Printer and publisher, author and educator, scientist and inventor, statesman and philanthropist, Benjamin Franklin was the very embodiment of the American type of self-made man. In 1771, at the age of 65, he sat down to write his autobiography, "having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity." The result is a classic of American literature.
On the eve of the tercentenary of Franklin's birth, the university he founded has selected the Autobiography for the Penn Reading Project. Each year, for the past fifteen years, the University of Pennsylvania has chosen a single work that the entire incoming class, and a large segment of the faculty and staff, read and discuss together. For this occasion the University of Pennsylvania Press will publish a special edition of Franklin's Autobiography , including a new preface by University president Amy Gutmann and an introduction by distinguished scholar Peter Conn. The volume will also include four short essays by noted Penn professors as well as a chronology of Franklin's life and the text of Franklin's Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania , a document resulting in the establishment of an institution of higher education that ultimately became the University of Pennsylvania.
No area of human endeavor escaped Franklin's keen attentions. His ideas and values, as Amy Gutmann notes in her remarks, have shaped the modern University of Pennsylvania profoundly, "more profoundly than have the founders of any other major university of college in the United States." Franklin believed that he had been born too soon. Readers will recognize that his spirit lives on at Penn today.
Essay contributors: Richard R. Beeman, Paul Guyer, Michael Weisberg, and Michael Zuckerman.

motw/The Autobiography of Benjamin F - Benjamin Franklin.epub

motw/The Autobiography of Benjamin F - Benjamin Franklin.pdf

Franklin, Benjamín; Conn, Peter; Gutmann, Amy

edited by Peter Conn; preface by Amy Gutmann

Franklin, Benjamin

University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc

Philadelphia, PA

Penn Reading Project ed., Philadelphia, PA, Pennsylvania, 2005

United States, United States of America

Philadelphia, 2011

producers:
Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Paper Capture Plug-in

Memory of the World Librarian: outernationale

Includes bibliographical references (p. [135]-142)

Printer And Publisher, Author And Educator, Scientist And Inventor, Statesman And Philanthropist, Benjamin Franklin Was The Very Embodiment Of The American Self-made Man. In 1771, At The Age Of 65, He Sat Down To Write His Autobiography, Having Emerged From The Poverty And Obscurity In Which I Was Born And Bred, To A State Of Affluence And Some Degree Of Reputation In The World, And Having Gone So Far Through Life With A Considerable Share Of Felicity. The Result Is A Classic Of American Literature. On The Eve Of The Tercentenary Of Franklin's Birth, The University He Founded Has Selected The Autobiography For The Penn Reading Project. Each Year For The Past Fifteen Years, The University Of Pennsylvania Has Chosen A Single Work That The Entire Incoming Class, And A Large Segment Of The Faculty And Staff, Read And Discuss Together. For This Occasion The University Of Pennsylvania Press Is Publishing This Special Edition Of Franklin's Autobiography, Including A New Preface By University President Amy Gutmann And An Introduction By Distinguished Scholar Peter Conn. The Volume Also Includes Four Short Essays By Noted Penn Professors As Well As A Chronology Of Franklin's Life And The Text Of Franklin's Proposals Relating To The Education Of Youth In Pennsylvania, A Document Resulting In The Establishment Of An Institution Of Higher Education That Ultimately Became The University Of Pennsylvania. No Area Of Human Endeavor Escaped Franklin's Keen Attentions. His Ideas And Values, As Amy Gutmann Notes, Have Shaped The Modern University Of Pennsylvania Profoundly, More Profoundly Than Have The Founders Of Any Other Major University Of College In The United States. Franklin Believed That He Had Been Born Too Soon. Readers Will Recognize That His Spirit Lives On At Penn Today.--jacket. The Power Of Values / By Amy Gutmann -- Benjamin Franklin And The American Imagination / By Peter Conn -- The Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin / Edited By Nathan G. Goodman -- Benjamin Franklin And The American Enlightenment / By Richard R. Beeman -- Freedom On Reason / By Paul Guyer -- An Inclination Joined With An Ability To Serve / By Michael Zuckerman -- The Key To Electricity / By Michael Weisberg -- Proposals Relating To The Education Of Youth In Pennsylvania / By Benjamin Franklin -- A Chronology Of Franklin's Life / Compiled By Mark Frazier Lloyd. Edited By Peter Conn ; Preface By Amy Gutmann. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [135]-142)

Few men could compare to Benjamin Franklin. Virtually self-taught, he excelled as an athlete, a man of letters, a printer, a scientist, a wit, an inventor, an editor, and a writer, and he was probably the most successful diplomat in American history. David Hume hailed him as the first great philosopher and great man of letters in the New World.
Written initially to guide his son, Franklin's autobiography is a lively, spellbinding account of his unique and eventful life. Stylistically his best work, it has become a classic in world literature, one to inspire and delight readers everywhere.

Cover 1
Title 6
Copyright 7
Contents 8
Preface: The Power of Values 10
Introduction: Benjamin Franklin and the American Imagination 14
PART I. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY 18
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin 20
PART II. CRITICAL ESSAYS 156
Benjamin Franklin and the American Enlightenment 158
Freedom of Reason 163
An Inclination Joined with an Ability to Serve 167
The Key to Electricity 172
APPENDICES 176
Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania 178
A Chronology of Franklin's Life 184
Contributors 192

2025-10-27