The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Dover Thrift Editions)

"Early to Bed, and early to rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy, and wise.""We may give Advice, but we cannot give Conduct.""There will be sleeping enough in the Grave."The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, written by himself, is one of the must-read books for all, and considered by most to be the most influential autobiography ever written. As one of the founding fathers of United States, and titled 'The First American,' Benjamin Franklin was one of the most ingenious men in the recorded histo

This is a curious little book. As an autobiography it suffers from the fact that it leaves out nearly all of the most interesting parts of Franklin’s life. This is a bit like reading an autobiography of John Lennon that ends a few years before he meets Paul McCartney. I’m not saying there is no interest in what is here, but any sort of version of such a man’s life that ends well short of the American Revolution is more than a little heart breaking.There are very amusing parts of this – particula

“...there will be sleeping enough in the grave....” - Benjamin FranklinEven in death, I can't imagine Franklin resting. There is always just too much to do, too many questions to ask, too many books to read, too much to explore. My brother recommended this book to me about 30 years ago. I'm not sure why I never read it until now. Part of it must be the feeling that Benjamin Franklin would always just be there. He wasn't going anywhere. He seems to permeate so much of what it means to be an Ameri