The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
by Benjamin Franklin 1791  / 151 pgs. Biography

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is listed as a must-read for great American works.  It doesn’t disappoint.  Franklin was writing it in the last ten years of his life and was unable to finish it.  He started writing it in 1771. Beginning in 1720, when he was 14 and moving through his last entry for 1757, it covers his earlier years.  Naturally, many would like to read about the years not written as Franklin died in 1790 at 84.

However, the book still gives an excellent view of Franklin’s fascinating world and how he thought and created his political and business viewpoints.  Most know of the stories that he was a founding father of the United States, the United States Minister to France during the Revolution, printer, and scientist.  Naturally, those are the highlights in U.S. history books.

What this biography shows is how truly a renaissance man he was.  In 1733, he taught himself French, then Italian, Spanish, and Latin.  He was a lover of books and didn’t enjoy drinking throughout the day.  His first son died of Small Pox.  Franklin could have gotten him inoculated and regretted not getting the procedure completed.

Franklin founded an Academy for poor children to gain a higher education for free called the Academy and College of Philadelphia and was its First President.  Today the Academy is called the University of Pennsylvania.

Franklin’s biography goes into much of his early life. It’s not a fast read as there is much information in each paragraph.  The way it’s written makes the reader sometimes forget they are reading an Autobiography.  After finishing it, I now understand that Franklin kept vastly detailed journals.  I was sad to discover what I desired to devour, his insights and thoughts from 1760-1788, were never finished as he died before he could complete them.  However, I wasn’t disappointed by any of this book.  I would recommend it if you want to learn about how Franklin developed himself into the man we know in today’s history books.       
              

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and get lost in an excellent book,

Lopaka

Next Read – The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli