclusionirrelevante.blogspot...
(...) "Se trata de un relato que va de más a menos en intensidad y cuyo interés se diluye como un azucarillo. Además, no incluye los momentos más interesantes de la vida del protagonista, como son los relacionados con la declaración de independencia. Y porque, con todo, uno no puede dejar de tener la sensación de que el personaje ha sido glorificado, enaltecido e hinchado como modelo de conducta a raíz de su importancia como figura mítica en la constitución de los EEUU. A fin de cuentas, ni sus ideas morales, ni religiosas, ni su temperamento constituyen, por originalidad, motivos suficientes para el endiosamiento al que la tradición le ha sometido. La pretensión de establecer en la biografía un modelo de conducta exportable a otras personas constituye una inclinación muy loable pero, admitámoslo, esperábamos más. Y un mundo lleno de Benjamins Franklins sería aburrido. Más ordenado, más previsible; un mundo lleno de burgueses y pollaviejas con sus rígidos sistemas de categorización. Por tanto, un mundo también más coñazo." -
Another brilliant Founding Father we were blessed with. Reading this was a revelation to me - I didn't realize really how accomplished B. Franklin actually was, and all his contributions to both the country and to science. A great book authored by a truly great man.
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What a bore! There’s some interesting facts in here, but there’s so little feeling and emotion. I know that’s typical of the times, especially with non fiction, but Frederick Douglass’ autobiography was 10X better in just about every way. The storytelling is very flat. Stick to flying kites, Ben.
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I definitely came away from this one respecting Benjamin Franklin less than before reading it. If one did not know Franklin's contributions to the American Revolution, this autobiography would serve almost no purpose. The vast majority of the book consists of Franklin very dryly listing off many first-hand experiences he lived through, including some facts about the people who were at one point close to him. There isn't much in the way of wisdom being passed on - he's simply listing through his experiences, which are mostly uninteresting. There are some short bits where he advocates very clearly for the hard-working mentality that all Americans should adopt.
Being that the autobiography is unfinished, and never even penetrates the subject matter of the American Revolution, I can't understand this book's reputation other than to get a slight insight into his brain. The "Other Writings" contained, in particular, are either incredibly boring or incredibly racist (I know it's par for the time, but it's still jarring). He's surely influential, especially as one of the original and foremost figures in the American media empire, but I will look elsewhere for some perspective on his accomplishments and influence. -
Энэ хүнд хайртай болсон❤
Highly recommended! -
I am officially giving this 3.5 stars but I will round up for the purposes of this website in deference to the pride of Philadelphia. I skipped the "other writings" so give me an incomplete if you must. My 14 year old daughter and I read this in conjunction. See her review for the definitive opinion on this work.
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Supposedly, I am a distant descendent of Ben Franklin so when I saw this used book, I picked it up for $1. My thinking was that the autobiographical writings might be of interest since I would be reading what Benjamin, himself, wrote. I wasn't disappointed. Being a writer (among many other things) by profession, he chronicled his life from early boyhood to old age in a letter to his son. This letter was fun and I totally enjoyed it but it only encompassed 181 pages of the book. Other writings followed, accompanied by short introductions by Lemisch which helped place them in time and importance. Overall, it gives a pretty comprehensive overview of the man - almost all written by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century.
I had, personally, written Ben Franklin off as a philanderer since the most I knew of him were his latter years where he negotiated a trade agreement with France. His life in France was comfortable, I suppose. But, what I learned of the young man was interesting. There are some similarities in the way I think and the way he thought. Of course, you might say, you can find similarities with anyone, but I think it's significant enough to feel a little kinship.
My favorite parts consist of his list of 13 virtues, some writings from Poor Richard's Almanac, and his comments on religion and faith. In the end, he chose a way to escape an unhappy marriage through living in London and France which may have contributed to a rift between him and his only living son, William. This is the sad part. Even sadder was the unfortunate circumstances his wife, Deborah must have lived and died after his departure.
All in all - a good insight into life in the mid-1700's! -
Although I frequently read non-fiction books, this would not be normally be one in which I was interested, but as a book club choice, I gave it a try. The writing is clear and, even with the 18th century spelling and sentence construction, easy to read. Ben Franklin clearly intended to write a full autobiography, since he gives a great deal of detail to his early life including his thoughts on character, religion, and economy. Though he was not schooled for more than 2 years, he read widely, taught himself 4 other languages, began a very successful printing business, began a newspaper, wrote frequently on issues he thought needed to be discussed, served many years in the General Assembly for Pennsylvania, organized and helped fund a local militia, began the first lending library in the United States, began a debate society that lasted his lifetime, served as the Postmaster General of the colonies, helped fund and build three forts for defense of the local populace from the Native Americans, discovered electricity, served as envoy to England for the General Assembly, and many, many other things. The real problem with this autobiography is that it ends far too soon, in 1759, before the Revolutionary War, his service in the Second Continental Congress, his service as Ambassador to France, and service as President of Pennsylvania. This was a man who could fairly state that he lived a full and valuable life.
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A fascinating read. The autobiography benefits tremendously from being written as a letter to his son, as the conversational tone makes it easy to read and gives you a sense of Ben Franklin as a person. The back half of the book is selected writings of Franklin's on a variety of topics from family life to science to diplomacy.
I'd heartily recommend this. -
"Y, dada la posición de los Estados Unidos, como punto de referencia económico, político y cultural, el influjo sobre los Estados Unidos se convierte pronto en el influjo de los Estados Unidos sobre otros países y culturas. No puede comprenderse el mundo occidental de hoy sin una referencia a los Estados Unidos; y no puede comprenderse gran parte de la 'mentalidad norteamericana' sin hacer referencia a Franklin". (4).
"Sin embargo, sus escritos más difundidos han dado lugar a que sea hoy considerado como un 'hombrecito color tabaco', en palabras de Lawrence, y a que el mismo nombre de Franklin haya sido señalado como el símbolo de la autosuficiencia y el filisteísmo burgués, y de muchos de los defectos de la vida y el pensamiento norteamericanos". (7).
"Para los europeos, y sobre todo los franceses de finales del XVIII, el americano Franklin, representante de las colonias en rebeldía contra Inglaterra, simbolizaba el mito del 'buen salvaje', del 'hombre natural', frente a la figura decadente del hombre pervertido por la estructura política heredada". (7).
"Sería posible en gran parte trazar un mapa del pensamiento norteamericano tomando la figura de Franklin como punto de referencia, con proyecciones históricas en los que le precedieron y los que le siguieron". (11).
"Harvard era la institución destinada a preparar la élite directiva puritana, y por ello mismo se encontraba sometida a una disciplina autoritaria que ahogaba toda posibilidad de conocimiento científico". (31).
"En múltiples trabajos, como Necessary Hints to Those who would be Rich o Advice to a Young Tradesman y a lo largo de la Autobiografía, el Poor Richard's Almanack y el Way to Wealth, Franklin expone una filosofía utilitarista que llega a afectar incluso a las virtudes 'morales': 'La honestidad para Franklin es útil porque asegura el crédito; y tal es también el caso de la puntualidad, frugalidad y laboriosidad, y es por eso por lo que son virtudes' indica Weber". (37).
"Analizando al respecto la obra de Franklin, el ideal que se deduce de ella es (frente al aventurero codicioso) el representado por la figura del 'hombre de bien' que goza de reconocido crédito en su comunidad y que, al perseguir metódicamente el aumento de su capital, lo hace impulsado no tanto por la auri sacra fames, como por una exigencia interna que llega a convertirse (y a aceptarse socialmente en forma dominante) como un deber justificado por sí mismo". (40).
"Franklin ve al empresario capitalista necesariamente en un contexto social capitalista, con unas reglas éticas imprescindibles para el mantenimiento de todo el edificio social". (41).
"El hombre que se aplica en su vocación podrá mirar a los reyes cara a cara. Esta sería la justificación o el objetivo final de la ética frankliniana, la no dependencia respecto a otros, el poder situarse en 'plano de igualdad' incluso ante los poderosos". (45).
"Una comunidad en que cada uno cumple su oficio es por ello una comunidad igualitaria, frente a la estratificada sociedad europea". (45).
"En este sentido, Franklin aparece como el precursor del American dream, del sueño americano; o mejor dicho, de uno de los dos 'sueños' que aún hoy se disputan la primacía en cuanto utopías dominantes de la sociedad norteamericana". (46).
"La obra clásica de Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, donde los dos 'sueños americanos' se enfrentan: a un lado los Buchanan, representantes de la tradición frankliniana, y al otro Jay Gatsby, que representa la posición contraria, la mera consideración instrumental de los bienes materiales en la línea del idealismo emersoniano". (48).
"Deísmo e individualismo forman un todo coherente en su obra, traduciéndose en un rechazo hacia estructuras intermedias que aspirasen a conseguir una lealtad y vinculación del individuo cara a fines supuestamente trascendentes. El principio del self love, por el contrario, aparece inspirando todo el pensamiento frankliniano: en último término, la utilidad se convertiría en principio moral decisivo". (49).
"Esta posición individualista como punto de partida lleva al rechazo de toda justificación que no sea la basada en el contrato o acuerdo interindividual libremente acordado. la legitimidad tradicional se ve así negada a priori. Legítimo es aquello que los individuos han determinado libremente como útil y acordado como tal". (50).
"Era, pues, consecuente buscar junto al orden natural, el 'orden moral' que permitiera reducir a la unidad tendencias aparentemente contrapuestas". (52).
"En cierto modo, y en varios fragmentos de su obra, viene a contraponer la aleatoriedad de la política, concebida como un juego de dados, a la dirección racional de otras empresas, que puede simbolizarse mediante el juego de ajedrez". (53).
"Esta actividad organizadora, a la busca de un orden que se entendía también como ordenación política, partía, de acuerdo con las ideas de la época, del concepto de contrato. Y el contrato supone una igualdad básica entre las partes, de forma que cada una de éstas pueda expresar su opinión e influir, no sólo en el pacto sino, tras éste, en la marcha de la sociedad". (54).
"Tercer leit motiv de la Revolución; más allá del derecho a la vida y a la libertad, se apoya en el derecho a la búsqueda de la felicidad". (58).
"Las personas de buen juicio, según luego he podido apreciar, rara vez caen en el vicio de discutir salvo los abogados, los universitarios o los que se han criado en Edimburgo". (78).
"Aquella frugalidad contribuyó a que mis progresos en el saber fueran más rápidos, pues sabido es que la claridad de mente y la prontitud de asimilación intelectual son, por lo general, compañeras de la templanza en comer y beber". (81).
"Y puesto que los objetivos de la conversación consisten al fin y al cabo en informar o ser informado, en agradar o en persuadir, creo que los hombres sensatos y de recto juicio no deben mermar su capacidad de hacer el bien, adoptando una postura dogmática que suele disgustar a los interlocutores, crear oposición y contrariar los fines aludidos del don de la palabra". (82).
"A veces cuando no se tiene dinero se es más generoso que cuando nos sobra, tal vez para que no se den cuenta de que no lo tenemos". (90).
"Una de las ventajas de ser animal racional es encontrar siempre una buena razón para hacer lo que nos parezca". (100).
"La conversación nos compensaba a los dos de lo escaso de nuestra colación". (113).
"Llegué a convencerme de que la verdad, la sinceridad y la integridad en las relaciones de unos hombres con otros eran lo más importante para ser felices". (124).
"Me pareció su actitud tan mezquina, que cuando me encontré después en situación de poder hacer lo que él había hecho, tuve el buen cuidado de no comportarme jamás como él". (135).
"Cuanto le ha acontecido es de aplicación a todos los que tratan de elevarse, punto en el que no creo que los escritos de César o de Tácito sean más interesantes que los de usted para quien quiera juzgar a la sociedad y a la naturaleza humanas. Pero, señor mío, éstas son razones de importancia secundaria, en mi opinión, si se las compara con el efecto que el relato de su experiencia puede tener en la formación de futuros grandes hombres". (140).
"La escuela y otras instituciones didácticas suelen basarse en principios equivocados, y funcionan dentro de un torpe mecanismo casi siempre orientado a metas equívocas". (140).
"Lo más parecido a la experiencia propia es ver revestida de interés la de aquellos que han sabido desenvolverse bien en condiciones similares a las nuestras". (142).
"La virtud de saber esperar el momento oportuno es importante para alcanzar el éxito en el gran teatro del mundo" (142).
"A veces un ligero sacrificio de la vanidad personal y dejar que los demás se adornen con plumas ajenas, compensa a la hora de buscar resultados prácticos". (147).
"La modestia de mi tono verbal hacía que el interés en escucharme se intensificara en el auditorio, al tiempo que decrecía el prurito de la contradicción". (160).
"A decir verdad, no creo que haya en nosotros otra pasión más reacia a dejarse domeñar que la del orgullo". (160).
"Los grandes acontecimientos del mundo, las guerras, las revoluciones, etc., son llevadas a cabo y realizadas por partidos. Los puntos de vista de esos partidos reflejan los intereses actuales de los mismos, o los que ellos tienen por tales. Los puntos de vista de esos partidos al enfrentarse entre sí dan origen a la confusión. Mientras cada partido se preocupa de llevar a cabo su programa general, cada individuo está pensando en sus intereses particulares. Tan pronto como un partido obtiene lo que se propone, cada individuo se apresta a satisfacer sus intereses personales, los cuales, por lesionar los de otros, ocasionan la escisión interna del partido, dando origen a nueva confusión". (161).
"Quien te ha hecho un favor estará más dispuesto a hacerte otro que aquel a quien tú se lo has hecho". (170).
"Pude comprobar la verdad del popular aserto de que lo difícil es hacer las primeras cien libras, quizá por lo prolífico que parece ser el dinero". (177).
"Cuando yo me retiré, tal como he indicado, de mis negocios particulares, acariciaba la idea de que con mi fortuna, no muy grande pero suficiente, podía proporcionarme el necesario ocio para entregarme a mis estudios filosóficos y a mis entretenimientos favoritos". (189).
"La felicidad humana no es tanto producto de sensacionales golpes de buena suerte, que pocas veces ocurren, cuanto de pequeñas circunstancias favorables que acontecen todos los días". (197).
"Mirad al mundo habitado y veréis cuán escasos son los que saben lo que les conviene o, sabiéndolo, se esfuerzan por alcanzarlo". (200).
"Estas gentes amigas de discutir, rebatir y contradecir a los demás suelen ser poco afortunadas en sus negocios". (201).
"Todo lo que satisface a nuestro orgullo y tiende a exaltar a nuestra especie sobre el resto de la creación nos lo solemos creer más fácilmente, mientras que las verdades que son desagradables se rechazan con la mayor indignación". (251).
"[Benjamin Franklin] fue responsable de la emisión de papel moneda en las colonias británicas de América (1727)". (353).
Me encantan las listas. Ahora mismo no recuerdo en cuál fue exactamente, pero descubrí este libro en una lista acerca de los libros más leídos en las universidades pertenecientes a la "Ivy League", entre las que se cuentan algunas de las más prestigiosas del mundo y tuve curiosidad. Reconozco que sólo conocía a Benjamin Franklin como el inventor del pararrayos, pero el sabio hombrecillo hizo más, mucho más. Su autobiografía se considera el origen del pensamiento burgués norteamericano. Las ideas del llamado 'sueño americano' y el 'hombre hecho a sí mismo' le pertenecen en gran medida y por ello, resulta muy interesante indagar entre las anécdotas relatadas en su autobiografía. Además de ello, Franklin inventó una estufa, un nuevo sistema para iluminar las calles en el que el alumbrado público no se ennegreciera tanto impidiendo una visión nítida, fue uno de los impulsores del sistema público de bibliotecas, defendió la independencia de las colonias americanas de Inglaterra, logró que acuñaran su propia moneda, se interesó por la política, la Economía, acerca de la que daba consejos o máximas populares en unos conocidos almanaques, reformó la educación, que en el siglo XVIII aún dejaba mucho que desear en América, incluso en la prestigiosa Harvard, y un sinfín de cosas en lo que parecen haber sido dos vidas en lugar de una sola. Muy interesante, muy ameno, muy recomendable, entiendo por qué estaba en esa lista, no sólo como representación de los orígenes de la forma de pensar norteamericana en la actualidad, sino como relato de los inicios de toda su cultura, educación e incluso la independencia de los Estados Unidos como nación. -
2022-02-05:
Benjamin Franklins over 250 year old autobiography is full of sound advice. It became the most popular autobiography ever written according to everyman’s library edition.
Benjamin Franklin was to become one of the most famous people in history. Eminent printer, inventor, politician, millionaire and scientist of his time.
“From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books.”
p.15
13 virtues:
Temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, humility.
“I flattered myself that, by the sufficient though moderate fortune I had acquired, I had secured leisure during the rest of my life for philosophical studies and amusements.”
p.146
I have two copies of this book: one paper back book bantam classic and one hardcover book everyman’s library edition. -
Ben Franklin was the original irony leftoid
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Not big into history but also did not like the format of the book. Felt like one long rambling sentence.
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After multiple readings of this book, I have to say that I am coming to agree with DH Lawrence's assessment of Franklin (quite possible the only thing I agree with him about). "I admire him.... I do not like him." Franklin is the quintessential American, getting on in the world, active in affairs, inventing, politicking, organizing, reading, but never really thinking all that much. Oh, he claims his library increased the thinking of Americans. Yes, he wrote many things and connected lightning and electricity, but all his achievements only make him the archetype for the American doer. Self-improvement is never to make a better self for Franklin, but to make a better Franklin in the world's eyes.
As for his religious views, I will let Lawrence take another shot. Franklin relates his religious principles about one God, who governs the world with his Providence, and who should receive worship and service from men (by doing good to other men), and the immortality of the soul and judgment based on virtue and vice. Lawrence notes the following: "Now if Mr. Andrew Carnegie, or any other millionaire, had wished to invent a God to suit his ends, he could not have done better. Benjamin did it for him in the eighteenth century. God is the supreme servant of men who want to get on, to produce. Providence. The provider. The heavenly store-keeper. The everlasting Wanamaker.
And this is all the God the grandsons of the Pilgrims Fathers had left. Aloft on a pillar of dollars." Puritan fathers would probably be a better comment, but on the whole I agree with Lawrence. For Franklin, the religious means of organizing and motivating society justify religious ends, albeit little ones.
In response to Lawrence's attacks, I will let historian Daniel Walker Howe say something more positive about Franklin and his contemporary, Jonathan Edwards: "Edward's message urged people to let God take over their hearts, and all else would follow. Franklin's message was that God helps those who help themselves." For Howe, both strands of thinking were woven together in 19th century evangelicalism, as many of Franklin's efforts at bettering humanity in the temporal world were taken over by evangelicals who also retained at least some of Edwards' thought. "Thus evangelical piety energized humanitarianism as deism never could - just as Franklin had expected." Franklin could say of his own Deism, quite humorously to my view, "I began to suspect that this Doctrine tho' it might be true, was not very useful."
In the end though it has to be said, it is not Frankin's ideas as much as his actions that influence coming generations. And it is not those actions, but the acclaim he seeks for those actions, that make Franklin seem less than likable. Franklin did not create the idea of self-improvement or of the improvement of society, but he remade them for colonial America. And for that his Autobiography takes endless credit. -
One of the finest autobiographies I have read. If one needs a peek into what American literature sounded actually was in the eighteenth century, this book is a must.
Additionally, reading this biography would strike a fine difference between narrative style of a politician and a philosopher. One realizes upon reading this piece of art that the American English language has undergone innate changes in its composition and that flexibility of placing verbs and nouns has been formalized greatly in English used in the nineteenth century.
Benjamin Franklin's style of writing is in stark contrast to the style of writers who write for the "reader". Benjamin writes himself out in the purest of expressions, without caring for the complexities his complex and forming maze of long sentences, depicting the inner working of mind of a great philosopher.
His emphasis of 13 virtues, should especially be made part of curriculum of all countries in present times, when moral values and ethics are becoming extinct day by day. His story from the childhood has the power to revamp the infrastructure of minds collapsing wholly under the ever-unending race of greed, competition and lack of compassion towards fellow beings.
This book is a must for those researching the advent of political systems and establishment of a finer form of governance that emanated with Republicans & Congress.Benjamin himself being at the forefront of numerous civic & societal innovations, esp taxation, this auto-bio is an excellent read in the manner the democratic institutions have come to operate since their inception. -
The autobiography was interesting, the "Other Writings" much less so. The book almost falls in line with my opinion of Franklin himself, half easy and half hard to consume.
Franklin truly is a fascinating figure of inconsistencies. Here's a man who tried everyday to achieve moral perfection going so far as creating a system for it (humorously, one of his goals in this system was to joke less and not "engage in punnery"). At the same time, this is a man who attempts "familiarities" with a close friend's wife without expressing an inch of regret.
There are useful things in here as well. You glean how crafty Franklin was in how he conducted himself. In his episode with electricity and lightning, he teaches you that it can pay to avoid argument and let your work speak for itself. He frequently espouses how working in the background, not as the leader or figurehead, can be the most effective way to accomplish your goals.
This is fun to read as a work of history. So much of it is outdated, but it's fascinating to see how much of an impact a single individual can have on a less developed society, the opposite of our current world of intense specialization. It's also funny to see Franklin come close to modern beliefs while falling just short. After seeing how much more effective a printer's wife took over the business after the husband died, Franklin's takeaway wasn't that women can be just as effective as men and should be allowed to do everything men are allowed to do, but rather that a woman should be allowed to earn her livelihood like this only after her husband has past away. Who knows? Maybe he was just trying to be "politically correct" for his times. -
the opening section to franklin's son is interesting simply by consideration of his chosen topics. franklin gives profound preference to his friends and his occupational prowess than to his family or his wife. individual friends receive long-drawn paragraphs detailing their reading habits and community involvement and philosophical leanings, while franklin's wife get five paltry sentences in the final few pages. tacky.
the next chunk of the autobiography, exploring other facets of franklin's professional and "philosophical" life, reads like Forrest Gump's memoir. by franklin's own account, he's personally responsible for the majority of big and small triumphs in political and domestic life across new england, including many inventions for which others stole patents. loads of humble brags later, we've left with a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas that is hard to believe - and not even enjoyable reading - given franklin's admitted fascination with sea voyages to his son and his own ability to turn a goldfish into leviathan.
several of his essays concerning science, religion, and politics in the back of this volume, which i read intermittently along the way through the autobiography, were not as interesting as i had hoped. a biography of franklin, perhaps by walter isaacson, would probably make for better, more trustworthy reading. -
So I confess I read the Autobiography very slowly. This really is best read with Mr Silverman's excellent introduction which I actually read before and after. There is a lot of wisdom and humor, including a lot of pointed criticism of his various employers, family, and a few friends. It is quite readable and actually speaks to so much of his life that I wasn't familiar with. What I enjoyed all the more though was all the shorter pieces and essays included. Franklin is really amazing and complex. His advice on diplomacy and persuasion is as true today as ever, and hinges on (like him) being willing to be persuaded, learn, and have our minds changed. There is little here about his family and sons besides for the brief but gut wrenching regret that he didn't have his toddler son inoculated for small pox and lost him. I'd like to know more about his common law marriage and his son. Their tragic falling out when his son remained a loyalist during the Revolution puts new color on Franklin's regret that England did not agree to compromises he suggested which would have avoided high taxes and a bloody war. I would highly recommend the book and this edition!
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An interesting dive into the mind of one of America's founders, an industrious man with a great sense of wit and a joyful ability to inspire. From virtues and morals to industry, sailing and politics - one is never bored while reading this book. The only obstacle which could prove difficult for some is the language, as Benjamin writes in a now "old-timey" manner. After a few pages you'll get used to it, though. I recommend this one, for sure.
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Except for the collection of quotes and letters in appendix section, I did not much enjoy this book. Probably because I do not know much about Franklin, like who is he and why was he such a popular figure in history. Need a bit of research on Franklin as a person before I read his autobiography again.
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Read along with my high school student for literature. I learned a lot about Benjamin Franklin! It was so neat to learn how he invented systems still used by us today. I had no idea he founded the first public library and first fire department!
