Scan barcode
jmrprice's review against another edition
3.0
Consumed as an audiobook narrated by Qarie Marshall.
Enjoyed the turns of phrase common to the era and the view of key events in his life as he remembered them...
Enjoyed the turns of phrase common to the era and the view of key events in his life as he remembered them...
theag7's review against another edition
4.0
Boom! Done.
What a classic; somehow highly enjoyable despite the years - it's aged like a pro.
Takeaway: Ben Franklin is such a humble, modest fellow, and he's a great example in that regard, despite any political or religious disagreements I or anyone might have with him.
Glad I read this!
What a classic; somehow highly enjoyable despite the years - it's aged like a pro.
Takeaway: Ben Franklin is such a humble, modest fellow, and he's a great example in that regard, despite any political or religious disagreements I or anyone might have with him.
Glad I read this!
garciaj42's review against another edition
5.0
Very fun book, I enjoyed feeling like Ben Franklin wrote this for me to read as he mentioned in the book allowing the future to have a conversation with the past.
Ben's resourcefulness and success really felt like it came from his earnestness, curiosity and discipline and i've really enjoyed getting to know him
Ben's resourcefulness and success really felt like it came from his earnestness, curiosity and discipline and i've really enjoyed getting to know him
wander_er's review against another edition
3.0
Some really good bits about how he developed himself as a man (i.e. being self taught and living a virtuous life), but the rest was a bit bland.
rebecanunez's review against another edition
3.0
Es uno de esos libros que les porque estaba ahí. De todas formas es muy interesante, ya que Franklin es un personaje histórico relevante. No es largo, lo que hace que no sea muy trabajoso de leer. Hay algunos de sus comentarios que me parecen problemáticos, pero también soy consciente de qué hay un tema de época.
tophat8855's review against another edition
4.0
Listened via hoopla.
It's interesting to see what other people view as important in their lives to write down. Yes, it mentions big things like electricity (at the very end) and his new stove design and fire department and public library, but also there's a bit where Franklin explains how he keeps his own bullet journal- with days of the week at the top and a list of 13 virtues down the side. He also shares the mantras/affirmations/proverbs he says every morning and his ideal daily routine. Those little bits are fun. You can see he was constantly trying to better himself. He was raised Presbyterian, but didn't ascribe to any particular sect by the end of his life, though he believed in a higher power.
I found his story of becoming a printer really interesting- from being his brother's apprentice to having his own printer in Pennsylvania and the helping start other presses in other states. He writes stoically about his courtships, but seems to rather like the woman he ended up with. And there's a few times that racism shows up in the pages, as you'd expect from a 18th century white man.
It's interesting to see what other people view as important in their lives to write down. Yes, it mentions big things like electricity (at the very end) and his new stove design and fire department and public library, but also there's a bit where Franklin explains how he keeps his own bullet journal- with days of the week at the top and a list of 13 virtues down the side. He also shares the mantras/affirmations/proverbs he says every morning and his ideal daily routine. Those little bits are fun. You can see he was constantly trying to better himself. He was raised Presbyterian, but didn't ascribe to any particular sect by the end of his life, though he believed in a higher power.
I found his story of becoming a printer really interesting- from being his brother's apprentice to having his own printer in Pennsylvania and the helping start other presses in other states. He writes stoically about his courtships, but seems to rather like the woman he ended up with. And there's a few times that racism shows up in the pages, as you'd expect from a 18th century white man.
mrsbrharris's review against another edition
3.0
I learned a lot about him. It was a little difficult without any kind of chapters; it just kept going and going. I think he had some very good ideas, but had some of his priorities a little off in other areas. My favorite quote was "Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of great fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day."
dandoc37's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting read to hear his life from his angle. Some parts I found slow or boring or difficult to understand. But generally great quick read.