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The Autobiography and Other Writings
"Writing has been of Great Use to me in the Course of my Life," Benjamin Franklin said in his famous Autobiography. With characteristically calculated understatement, he attributed his enormous and varied successes to "my having learnt a little to scribble."
This collection of Franklin's works begins with letters sent from London (1757-1775) describing the events and dipl ...more
This collection of Franklin's works begins with letters sent from London (1757-1775) describing the events and dipl ...more
Paperback
,
304 pages
Published
January 7th 1986
by Penguin Classics
(first published January 1st 1791)
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http://conclusioninatinente.blogspot....
(...) "Se trata de un relato que va de más a menos en intensidad y cuyo interés se diluye como un azucarillo. Además, no incluye los momentos más interesantes de la vida del protagonista, como son los relacionados con la declaración de independencia. Y porque, con todo, uno no puede dejar de tener la sensación de que el personaje ha sido glorificado, enaltecido e hinchado como modelo de conducta a raíz de su importancia como figura mítica en la constitució ...more
(...) "Se trata de un relato que va de más a menos en intensidad y cuyo interés se diluye como un azucarillo. Además, no incluye los momentos más interesantes de la vida del protagonista, como son los relacionados con la declaración de independencia. Y porque, con todo, uno no puede dejar de tener la sensación de que el personaje ha sido glorificado, enaltecido e hinchado como modelo de conducta a raíz de su importancia como figura mítica en la constitució ...more
Am I the only one who has a hard time enjoying listening to someone who clearly loves himself so dearly go on and on and on about himself? I mean, he wrote like 46 autobiographies. Sure he may have been a genius, but I'd just as soon other people tell me about it.
view 1 comment
Mar 08, 2011
Kendel Christensen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Kendel by:
Julia Shumway
Shelves:
for-posterity
This book, though obviously an unfinished work from Franklin's life, is a gem. Is so open, so unassuming, as to make one forget that we are being tutored by one of the greatest diplomats of all time. It feels like reading a neighbor's personal blog. It is full of words to live by. Such as:
“the wisest man will receive lights and improve his progress, by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise man.”
(Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 59-60)
“I made it a Rule to forbear all direct Contradiction ...more
“the wisest man will receive lights and improve his progress, by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise man.”
(Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 59-60)
“I made it a Rule to forbear all direct Contradiction ...more
Supposedly, I am a distant descendent of Ben Franklin so when I saw this used book, I picked it up for $1. My thinking was that the autobiographical writings might be of interest since I would be reading what Benjamin, himself, wrote. I wasn't disappointed. Being a writer (among many other things) by profession, he chronicled his life from early boyhood to old age in a letter to his son. This letter was fun and I totally enjoyed it but it only encompassed 181 pages of the book. Other writings fo
...more
A fascinating read. The autobiography benefits tremendously from being written as a letter to his son, as the conversational tone makes it easy to read and gives you a sense of Ben Franklin as a person. The back half of the book is selected writings of Franklin's on a variety of topics from family life to science to diplomacy.
I'd heartily recommend this.
I'd heartily recommend this.
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...
One of the stories that I like from his autobiography is when he decides not to drink beer while working as a printer in London and all the other printers in the workshop are mystified why he doesn't make any type setting mistakes in the afternoon like they do.
After multiple readings of this book, I have to say that I am coming to agree with DH Lawrence's assessment of Franklin (quite possible the only thing I agree with him about). "I admire him.... I do not like him." Franklin is the quintessential American, getting on in the world, active in affairs, inventing, politicking, organizing, reading, but never really thinking all that much. Oh, he claims his library increased the thinking of Americans. Yes, he wrote many things and connected lightning an
...more
Few individuals have obtained the legendary status of Benjamin Franklin. As such, one can only imagine what sort of charming stories are contained in his Autobiography: one of the most widely read books of its time.
Unfortunately, there is not really much delight in reading Franklin’s Autobiography. Though it starts with an interesting account of his childhood, Autobiography mostly reads like Franklin’s life advice. Doubly unfortunate, his advice is so obvious and tedious that it borders on what ...more
Unfortunately, there is not really much delight in reading Franklin’s Autobiography. Though it starts with an interesting account of his childhood, Autobiography mostly reads like Franklin’s life advice. Doubly unfortunate, his advice is so obvious and tedious that it borders on what ...more
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential men of the 1700s. Regardless of it being science, political, and societal, he had a part in it. Franklin was too busy with changing the world that he did not have the time to make an autobiography. This is known to be the reason why it is incomplete. However, the info that was written goes into detail about the experiences as well as thoughts as Franklin witnessed, experienced, and caused change in the world. This book gives a strong sense of the
...more
It's hard to believe
he never fucked up.
he never fucked up.
This was a delightful experience. I'm amazed at how much more modern his writing seems than I'd have previously thought. Franklin turns a witty phrase, and I read with a dictionary close by, but it was in no way dense. His account of how he taught himself to be a more skillful writer by imitating admired works, shuffling & reordering passages, etc. was fascinating. Later, he dares to edit lines of a Pope poem!
The introduction by a Franklin scholar is a helpful key to interpreting the man's m ...more
The introduction by a Franklin scholar is a helpful key to interpreting the man's m ...more
Jul 30, 2011
Michele Cacano
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history-non-fic
In short, the autobiographical writings are amazing. Benjamin Franklin has an ease of communication that allows his thoughts and emotions to flow freely from the pen into the minds of even the most modern readers. I find him to be intelligent beyond all expectation, wise beyond his time, and highly entertaining.
The other writings.... well, i am grateful for much of it, as it illuminated circumstances and peripheral information related to Benjamin Franklin's writings. But some of it trudged throu ...more
The other writings.... well, i am grateful for much of it, as it illuminated circumstances and peripheral information related to Benjamin Franklin's writings. But some of it trudged throu ...more
Franklin was the foremost scientist on the planet in 1750. And that is just a small facet of a great man. His autobiography provides a great insight into the life and times of colonial America, in which he played a leading part. One gets a first hand look at the French and Indian [Seven Years':] War, as fought in North America on the administrative front.
What is surprising is the self-absorbtion of Franklin himself. One sees a man who is totally consumed with himself, and thinking of himself a ...more
What is surprising is the self-absorbtion of Franklin himself. One sees a man who is totally consumed with himself, and thinking of himself a ...more
This was one of the hardest books to get through but it was pretty interesting to learn so much more about one of the great men who shaped America. I always knew Ben Franklin did a lot of things but I really had no idea how much he managed to accomplish in his lifetime. He was one of the early supporters of uniting the 13 colonies into one nation which was new info to me. I knew about bifocals and electricity, but I didn't know about the library, hospital, militia, and university he founded. I l
...more
First, let me state that I have not read this entire book. I read the autobiography, and aside from possibly going back and reading his advice to a friend on choosing a mistress, it's all I intend to read.
Now, parts of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography were very interesting, particularly when he's initiating fairly new social services for Philadelphia. (i.e.: circulating libraries, volunteer fire departments, and a university). However, I was very disapointed that despite writing in the 1780s, ...more
Now, parts of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography were very interesting, particularly when he's initiating fairly new social services for Philadelphia. (i.e.: circulating libraries, volunteer fire departments, and a university). However, I was very disapointed that despite writing in the 1780s, ...more
In this man's story I found a mixture of insightful, dull, and maddening, Franklin was an unusual charicter. I found this quote to frame him quite well:
"And lastly, (I may as well confess it, since my Denial of it will believ'd by nobody) perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own Vanity."
Franklin worked hard to get somewhere in the world, and became a great man of his time. Yes, he might have been a bit puffed up, but at least he is willing to admit it so frankly.
"And lastly, (I may as well confess it, since my Denial of it will believ'd by nobody) perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own Vanity."
Franklin worked hard to get somewhere in the world, and became a great man of his time. Yes, he might have been a bit puffed up, but at least he is willing to admit it so frankly.
Benjamin Franklin is a giant of American history-the only man to sign all four major documents of the founding of the United States. He figures in prominently in the John Adams miniseries on HBO, not to mention his Poor Richard and electricity fame. This led me to finally read The Autobiography and Other Writings of Benjamin Franklin. The hallmark of the Penguin Classics are the knowledgeable forwards and carefully edited edition and this one is no exception-Kenneth Silverman has done an excelle
...more
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.
The highlight was his interaction with George Whitefield, and Franklin's ability to laugh at himself as he's won over (to some degree) by the evangelist's startling preaching and oratory. As Whitefield supposed, Franklin seems a likable guy, though an apostate disguised in Christian virtue and self-betterment (along with some others of the early American heroes). In Franklin's words, "He [Whitefield] used, indeed, sometimes to pray for my conversion but never had the satisfaction of believing th
...more
Dec 20, 2012
Linda Cowell
added it
I stand amazed at the acomplishments of Benjamin Franklin. He was self taught, having finished only grammer school, yet he initiated the first lending libraries, fire departments, newspaper chains and militias in the "colonies". He designed and built paved streets with drainage and streetlamps. He invented the Franklin stove, an improved design over existing models. As a representative from Pennsylvania to the Assembly of the American Colonies, he introduced a plan for the unification of the col
...more
This is a book that could be considered a classic "to read"; and I agree, it is worth the time. Because Franklin has had such a tremendous influence on this country, and could be considered near genius given his additions to invention and thought to society, his autobiography is an important source to not only better understand Franklin, but perhaps the United States as well. That being said, the autobiography reads like Franklin's personal journal (as parts actually are) and as such much of the
...more
The account of Franklin's humble beginnings, his frugal and industrious nature, and his rise to acclaim within New England. Perhaps the most interesting section of this book lies in the personal letters of Franklin, depicting, at times, a more pious and sincere account of the man. Among these letters lie the writings of an inventor, a politician, a humanist, and a deist. The comical anecdotes and accurate accounts of the brutality of humanity, though related often with much satirical shading, de
...more
An easier read than I expected, and full of advice and wisdom that is just as pertinent today and it was more than 200 years ago. Benjamin Franklin was astounding! My only regret is that he died before finishing the autobiography.
I don't know what I was expecting when I bought this book. I'm a big Ben Franklin fan so it seemed only natural to understand the man we all have come to love... Oh I understand him all right. I guess I was looking for more of a page-turner on the exciting events of the Revolution but instead I only got a taste of it. Perhaps my favorite guy was too modest or he felt his younger years of apprenticeship deserved to take up the MAJORITY of this book.
Dull. Hard to believe this was written by a great man. Reads like the maunderings of someone in their dotage.
Really easy read overall. It was very interesting to see what he saw as his own personal failings. In reading it I got the impression that he didn't really see them as faults at all but wanted to portray them as such for the dumbass reader. I don't quite know the correct term to describe it but it's like self-deprecating humor that makes you look charming for poking fun at yourself. The only difference was that his mentioning of personal failing wasn't told as a joke. Anyway I found it funny and
...more
I have enjoyed getting to know Benjamin Franklin. He is truly a modern Socrates.
Ben Franklin is the model of a Renaissance Man, and he had an astute understanding of Human nature.
I enjoyed his sense of humor, and his wisdom is just as applicable today it was over 300 years ago.
As I'm reading more biographies than I have in the past, I'm beginning to notice patterns in the lives of the great men in the world. Their vision is never disconnected into one subject of life, but their genius spills ov ...more
Ben Franklin is the model of a Renaissance Man, and he had an astute understanding of Human nature.
I enjoyed his sense of humor, and his wisdom is just as applicable today it was over 300 years ago.
As I'm reading more biographies than I have in the past, I'm beginning to notice patterns in the lives of the great men in the world. Their vision is never disconnected into one subject of life, but their genius spills ov ...more
The book is a must read for anyone interested in American History. It was really interesting to read first hand accounts someone who was so involved in the founding of our nation and its culture. I was bored, however, through the first 65 pages and towards the end it got fairly dry as well. I was fascinated by the portion of the book that talks about his industry, inventions, and other endeavors as one of our first great citizens. Half the book was a five star and the other half was a two star,
...more
لا إضافة تذكر في الكتاب لمن يعرف تاريخ بنجامين فرنكلين. كتاب مليء بالآراء الذاتية، مكانته أوضع بكثير مما كتبه آباء مؤسسون آخرون كجفرسون أو آدمز (حتى مراسلته مع زوجته متعة كبرى). بالنسبة لي الجديد في الكتاب هو تبين سبب إختلاف الهويات المستعارة التي استعملها فرنكلين لنشر بعض نصوصه.
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Benjamin Franklin
was a writer, a philosopher, a scientist, a politician, a patriot, a Founding Father, an inventor, and publisher. He helped with the founding of the United States of America and changed the world with his discoveries about electricity. His writings such as
Poor Richards' Almanac
have provided wisdom for 17 years to the colonies.
More about Benjamin Franklin...
