Biography of Benjamin Franklin

...

for defense in the colonies. He feels that the colonies are becoming too self-sufficient. He sends letter and receives 150 wagons and gets forces sent to the Americas. He soon stops his efforts and begins his interest in science where he performs his own experiments at home. Where his inventions and discoveries begin.

In his autobiography he included thirteen virtues that he thought were essential to self-improvement and bettering one’s character. He made logs so that each week he could learn a virtue so that he could eventually perfect them all. He wrote down every time he did something well or made a mistake. Although he had difficulty perfecting them all, he became happier living this way. Humility was first, but was added last because his friends mentioned his extreme arrogance. Determination was another virtue he pursues; he gives examples of his determination by sticking to his vegetarian diet. He mentions basing his family off of frugality and industry; to waste nothing and always stay employed in something useful. He even formed a young men’s group known as Junto, they met once a week and worked together to work on self-improvement, study and mutual aid.

Benjamin Franklin was a very successful man. He made a huge impact and had great connections with the people he met along the way that helped him get to the top. He had numerous jobs and never settled for anything less than the closest to perfection that is humanly possible. He was very influential and outspoken which was made much easier through his writings because he could reach so many more people. He was obsessed with self-improvement and making a better and happier life for himself. This book accurately represents his character, and if his son followed any advice he was given then he very well could have been half the man his father was which would not have been a bad thing.