The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Franklin wrote the original American success story — a self-made man explaining exactly how he did it, with enough honesty about his own flaws to keep it credible.
autobiographyEnglishaccessiblemedium · ~7.0h
Influence
5.5/10
Popularity
6.0/10
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Why It Matters
Franklin wrote the original American success story — a self-made man explaining exactly how he did it, with enough honesty about his own flaws to keep it credible. The Autobiography established the template for American life writing and the myth of reinvention through hard work and self-improvement. It is the most influential memoir in American literature.
Notable Quotes
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
“I arrived in Philadelphia, fatigued with traveling, rowing, and want of rest; I was very hungry.”