Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Compleated Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” as Want to Read:
The Compleated Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
by
Mark Skousen
(Goodreads Author)
,
Benjamin Franklin
Readers and historians have long lamented that Franklin failed to complete his Autobiography. While a classic in literature and among the most widely read autobiographies in the world, he stopped writing it in 1757-years before the most exciting events of his life. Now, in honor of the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth, Skousen has finished the autobiography completely
...more
Hardcover
,
256 pages
Published
November 1st 2005
by Regnery History
(first published 2000)
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
The Compleated Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
,
please sign up
.
Be the first to ask a question about The Compleated Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
211)
This is the second of four books which are part of my Dr. Franklin marathon; it is interesting to note that this effort to complete Dr. Franklin’s autobiography ( picking up where the other left off and continuing through his death in 1790 ) has been undertaken by Dr. Mark Skousen, PhD, who has an economics degree from Columbia University and is an 8th generation grandson to Dr. Franklin.
There is some overlap as Dr. Skousen has used documents present or referred to in the Library of America edit ...more
There is some overlap as Dr. Skousen has used documents present or referred to in the Library of America edit ...more
The only disappointment with The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin is that it ends in 1757 and although fascinating the memoirs barely touches on what one of the greatest minds of his enlightened generation was famous for doing. Well, Mark Skousen picks up where his eighth generation grandfather left off, in Mr. Franklin's own words by compiling the vast amount of writing left behind by the great man. His views on his fellow patriots, his troubled relationship with his son
...more
I love that this is almost completely done in Ben Franklins words. The only exceptions are the letters written by others to him, and those are for us to understand his responses. Through his words I could glimpse his friendships, his fierce opinions, his passionate loyalty to a cause, and his many concerns. He was an extraordinary individual and having his point of view during the revolutionary war and America's beginnings helped put the time period into greater perspective. This autobiography w
...more
This biography of Benjamin Franklin takes the reader from 1751 to the end of his life in 1789. It is sequel to Franklin's actual autobiography and was written by Mark Skousen who is a descendant of this American statesman, inventor, entrepreneur, and philosopher. Written in the same eighteenth century vernacular that the autobiography was from letters and journals that Franklin kept, it is very conversational. The reader/listener feels he or she is sitting in an ale house with Dr. Franklin discu
...more
An excellent book, I thoroughly enjoyed Franklin's writing and the very interesting story of his remarkable life.
This book picks up where Franklin's own autobiography finished, namely a few years before the Revolutionary War when Franklin was appointed by the state of Pennsylvania to argue certain cases before the British court. Everything is told from letters, journal entries, and other documents left behind in Franklin's own words. An excellent companion to the first autobiography, which left all of his very active and historically significant portion of his life untold. His very successful stay in Franc
...more
I read some reviews that weren't so nice, but this man was a genius, A self-imposed vegetarian as a teenager and schooled in worldly tasks, he really was the kind of person that people should strive to be like. His motto was do unto others and he proved that he didn't lose his ambitiousness as an older man. It is at times a very tough read but I found myself wanting more. Franklin ended his autobiography without mentioning many things he did for the formation of our great country. They were late
...more
I'm so glad I finally read this. I kinda fell in love with him. He was very witty and I enjoyed his sense of humor.
A complex man whose ideals exceeded his actual capacities. Still a man of genius and wit as well as human failings and weaknesses.
The editor did a praiseworthy job of bringing together Franklin's various memoirs/autobiographical writings into a single narrative that is enlightening and informative about one of the United State's most iconic figures.
The editor did a praiseworthy job of bringing together Franklin's various memoirs/autobiographical writings into a single narrative that is enlightening and informative about one of the United State's most iconic figures.
Surprisingly readable; not hard to get through at all. Franklin is one of those figures that you think you know, and then you read something like this and realize that you don't, not really. The only problem I had with it is that it tended to kind of...go on.
I had to read this book after my son knew more about Benjamin Franklin than I did! He read a 39 Clues book that covered many of Benjamin Franklin's inventions. Also, after seeing the movie John Adams, I wanted to read this book.
A wonderful compilation by Mark Skousen. Franklin's memoirs, speeches, notes, and letters were edited and arranged chronologically in an effort to complete his autobiography. Simply brilliant.
Surprisingly interesting compilation of Franklin's writings to finish his unfinished autobiography - interesting insight into events leading up to rev war and peace afterwards.
A superior edited compilation, from Benjamin Franklin's journals and letters, recreating the last thirty-three years of his life. It does, indeed, "compleat" the Autobiography.
Surprisingly I really liked how Ben writes and talks about his life. Enjoyed this one.
Ok so guy had a lot of women and wasn't exactly a family man. Nobody's perfect
What a memory... Worth reading again regularly.
I am a professional economist, financial adviser, university professor, author and producer of FreedomFest, the largest annual gathering of free minds about liberty and freedom in the world. I edit the award-winning financial newsletter, Forecasts & Strategies (
www.markskousen.com
), and have authored many books on economics, finance, investing and Benjamin Franklin. I have been married to my w
...more
More about Mark Skousen...
