Charming self-portrait covers boyhood, work as a printer, political career, scientific experiments, much more. Its openness, honesty, and readable style have made the Autobiography one of the great classics of the genre.
Explore the memoirs of one of the most inventive Americans in history. A fascinating and unconventionally educated man, Benjamin Franklin imparts—in his own words—wisdom and remarkable life lessons on the art of living with great personal integrity. Taken from John Bigelow’s carefully researched 1868 publication that was transcribed directly from the original manuscript, this copy is sure to be a treasured part of any home library. Franklin’s autobiography and significant papers are still in great demand globally, and describe the interesting, varied, and unusual life of one of the most amazing Founding Fathers of the United States.
Autobiography - Ancestry & Early Life, Beginning Business in Philadelphia, First Public Service & Duties, Franklin's Defense of the Frontier & Scientific Experiments
Autobiography - Ancestry & Early Life, Beginning Business in Philadelphia, First Public Service & Duties, Franklin's Defense of the Frontier & Scientific Experiments
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a record of the life of one of the most impressive individuals in the American history. Franklin's autobiography, although unfinished, represents one of the most famous and influential examples of an autobiography ever written. His book is the record of an unusual life told in his own unexcelled conversational style. The Autobiography is Franklin's longest work, and yet it is only a fragment of it. The account of Franklin's life is divided in a manner that reflects the different periods in which he wrote them. The first part, written as a letter to his son, William Franklin, was not intended for publication; the composition is more informal and the narrative more personal than in the second part, from 1730 onward, which was written with a view to publication. Contents: Ancestry and Early Life in Boston Beginning Life as a Printer Arrival in Philadelphia First Visit to Boston Early Friends in Philadelphia First Visit to London Beginning Business in Philadelphia Business Success and First Public Service Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection Poor Richard's Almanac and Other Activities Interest in Public Affairs Defense of the Province Public Services and Duties Albany Plan of Union
This account stands as a classic among autobiographies, a compelling and easy read about a man who, from lowly beginnings in Boston, rose to become a hugely-respected public servant, writer, scientist and inventor and who went on to play a key role in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. Franklin's autobiography, published after his death, is an unfinished collection of memoirs written over four different periods of his life. It starts in the form of a letter to his son, William, and describes aspects of his childhood in Boston in the early 1700s and his move to Philadelphia where he set up a successful printing business. The many contributions he made to public causes grew out of a strong sense of civic duty, and a stringent work ethic that formed part of his "plan for attaining moral perfection," which is detailed in the second period. The last two sections cover his impressive political and scientific work and give the reader an insight into the developing tensions between the American colonies and the British crown. A polymath of immense standing, Benjamin Franklin stands out as one of the most highly esteemed figures of the nineteenth century.
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This book is a simple but an insightful and uplifting memories and reflections on the odyssey that took Frank Kamara to the United States of America from his village in Sierra Leone, West Africa, where a dream was just a dream, where opportunities were nonexistent, and where hope and bright future for all the young people were just fumes of fancy. This was in the late fifties, and there was only one young man who attended a secondary school from my village. The dream to aspire to higher education was just a wish-fulfillment fantasy, and the general population was poor and uneducated. However, things have changed considerably. Modern homes are being built, education is expanding, a secondary school and two primary schools have been established, and there is a plan for a super highway construction that will soon pass through the village. There were several positive factors that were true about my village: First, we lived in nuclear families, in which all the members protected one another and provided the needs of everyone. Secondly, we always lived in families that had intense love to go around, except in my case. The only family member, my father, upon whom I could depend and receive my training, the love, the nurture, and the emotional support I needed as a growing young boy was not only physically, mentally, and verbally abusive but he was the individual whose subversive behavior almost ruined my life. He constantly reminded me about growing up to be a failure and that I’d amount to nothing. For him, I was not expected to be educated, let alone to achieve anything in life. He compared me to a helpless girl. The verbal and physical assaults on me and my mother were daily occurrences. We were beaten up on regular basis. I went through a lot more that could have brought all his predictions to pass. My father, therefore, is the main reason for me to write this book. I hope it will inspire all the young people who are in despair and who are in abusive and hopeless situations to realize that they can develop self-worth, self-determination, and create for themselves the empowering nature of solid internal motivation that can defeat failure.
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