The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Audiobook By Benjamin Franklin cover art

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

By: Benjamin Franklin
Narrated by: Walter Covell
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Benjamin Franklin's wide range of activities and interests opened the doors of the world to him. Printer, inventor, philosopher, ambassador, champion of liberty - his influence has been felt by every American generation.

At one time, Franklin was appointed postmaster of Philadelphia and succeeded in making a profit out of it. He organized the citizenry to pave and light the streets, started a fire brigade and a fire insurance company, founded a lending library, helped build a hospital, and got and academy underway that later became the University of Pennsylvania.

And to everything he touched, including this autobiography, Franklin brought originality and wit.

Big Ben: explore our extensive list of titles about Benjamin Franklin.Public Domain (P)1987 JimCin Recordings Biographies & Memoirs United States Professionals & Academics Politics & Activism Historical Americas Politicians Colonial Period Science & Technology

Editorial reviews

Benjamin Franklin is widely hailed as one of the first great Americans: an inventor, publisher, scientist, and diplomat. In his 1791 autobiography, readers are invited to meet the man behind the legend.

Composed between 1771 and 1790, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin begins as a letter from Franklin, at age 65, to his son William. This form gives the book an intimate tone as Franklin recounts family stories and his apprenticeship as a printer. In later sections, he discusses his plans for a public library and his experiments with electricity.

Narrator Walter Covell, using a mid-Atlantic accent appropriate to 18th-century American English, breathes life into this generous, eclectic autobiography.

Critic reviews

"The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a document essential to any understanding of the famous American philosopher and statesman. It is one of the best-known American books and has been much admired in all parts of the world." (Masterworks of Autobiography)
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The book is a very interesting look at Ben Franklin, although it is quite short. I would have liked to have had more of his writings included, such as his writings on virtues. The audio quality is poor and the book downloaded with 3 hours of some other book spliced into the end. I would try to find a Ben Franklin book that includes more of his writings if I had to do it again.

Interesting, but poor audio

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I really enjoyed hearing some great things about an important Founding Father. I would have loved to hear more. More about experiences with the Revolution, experiments, role as an ambassador, patriot, etc. He gives just enough to make you more interested. I recommend reading autobiographies first before you read all the trash that has been written about the person in the last 10 years. I recommend the same with this.

Enlightening

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