Summary
Towards the end of Franklin’s life, he decided to write down an account of his life, ostensibly for the edification of his son. His authorship was briefly interrupted by his involvement in the Revolutionary War, and unfortunately, it appears he wasn’t able to finish it before dying in 1790. We are left with a brief account of his family history and selected anecdotes from his life, all the way up to around 10 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Thoughts
Entertaining and charismatic, Franklin’s autobiography was written in a familiar tone. With a tongue-in-cheek humility that fails to convince either the reader or the author, you are shown a scrapbook version of a life. Every story is brought up as if by chance, but gradually, a narrative structure to Franklin’s life emerges. This structure is the American ethos, one of self-reliance, industry, and humble beginnings. Another aspect of the autobiography, while not explicit, is a masterclass in profile building. Ranging from Machiavelli to Carnegie, Franklin coaches his readers on topics like how to disagree with someone most effectively or why it is good to be seen doing menial jobs even after achieving success. One of his guiding principles was public virtue for private gain, thus he sought to improve the world around him in such a way that would improve his own. For example, he was a strong proponent of increasing cash currency in Philadelphia, not only because he was firmly convinced that this would be good for the local economy, but also because he stood to make money by being the one who printed the new currency. This particular skill, along with his ability to seemingly create coalitions out of thin air, served him well throughout his life. A magnetic character, equally at home with criminals and kings, his wit and backwoods sage persona that he assiduously maintained won over most people he encountered. If there is one lesson to draw from his autobiography, it is the value of social networking.
#book
People/Benjamin Franklin