The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and Other Writings
by Benjamin Franklin 
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This authoritative Bantam Classic edition presents readers with a wide-ranging selection of Benjamin Franklin’s most important writings, illuminating the complex and appealing character of this quintessential American who rose to fame as a publisher, inventor, educator, bon vivant, and statesman. Here are selections from Franklin’s newspaper articles, from the sage wisdom of Poor Richard’s Almanac, from his entertaining letters, from his scientific essays, from his political and show more revolutionary writings, plus a generous sampling of his famous aphorisms, poems, and humor. And, most important, here is a newly edited text of one of the most vital and important works of American literature, the Autobiography. As fascinating and as relevant as ever, this timeless collection of writings reveals an extraordinary man whose mind was always curious, always questioning, and who forever remained dedicated to the principles of truth and liberty. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
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...
Every American should read, and even non-Americans would profit. Of course, like all autobiographies, needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Not his life as it was, but as he would like others to see it, probably as he himself would like to see it as well. Yet it is the record of one of the great minds of the 18th-century, not only in the colonies, but in the world. Whimsy and moral precept interchange to make an entertaining read.
This is a strange great book by an unusual man that lived in a storm of changes and actively contributed toward civil society, knowledge sharing and advancement. It is too difficult to capture all the nuance that makes Benjamin Franklin, and that his autobiography should be so straight and simple is a kind of magic.
One warning: he was also a product of his time, and his views on women, for example, can be jarring.
One warning: he was also a product of his time, and his views on women, for example, can be jarring.
This autobiography is written as a letter, once interrupted for a decade or more, to his son. As many people have pointed out during history, the author is inclined to only include the facts they want and from their point of view. A self-congratulatory tome, Benjamin Franklin has much for to be proud of himself. I enjoy his writing style and found this book to be interesting.
I personally think that this was one of the best books that I have ever read. I do not think that everyone will agree with me but I love Benjamin Franklin. He is by far my favorite character from the American Revolution! This was my second time reading this book and it was much better the second time. I think that it had a lot to do with me being older and being able to relate to the things that Mr.Franklin talks about such as virtue, temperance and other things along those lines that you really just do not start to understand until you have a few years under your belt lol. This edition was also really cool because it is not only the autobiography but also other selected writings from Ben Franklin. Some of these letters and other short show more writings were really good and only serve to help the reader get a better understanding of some of the points that Franklin was getting at in his autobiography. I would recommend this book to anyone with a appreciation for history! show less
Was fun to read what Franklin had to say not only about himself but about his beliefs and society as well; essential reading for any serious history student/buff
An interesting autobiography of an interesting man, though he did seem kind of arrogant.
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Author Information
453+ Works 19,081 Members
One of 17 children, Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He ended his formal education at the age of 10 and began working as an apprentice at a newspaper. Running away to Philadelphia at 17, he worked for a printer, later opening his own print shop. Franklin was a man of many talents and interests. As a writer, he published a show more colonial newspaper and the well-known Poor Richard's Almanack, which contains his famous maxims. He authored many political and economic works, such as The Way To Wealth and Journal of the Negotiations for Peace. He is responsible for many inventions, including the Franklin stove and bifocal eyeglasses. He conducted scientific experiments, proving in one of his most famous ones that lightning and electricity were the same. As a politically active citizen, he helped draft the Declaration of Independence and lobbied for the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. He also served as ambassador to France. He died in April of 1790 at the age of 84. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Benjamin Franklin has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.
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- Canonical title
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and Other Writings
- Original publication date
- 1771-1790: Autobiography written; 1758 ('The way to wealth') ('The way to wealth'); 1791: Part 1 of the Autobiography published in Paris as Mémoires de la vie privée de Benjamin Franklin; 1771-1790 ('Autobiography' written by Benjamin Franklin) ('Autobiography' written by Benjamin Franklin); 1793: Part 1 of the Autobiography retranslated into English and published in London; 1791 ('Mémoires de la vie privée de Benjamin Franklin', part 1, published in Paris) ('Mé | moires de la vie privé | e de Benjamin Franklin', part 1, published in Paris) (show all 12); 1818: Parts 1-3 of the Autobiography published in London by William Temple Franklin in Volume 1 of Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin; 1793 (Part 1 of the 'Autobiography', retranslated into English) (Part 1 of the 'Autobiography', retranslated into English); 1868: Parts 1-4 of the Autobiography published by John Bigelow; 1818 (Parts 1-3 of the 'Autobiography', published by William Temple Franklin, in London, in Volume 1 of 'Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin') (Parts 1-3 of the 'Autobiography', published by William Temple Franklin, in London, in Volume 1 of 'Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin'); 1949: Text of the Autobiography in this edition is that originally published in Max Farrand's "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: A Restoration of a 'Fair Copy'"; 1868 (Parts 1-4 of the 'Autobiography', published by John Bigelow) (Parts 1-4 of the 'Autobiography', published by John Bigelow)
- People/Characters
- Benjamin Franklin
- Important places
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Important events
- American Revolution
- First words
- In the following pages we meet the many-sided Franklin.
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, History, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 973.30924 — History & geography History of North America United States Revolutionary War (1775-89) Personal narratives--American Revolution
- LCC
- E302.6 .F7 .A2 — History of the United States United States Revolution to the Civil War, 1775/1783-1861 Biography (Late eighteenth century)
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 2,915
- Popularity
- 6,151
- Reviews
- 10
- Rating
- (3.94)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 28
- UPCs
- 2
- ASINs
- 57