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Mr. Also, I should warn that this work was written in the 18th century, so his style of writing reflects that. I often lament the fact that we as humans are constantly reinventing the wheel, and if we were to read more biographies and learn from our forebears -- we would avail ourselves of much of their wisdom and knowledge. Franklin's autobiography is considered to be one of the very first "self-help" books by some personal productivity gurus today (and often referenced by them in their works). However, you do get a sense of some of the reasons why the American colonists felt aggrieved by the actions of the British crown in Franklin's description of the decades prior to the American Revolution. It is a remarkable life that he describes, and it is to the great benefit of the reader that he interweaves into his tales many nuggets of wisdom that he has learned the hard way. I have found especially helpful his advice on how to avoid being argumentative, while at the same time being more persuasive.
Unfortunately, the autobiography ends in the 1760s -- which is well before his death or the events that led up to the formation of the U.S. This was not the case for me, as I found the second half of the book to actually be even more interesting than the first.
In addition, his principles of obtaining wealth through hard work should be mandatory reading for many in our financial sector today who brought about such calamity to the global economy through their greed, excess and obfuscations in the housing and stock markets.Written as a book addressed to his son, Franklin tells an interesting story of how he rose from very modest beginnings in Colonial Massachusetts -- decades before the United States even existed -- to become one of the most highly respected people of his day. I've read a few reviews that criticize the latter half of the book as meandering and less interesting than the first half.
That being the case, "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" should be considered as one of the finest and best sources of autobiographical material upon which to build.In fact, Mr. Franklin also prescribes a set of Thirteen Virtues -- of which good moral habits can be systematically obtained and incorporated into our daily lives.
It's not in any way a problem, but you might want to have a dictionary nearby for some of the less commonly used words today.Overall, "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" is an excellent read for anyone seeking to overcome bad habits, gain wisdom, and be prosperous in life -- or for anyone interested in American history. His autobiography is really a guide to proper living, industriousness, and of obtaining wisdom -- and I think it should be required reading for anyone who wishes to overcome bad habits and obtain good ones.
One style of his writing that I particularly enjoy -- and which in some ways models the parables of Jesus -- is that he will often offer some bit of wisdom, and then explain and reinforce that wisdom with a story from his life (or vice versa).
RESOLUTION: Resolve to perform what you ought. As Franklin scholar Ormond Seavey notes in his introduction to the "Autobiography", Benjamin Franklin's great influence on the affairs of the 18th century western world in business, politics and science was built on his skill as a "writer". The book is an up-by-the-bootstraps story representing the fredom to create and prosper that is the essence of American morality. Stephen Covey makes no secret of his debt to Franklin.
This book has had a major influence on self- help writing. Anthony Robbins recommends these questions as part of a daily success ritual. Cut off all unnecessary action. Be always employed in something useful.
Franklin saw humans as a black slate designed for success. INDUSTRY: Lose no time. The "autobiography" has been lauded by biographer Richard Amacher as "The First Great Book Written in America:". Perform without fail what you resolve; (6).
SILENCE: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself, avoid trifling conversation; (4). Franklin's background was puritan, and culturally he remained one of self-examining and self-improving. The famous example of Franklin's self-help ethics is what has become known as "The Art Of Virtue" in which he listed 12 qualities he aimed to possess, inter alia: (2).
This has sparked my passion for reading and learning about our country and the founders of it. I bought this book, the first book for my new Kindle 2, based on the great reviews and I was not disapointed. Humorous and wise, I amazed at his cleverness and detailed travels, his morality and his overall wisdom.
The Touchtone Edition's typesetting looks a bit easier on the eyes now that I've compared both online. His virtues, his discipline and his calm manner are all described from his learned youth as a pressman, to his forming of the Junto in adulthood and a short reluctant military leadership (yet no mention of battle, perhaps to his own relief) and his esteemed career as an Assemblyman of Philadelphia.On a side note, however short, the Dover Thrift Edition of the book has the text packed together very tightly in the pages and can make for difficult reading. A really great journal that anyone who finds interest in American history and common sense should take the time to read. It took a little getting used to the Old English style of his prose, but eventually I found myself enjoyably wrapped up in Benjamin Franklin's extremely long winded sentences, his graceful manner and humble attitude towards his impressive collection of achievements, and this all documented before the American Revolution.He speaks with intellectual wit and humor as he describes the characters he interacts with more colorfully than himself, again, always politely no matter the truth of it, from the embarrassing behavior of the Quakers to the rude selfishness of the British crown and army that ultimately drives them to their defeat.
Not a perfect man, but a great man. Such a strong and vital voice, such a story, such deeds, these could only come from a great man. I cannot believe that the writer of this autobiography was anything other than the voice that comes across the centuries.
His style is delightful and he feels present, here, now. Before reading this book, I read a few harsh comments on both the book and Franklin. The joy of reading this autobiography comes from the personality of its writer, as Franklin discusses Franklin.
Writers said that Franklin falsely portrays himself as a fine guy and that he really wasn't so fine. I enjoyed so much the library checkout that I immediately got on Amazon and ordered the book for my own library, to read and reread, learning and connecting with the author. His body has been dead for over two hundred years, but not his ideas and not his voice.
The core of what he writes is strong, but his ideas and rules for living are alive and speak to the present.
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