Book 1: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Complete!

Finally finished reading The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

Overall I'm pleased with my decision to read it. He was very inspiring considering his education was cut short due to lack of funds and he was sent to be an apprentice. His desire to be at sea had his father worried so his father sent him to be an apprentice with different trades until they settled on being a printing apprentice for his brother. Ben had a love for reading, learning and growing. He learned from his mistakes and craved knowledge so much he'd rather study on Sunday's than go to church!

I was intrigued how Ben could take an idea such as the stove and fix its flaws into "Franklin Stove". The "Franklin Stove" could heat a living quarters much more efficient that the original stove. Even with the stove being successful he refused the patent. He accessed the issues in his part of the city and went to the Assembly about getting roads paved and then took it ever further to keep them clean.

Knowing the importance of education Ben developed and followed through with a plan to create a library and an academy in Philadelphia. He helped put a plan together for building a hospital. Creating a treaty with the Indians and devising a plan for the impending war with the French are also under his belt along with many held political offices. His scientific ideals linked the connection between lightening and electricity. No wonder he is a founding father of our country! I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting more accomplishments that I read but these are the few that I jotted down as I read.

He practiced frugality, thought that one should be working or studying not drinking in a tavern and practiced a practically debt free life.

His newspaper was extremely successful due to his writing and ideas. The Poor Richard Almanac was also successful at communicating ideals to citizens all over. In the copy of my book it included excerpts from The Poor Richard Almanac. Some of them were just lines like, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man health and wealth and wise". Good reminder when you're working towards a goal and need to be inspired.

What threw me off about this book was, I didn't realize it was written in pieces before being published after his death. When I was reading parts of it I felt disconnected and I couldn't figure out why. I also had a hard time staying awake because of the writing style.

Ultimately what I got from this autobiography is you can be successful if you work hard and study hard, live simple and turn your ideas in to the physical.What a great book to start off with the new year.

Book 1: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Continued!

Welp Book 1 is taking way longer to finish than I anticipated. Ben Franklin is quite the interesting person BUT the style of writing totally puts me to sleep. I'm 30 pages from being done and have moved into the section of the book that give excerpts from the "Poor Richard Almanac". Close to being finished and I'll blog allllll my thoughts about good old Ben :)

Book 1: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Started!

I started reading "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin". I started off with this book because it was free on my nook and decided to just download it while I was developing the rest of my reading list. I've only ventured a little way so far into the book.

I either never paid attention in school when we talked about Benjamin Franklin or we just didn't go in depth on him. I knew he was a smart guy that invented a bunch of stuff but that's really my only knowledge on him.

He was one of 17 kids! Oh my! I can't imagine! Apparently his father was married twice and the second marriage created 10 children. Ben (can I refer to him as that?) was the youngest boy and had two younger sisters. Too much craziness for me.

So far I really like him! As a young boy all he wanted to do was go out to sea but his father wouldn't have any of that so he made him pick being an apprentice for a trade. BUT of course Ben was young and wasn't impressed or challenged where he was being sent. He finally settled on being an apprentice with for his brother that was a printer. He loved to read anything he could get his hands on. He read about only eating veggies. It sounded go to him so he went with it! Can you imagine? Being a vegetarian back then? It was all meat and potatoes!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/autobiography-of-benjamin-franklin-benjamin-franklin/1100059498?ean=2940012538192&itm=1&usri=the+autobiography+of+benjamin+franklin

So far that's all I've got. Starting this so far has me truly excited.