Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Paperback – 11 July 2015

This Yale University edition of the Autobiography is the definitive edition. The introductory notes are exhaustive. Where Franklin includes a table or diagram in his autobiography this edition also includes them. The work itself is enlightening about the man, his talents, the goals of his life and his times (The colonies of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania etc., the American Revolution, the new founding American nation, the court of Louis VX , England of the late 18th century etc.) Recommended. Also see the Folio edition Benjamin Franklin in his own words, which is not the autobiography pure and simple but an abridged version with other included material letters, newspaper article to create a fuller story of Franklin's life. The Folio editon work is something half way between this autobiography and a biography also recommended.

Ben Franklin was a true polymath. He is without doubt one of the greatest minds of the enlightenment. He role in science and philosophy is profound. I love the personal insights regarding his life. His excellence of mind and his friendship with Thomas Paine are inspiring. The unprincipled rogues in Government today betray the essence of The American Revolution. We need more Franklin , Paine and Jefferson . I really enjoyed this book.

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.

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.

Very interesting read from a very intellegent man. It's incomplete and there's a lot missing however there is a lot of interesting information. He mentions scepticism of Christianity, his belief that women should be educated and the public in general. He had his own rules that he wrote in a way to be accepting of other religions. Surprisingly philosophical and educational.