The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Summary
Everything you need to know about Benjamin Franklin's The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, in 1 paragraph.
Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography is the story of one of the United States' Founding Fathers who, through his hard work and dedication, achieved success in many different areas of life. He writes about his early childhood, education, and experiences in business, politics, and science. He also discusses his involvement in the American Revolution and the development of a new nation. Throughout the book, he emphasizes the importance of virtue, diligence, and frugality as essential for achieving success.
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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Key Points
- Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts.
- He was the 15th of 17 children born to his father, a poor soap and candle maker.
- He had very little formal education but was an avid reader, teaching himself mathematics, science, philosophy and politics.
- He became an apprentice to his brother James, who was a printer, at age 12.
- The Autobiography charts Franklin’s rise from poverty to wealth and influence as he achieved success in various business ventures throughout the American Colonies, including running a printing business in Philadelphia and becoming a partner in a merchant firm in London.
- Franklin also delves into his political life and his involvement in the struggle for independence from Britain, writing that: ‘The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph’.
- Franklin was also active in many other areas, such as establishing libraries and fire departments, inventing bifocal glasses and a stove (the 'Franklin Stove', founding insurance companies and proposing an early version of Social Security.
- The Autobiography is one of the most influential books ever written in the United States; its themes of self-improvement and hard work have been echoed by generations of Americans since its publication in 1793.
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Top 5 Quotes from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- "Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight."
- "Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new projects. The best way therefore to obtain any favor of them is to make the matter easy by splitting it into parts, and then presenting them separately."
- "Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man."
- "Diligence is the mother of good luck."
- "Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade?"
Other books by Benjamin Franklin
- The Way to Wealth
- Poor Richard's Almanack
- The Journal of a Voyage Across the Atlantic
- A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain
- An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania
- Experiments and Observations on Electricity
- A Letter to a Royal Academy
- Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School
- Advice to a Young Tradesman, Written by an Old One
- A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency
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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is the first autobiography ever written by an American.
