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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Dover Thrift Editions) Paperback – Print, June 7, 1996

by Benjamin Franklin (Author)

632 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 858-1000011187 ISBN-10: 0486290735 Edition: New edition

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Blessed with enormous talents and the energy and ambition to go with them, Franklin was a statesman, author, inventor, printer, and scientist. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and later was involved in negotiating the peace treaty with Britain that ended the Revolutionary War. He also invented bifocals, a stove that is still manufactured, a water-harmonica, and the lightning rod.
Franklin's extraordinary range of interests and accomplishments are brilliantly recorded in his Autobiography, considered one of the classics of the genre. Covering his life up to his prewar stay in London as representative of the Pennsylvania Assembly, this charming self-portrait recalls Franklin's boyhood, his determination to achieve high moral standards, his work as a printer, experiments with electricity, political career, experiences during the French and Indian War, and more. Related in an honest, open, unaffected style, this highly readable account offers a wonderfully intimate glimpse of the Founding Father sometimes called "the wisest American."

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Dover Thrift Editions) [Print]

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Product Details

Series: Dover Thrift Editions
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Dover Publications; New edition edition (June 7, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0486290735
ISBN-13: 978-0486290737
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (632 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Colonial Period
- #2 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political History
- #6 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > United States

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Editorial Reviews

Review

''Franklin's is one of the greatest autobiographies in literature, and towers over other autobiographies as Franklin towered over other men.'' --William Dean Howells

''The most widely read autobiography ever written by an American. It has served many Americans as it may have served Franklin - to define what it meant, what it had meant, and what it ought to mean to be an American.'' --Edmund S. Morgan, emeritus professor of history, Yale University --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From the Publisher

Also available by Edmund S. Morgan: Benjamin Franklin --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Benjamin Franklin

Customer Reviews

(632)

4.2 out of 5 stars

5 star		329
4 star		162
3 star		83
2 star		40
1 star		18

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This is a great life story of this great man.

M. Schnackenberg

Much of the book's charm comes from it's very clear use of language and subtle humor, which is difficult to capture without a great deal of direct quotation.

M. J. Martin

Stepping back, if one can, seeing it through the eyes of a person living with so much happening even globally makes for a good rainy evening read.

Just_a_Citizen

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

597 of 606 people found the following review helpful

The Original American Dream

By T. S. VINE VOICE on September 25, 2009

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

It's a little presumptuous to write a "review" of a book as historically important as this, so I'll just give a few reasons why you should read it.

It's well-written and engaging, even 200+ (nearing 300+; Franklin was born in 1706) years later. It stops in 1760, well before his involvement with the Revolution, but it covers in detail his youth, apprenticeships, the formation of his philosophy and ideals, and his path from poor roots to business and social success -- the first telling of the American Dream, the idea that a poor young man could Find His Fortune in the New World through enterprise, wisdom, and work.

There is a high degree of self-hagiography here, and it would be amusing to tally up (for example) how many times Franklin praises himself vs. how many times he advises on the virtue of humility. He smooths over controversial topics like his illegitimate son, he doesn't mention his membership in the Freemasons, etc. The construction is also a bit rambling ("Then I did this thing. Next, I did another thing. Then I did a third thing"), but Franklin simply did so many interesting things -- even in this short slice of his life -- that the book is interesting despite that. There's a great deal of discussion on his scientific and inventive accomplishments, and he talks at length about his development of his own personal moral code and how he achieved business success (along with Franklin's Personal Method You Can Use for Self-Improvement -- in some ways, this is the first self-help book!)

All in all, this is very much worth reading, and gives a compelling picture of Franklin's life and times.Read more ›

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175 of 180 people found the following review helpful

Enlightening and Written in the Style of the Times

By Paul J. Heckman, Jr. on April 10, 2001

Format: Paperback

This "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" does not contain the type of finished material one has come to expect in a finished coherent autobiographical writing covering the whole life span of the individual written by single author over a continuous period of time. This is really source material partially written over distinctly separate periods of time wherein the author, Benjamin Franklin, wrote on two different continents without access to the other parts of his text. With that said, I still think that this book is a wonderful and enlightening piece of work. It should, in my opinion, be considered for placement in every high school and college library, and it should perhaps be wise to consider it for required reading in those institutions. The book tells of the life and times in which Mr. Franklin lived, the attitudes of the colonists and of the British and the ways that things were accomplished in colonial America. It is truly amazing to me to hear first hand how a single individual with only two years of formal education can educate himself as this man did and to rise to make such truly great contributions to society, science, engineering, and politics. I highly recommend this book.

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124 of 128 people found the following review helpful

An Unfinished Autobiography of the Consumate American Life

By john purcell on November 16, 2003

Format: Paperback

Franklin wrote this autobiography as a letter of instruction in the ways of the world to his youthful and illegitimate son of 40. It only covers the first half or so of his incredible life, so the things that really made him well-known are not covered, but there is plenty here anyway.
Franklin recounts his family's modest life in England and the circumstances that brought them to Boston. He was among the youngest of a very large family, ultimately finding his way to Philadelphia to find work as a printer when an apprenticeship with an older brother turned sour.
We always think of Franklin as being a slightly older statesman among the Founding Fathers, when in fact he was a full generation older than Washington or Jefferson. Unlike popular perception, he was an athletic and vibrant youth, who rescued a drowning Dutch companion and taught swimming to children of London's elite.
Philadelphia in the 1720's and 1730's was a small town, never sure if it would really take off as a settlement. Franklin quickly befriended key politicians who felt Philadelphia had grown sufficiently to have a world-class print shop. He played a key role in the town's development, leading civic groups in establishing libraries, fire companies, meeting halls, and street cleaning services. Of course, he was also the consummate politician, serving in office, and networking his way to his first fortune by publishing government documents and printing the first paper currency. He also had a knack for working with the several important religious sects of that time and place, especially the pacifist Quakers, even though Franklin was a deist.
Franklin was a clever businessman.Read more ›

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118 of 124 people found the following review helpful

Gives you just enough to want more...

By A Customer on November 17, 2000

Format: Paperback

The book is divided into four parts, and is ultimately unfinished; that is the largest disappointment you will find as you read the last sentance. However, the book gives you a true feel for the life and times this great man lived through. The writing is very arbitrary, almost (but not quite) stream-of-conscious, and anecdotal, but enjoyable. Another disappointment is the lack of discussion of the American Revolution and his role in it. But it did give me the desire to read more of this amazing individual, and renewed my sense of pride in my country, as well as its interesting history. Read this book as a beginning, with expectations of it taking your mind to a different level of interest...

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Four Stars

Interesting

Published 6 days ago by silvia eason

A very good narrative by B

A very good narrative by B. Fraanklin with insight about his point of view. I recommend it to all history and biography buffs.

Published 9 days ago by Ive

This Philly girl loves Ben Franklin!

I purchased this book after visiting Ben's house in London since I wanted to know even more about Ben's life. Read more

Published 9 days ago by Suzy's Soapbox

If you're interested in early American history you'll enjoy this book

If you're interested in early American history you'll enjoy this book. Although he was rather unassuming, Franklin was one of our country's greatest minds.

Published 10 days ago by Raven Ranch

Three Stars

A little on the boring side, considering the life Franklin lived.

Published 11 days ago by Joan C. Robinson

Great

Looked new on time

Published 12 days ago by Jonathan Cortez

Four Stars

Gives a lot of facts about Franklin's life that we don't already know about.

Published 12 days ago by Joyce B

Five Stars

Best Autobiography I have red in a long time---more about B/ Franklin then I ever knew.

Published 12 days ago by bETTY sCRIMSHAW

Build Your Character with these Simple Guidelines

Read this book years ago and was always impressed by it. Nice to have a personal copy for myself in my library. Character builder for teens and adults.

Published 13 days ago by Amazon Customer

Very interesting but I wouldn't recommend it as highly as it was to me

Very interesting but I wouldn't recommend it as highly as it was to me. It is a short book and quick read. If you are interested it wouldn't hurt any to read it.

Published 15 days ago by kyle