Benjamin Franklin: An Autobiography
by Benjamin Franklin
Franklin's unfinished account of his rise from runaway apprentice to printer, writer and public man, including the famous scheme of thirteen virtues tracked daily in a chart. It is the first American self-improvement book and still one of the most practical, wry about its own author and candid about his 'errata.'
Read it if…
you want the origin of self-improvement culture from a man who actually improved himself.
Skip it if…
eighteenth-century prose is a barrier; it takes some patience.
Three things you will actually use
- Track one habit at a time.
- Industry and frugality compound.
- Humility is the hardest; Franklin admitted he only achieved its appearance.
Do this first
Choose one virtue and track it daily for a week in a simple grid, as Franklin did.
Our verdict
The original, still practical.
Compare with other Character books
Browse all Character book reviews or get the free Reality Code Cheat Sheet.
As an Amazon Associate, WisdomDeck earns from qualifying purchases. Links marked “Click to see” go to Amazon. We are not paid for opinions, prices and availability are not shown here and change on Amazon, and we never see your purchase details. Nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice.