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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

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Founder connections

  • Charlie MungerReading recommendation
    The autobiography appears in the Recommended Reading list of Poor Charlie’s Almanack. In Talk Eleven, Munger also says Franklin’s autobiography and other writings benefited him. His edition is not identified.
    Source
  • Paul GrahamRecommended
    Graham includes Franklin’s autobiography in his startup FAQ answer about good books on startups. He does not identify an edition.
    Source

Summary

Franklin recounts his early life, work as a printer, efforts to improve his writing, and public projects such as a subscription library. He describes his plan to practice thirteen virtues and the difficulties he met in following it. The autobiography is his own account of his development, rather than a complete record of his later diplomatic career.

  • SourceThe Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin — original text · Parts One and Two; printing career, writing practice, subscription library and thirteen virtues

Why read it Our view

The book offers a first-person view of building skills, earning trust, and trying to improve habits. Founders can compare Franklin’s planned routines with the limits he admits. Treat his self-portrait as one account of events and avoid turning every part of his life into a claim about this book.