Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Credits and rights

Original writer

Benjamin Franklin

Publisher of this edition

BoingyBooks Classics

Original publisher

Project Gutenberg

Adaptation credits

John Shoufler / BoingyBooks Classics — digital edition

Original source / edition

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

License

Public Domain

License link

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Rights and adaptation notice

This work is in the public domain. John Shoufler published this digital edition through BoingyBooks Classics. The original work remains public domain and may be copied, adapted, and shared.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin (written 1771-1790, published 1791)

America's first self-help book. Franklin's account of his rise from a runaway printer's apprentice to the most famous American of his age — scientist, inventor, diplomat, and Founding Father.

Historical Significance:
Franklin began writing his autobiography in 1771 at age 65 and worked on it intermittently until shortly before his death in 1790. It was first published in French translation in 1791. The book pioneered the rags-to-riches narrative that became central to the American Dream. Franklin's "13 Virtues" self-improvement program — temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, humility — is the direct ancestor of every self-help system from Dale Carnegie to Stephen Covey. The book has been continuously in print for over 230 years and remains one of the most widely read American autobiographies.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1791. Free to read and share.