Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

Here is the book in which America first told its favorite story about itself, the tale of the poor boy who, by industry and wit, made himself into a citizen of the world.

What it's about

Franklin recounts his own life, beginning with his modest Boston boyhood and his early years as a printer, and following his rise through business, science, and public affairs. He describes his schemes for self-improvement, his famous program for cultivating the virtues, his experiments and inventions, and his growing role in the life of his colony and, eventually, his nation. Written in installments over many years and left unfinished, the book has the intimacy of a man reflecting frankly on how he became what he was.

Themes

Self-improvement and industry stand at the center, Franklin's conviction that character can be built deliberately, habit by habit. The book is a study in practical wisdom, civic duty, and the peculiarly American faith that a person may rise by effort and ingenuity. Beneath its plain surface runs a wry self-awareness, a willingness to note his own errata and vanities with humor.

Why it still matters

Franklin's account helped define the idea of the self-made individual, and its influence on American culture is hard to overstate. It remains a foundational text of memoir and of the national imagination, endlessly cited for its aphorisms and its shrewd, genial voice. It is also simply a delight to read, the company of a genuinely engaging mind.

Who it's for

Anyone interested in American history, the art of the memoir, or the practical philosophy of self-betterment will find this indispensable, and good-humored company besides.

Sources and references

Verified references for this edition: Open Library, WorldCat.