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Ben Franklin : America's Original Entrepreneur
Inventor, Writer, Statesman, Military Leader?Businessman
You are holding the only modern adaptation of Benjamin Franklin's 18th century autobiography. It is at its heart one of the greatest business stories ever told. ?Franklin's autobiography is America's first great self-help book. It teaches in a delightful way how to win friends, influence people and succeed in business. Professor McCormick makes this great work more accessible and adds his own insights.?
-Walter Isaacson, author, Benjamin An American Life ?Anyone who's got the bug and drive to become a great leader and innovator can only be inspired by the life of Benjamin Franklin, who quite literally wrote the book for getting the most out of himself and brining out the best in others. His genius - scientific, entrepreneurial, diplomatic, and literary - was sui generis. His Autobiography is a classic of Americn letters, and he emerges from the pages of Professor McCormick's version not only as our contemporary, but also as a 21st century visionary, not to mention a wise companion.?
-Dr. Judith Rodin, President Emerita, The University of Pennsylvania, President, The Rockefeller Foundation ?Statesman and inventor are the first images that come to mind when we think of Benjamin Franklin, but as his autobiography will remind us, he was also a very successful entrepreneur and a most fascinating individual. Dr. McCormick brings the story of Franklin's entrepreneurial spirit alive for today's audience in his adaptation of Franklin's autobiography.?
-United States Congressman Michael N. Castle (Delaware) Fifth Generation Franklin Descendant
You are holding the only modern adaptation of Benjamin Franklin's 18th century autobiography. It is at its heart one of the greatest business stories ever told. ?Franklin's autobiography is America's first great self-help book. It teaches in a delightful way how to win friends, influence people and succeed in business. Professor McCormick makes this great work more accessible and adds his own insights.?
-Walter Isaacson, author, Benjamin An American Life ?Anyone who's got the bug and drive to become a great leader and innovator can only be inspired by the life of Benjamin Franklin, who quite literally wrote the book for getting the most out of himself and brining out the best in others. His genius - scientific, entrepreneurial, diplomatic, and literary - was sui generis. His Autobiography is a classic of Americn letters, and he emerges from the pages of Professor McCormick's version not only as our contemporary, but also as a 21st century visionary, not to mention a wise companion.?
-Dr. Judith Rodin, President Emerita, The University of Pennsylvania, President, The Rockefeller Foundation ?Statesman and inventor are the first images that come to mind when we think of Benjamin Franklin, but as his autobiography will remind us, he was also a very successful entrepreneur and a most fascinating individual. Dr. McCormick brings the story of Franklin's entrepreneurial spirit alive for today's audience in his adaptation of Franklin's autobiography.?
-United States Congressman Michael N. Castle (Delaware) Fifth Generation Franklin Descendant
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2003
8 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Franklin
2,533 books1,895 followersBenjamin Franklin was a writer, a philosopher, a scientist, a politician, a patriot, a Founding Father, an inventor, and publisher. He helped with the founding of the United States of America and changed the world with his discoveries about electricity. His writings such as Poor Richards' Almanac have provided wisdom for 17 years to the colonies.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 4, 2024
Originally picked up the original autobiography but found it difficult to read. This modern adaptation is a great TOOL for reading the original book. This version is easier to digest and understand which gives a glimpse into the wit and interesting character that is Benjamin Franklin. A truly fascinating and inspiring real-life story of extraordinary accomplishments in business, leadership, politics, and science. A story about this much success should come off as boastful, but this was told in the most humblest of manners. It felt as though anyone could achieve what Franklin has. I was born into the age of technology and this is a great reminder of what colonial life was like, and thats what i caught myself thinking about when I wasn't enthralled with Ben Franklin story telling. The man was so successful in his endeavors that we memorialized him on the $100 bill, I believe writing and story telling was the foundation of his success and that proves the power of a great story teller.
Looking forward to picking up the original again to get a grasp of the real wit and brilliance of the auto-biography.
Looking forward to picking up the original again to get a grasp of the real wit and brilliance of the auto-biography.
April 14, 2008
Ben Franklin: America's Original Entrepreneur is the modernized version of Ben Franklin's autobiography. Though extremely intriguing and interesting in its own right, the original biography was written in a rather disjointed way in the natural language and voice of the times. These aspects make reading the original autobiography difficult while reducing the powerful messages contained in this important man's life. I believe the author has done a tremendous job of reorganizing Franklin's musings and updating the text into modern English so that Franklin's true messages are clearly understood.
As I read this book, I keep thinking that this was a man who would have been interesting to meet. He was steadfast in his values of integrity, humbleness, thriftiness, and a strong work ethic. Yet, he continually tried to better himself and the world around him.
I was also surprised at the number of interesting things that Ben Franklin had accomplished that I didn't even realize he was involved in. For instance, I hadn't realized his part in setting up the first public library, fire department, and militia in Philadelphia. I also hadn't realized that this man's talent for gently but firmly guiding projects to completion without being in the spotlight. I think that says something extremely important about his character both in his daily life and business affairs.
As I read this book, I keep thinking that this was a man who would have been interesting to meet. He was steadfast in his values of integrity, humbleness, thriftiness, and a strong work ethic. Yet, he continually tried to better himself and the world around him.
I was also surprised at the number of interesting things that Ben Franklin had accomplished that I didn't even realize he was involved in. For instance, I hadn't realized his part in setting up the first public library, fire department, and militia in Philadelphia. I also hadn't realized that this man's talent for gently but firmly guiding projects to completion without being in the spotlight. I think that says something extremely important about his character both in his daily life and business affairs.
June 14, 2014
This book was quite a useful aid to reading the original biography. Thought I found the language in the original fairly easy to read, this book provided some extra explanation. Though I do wish he could have found some way to include the original text with his notes along the side.
Anyways I did quite like this paraphrased quote about vaccinations:
"I lost a child of my own to smallpox in 1736. He was a fine boy of four years old. We chose not to vaccinate him against the disease because the vaccination itself sometimes takes the child's life. I've long regretted this decision and it grieves me to this day. I mention this for the sake of parents who might be tempted to make the same decision we made, believing that they might never forgive themselves if the vaccination should take their child's life. I can tell you from the experience that your regret will be the same either way, and that you should err on the side of caution and vaccinate your children whenever possible."
Anyways I did quite like this paraphrased quote about vaccinations:
"I lost a child of my own to smallpox in 1736. He was a fine boy of four years old. We chose not to vaccinate him against the disease because the vaccination itself sometimes takes the child's life. I've long regretted this decision and it grieves me to this day. I mention this for the sake of parents who might be tempted to make the same decision we made, believing that they might never forgive themselves if the vaccination should take their child's life. I can tell you from the experience that your regret will be the same either way, and that you should err on the side of caution and vaccinate your children whenever possible."
July 7, 2008
This really shoes Benjamin Franklin for the great business man and creative man that he was. I was assigned this book for my intro to business class (my professor is the author) and ended up loving it!! It's a suprisingly interesting read, taking you from Ben's childhood to his later years. It doesn't go into extreme detail, however, it does give you a glimpse into who he was.
October 22, 2019
Interesting insight into Ben Franklin's life. The author's notes at the beginning of the chapters were unnecessary and I stopped reading them because they gave away the whole chapter. Otherwise, a good read to learn about Franklin.
December 30, 2011
I was amazed by the story of Franklin's life; and this book only records his life until age 51, when he was mainly focused on business! Although he was somewhat involved in politics in the years covered, the book doesn't cover his involvement in the American Revolution and founding of the United States. However, there is a timeline at the end that outlines some of his major accomplishments for the rest of his life.
Reading this made me feel like I haven't achieved enough by this point in my life. Franklin's descriptions also give a feel for what life was like in colonial America; work, leisure, religion, and politics. Franklin learned from his mistakes and lived with few regrets. He was always seeking to improve his health, his business, public policy, and the quality of life (through various inventions).
Franklin was incredibly creative, not only in his inventions, but also in his committee work and relationships, often finding ways to solve problems or diffuse hazardous situations. He also showcased the benefits of networking with his involvement in clubs and committees, many of which he founded. These led to great opportunities to advance himself personally and in business. There are many examples of Franklin using his printing business to his advantage, such as printing pamphlets and newspaper articles to influence public opinion and rally support for his pet projects.
I had intended to read Franklin's original autobiography, but saw this on the shelf next to it. It claimed to be more accessible than the autobiography because it was broken into chapters, had updated language, and was slightly modified to fit the tastes of someone interested in Franklin's business story. I opened the original biography and saw that it had no chapters or other obvious breaking points; it was just page after page of paragraphs! As I skimmed I noticed that it seemed to contain many stories that may not be particularly interesting. I decided to start with this modern adaptation, then try the original if I liked it.
I can't yet compare this version to the original, but I did like this one. It's published by Entrepreneur Press (publishers of Entrepreneur Magazine), so it's written to appeal to entrepreneurs and businesspeople. There's a short introduction at the beginning of each of the 82 chapters, noting the business principles to watch for in the chapter. Some of these principles are entrepreneurship, business ownership, leadership, management, integrity, and innovation. Every few pages there's a small box with some related anecdote about other entrepreneurs. Each chapter also contains a wise and witty saying from Poor Richard's Almanac.
After reading this adaptation, I think I'll put the original on my to-read list.
Notes
Franklin's father came to America from England to escape religious persecution.
Before discussing his business success, he thanks God and his family.
Use the Socratic method of questioning to lead people to contradict themselves or see your point of view. This is more effective than arguing.
Learn and discuss people's interests to form genuine relationships. Don't just use people. Franklin formed many friendships that lasted years or decades.
It's important to maintain a good reputation.
Industriousness is a great asset.
Franklin had many business successes in his teens and 20s!
He was very focused on business; reading was his only amusement while his co-workers drank, gambled, and partied.
Wise people allow themselves to have faults so they're tolerable company.
In arguments and debates, don't express your opinions too strongly, or correct others outright. Be humble and gentle, and people will more eagerly side with you.
Franklin researched and worked with electricity before his famous kite experiment. The experiment was to prove that lightning was electricity.
Franklin's views on religion
Franklin was raised Presbyterian, but didn't understand election, reprobation, and God's eternal decrees, so he stopped going to church.
At 15, Franklin rejected Christianity and converted to Deism.
He continued to believe that God created and sustained the universe, and that there was an afterlife. He also continued to pray.
He believed that God wanted people to do good to each other, and he created his own moral code based on this. He deliberately designed this code to be non-religion-specific.
Franklin respected all religions, but didn't attend church because he said it failed to inspire morality. The only preachers he enjoyed hearing were those that stressed good works and being a good person instead of doctrine.
Franklin once set out to achieve moral perfection. He didn't attain it, but he said that the pursuit of it made him a better person. See Franklin's Thirteen Virtues.
Reading this made me feel like I haven't achieved enough by this point in my life. Franklin's descriptions also give a feel for what life was like in colonial America; work, leisure, religion, and politics. Franklin learned from his mistakes and lived with few regrets. He was always seeking to improve his health, his business, public policy, and the quality of life (through various inventions).
Franklin was incredibly creative, not only in his inventions, but also in his committee work and relationships, often finding ways to solve problems or diffuse hazardous situations. He also showcased the benefits of networking with his involvement in clubs and committees, many of which he founded. These led to great opportunities to advance himself personally and in business. There are many examples of Franklin using his printing business to his advantage, such as printing pamphlets and newspaper articles to influence public opinion and rally support for his pet projects.
I had intended to read Franklin's original autobiography, but saw this on the shelf next to it. It claimed to be more accessible than the autobiography because it was broken into chapters, had updated language, and was slightly modified to fit the tastes of someone interested in Franklin's business story. I opened the original biography and saw that it had no chapters or other obvious breaking points; it was just page after page of paragraphs! As I skimmed I noticed that it seemed to contain many stories that may not be particularly interesting. I decided to start with this modern adaptation, then try the original if I liked it.
I can't yet compare this version to the original, but I did like this one. It's published by Entrepreneur Press (publishers of Entrepreneur Magazine), so it's written to appeal to entrepreneurs and businesspeople. There's a short introduction at the beginning of each of the 82 chapters, noting the business principles to watch for in the chapter. Some of these principles are entrepreneurship, business ownership, leadership, management, integrity, and innovation. Every few pages there's a small box with some related anecdote about other entrepreneurs. Each chapter also contains a wise and witty saying from Poor Richard's Almanac.
After reading this adaptation, I think I'll put the original on my to-read list.
Notes
Franklin's father came to America from England to escape religious persecution.
Before discussing his business success, he thanks God and his family.
Use the Socratic method of questioning to lead people to contradict themselves or see your point of view. This is more effective than arguing.
Learn and discuss people's interests to form genuine relationships. Don't just use people. Franklin formed many friendships that lasted years or decades.
It's important to maintain a good reputation.
Industriousness is a great asset.
Franklin had many business successes in his teens and 20s!
He was very focused on business; reading was his only amusement while his co-workers drank, gambled, and partied.
Wise people allow themselves to have faults so they're tolerable company.
In arguments and debates, don't express your opinions too strongly, or correct others outright. Be humble and gentle, and people will more eagerly side with you.
Franklin researched and worked with electricity before his famous kite experiment. The experiment was to prove that lightning was electricity.
Franklin's views on religion
Franklin was raised Presbyterian, but didn't understand election, reprobation, and God's eternal decrees, so he stopped going to church.
At 15, Franklin rejected Christianity and converted to Deism.
He continued to believe that God created and sustained the universe, and that there was an afterlife. He also continued to pray.
He believed that God wanted people to do good to each other, and he created his own moral code based on this. He deliberately designed this code to be non-religion-specific.
Franklin respected all religions, but didn't attend church because he said it failed to inspire morality. The only preachers he enjoyed hearing were those that stressed good works and being a good person instead of doctrine.
Franklin once set out to achieve moral perfection. He didn't attain it, but he said that the pursuit of it made him a better person. See Franklin's Thirteen Virtues.
February 24, 2017
I have not read the original autobiography, but I thoroughly enjoyed this incarnation. Each chapter is framed with background information and in the margins there are tidbits of modern business trivia and Poor Richard quotes. Interesting, entertaining, and inspiring.
August 21, 2008
I don't know why it took me so long to read this book. Maybe it was because all the chapters were so short, and it's a little dry so I didn't stick with it.
Not that it wasn't interesting. I learned things about Ben Franlkin I didn't know, but it isn't a full autobiography.
It is entries from his autobiography, written BEFORE the American Revolution and written in England while he was fighting for the Penn family to start paying their share of taxes. The compiler, Blaine McCormick, chose entries that reflected Franklin's business acumen to set them as examples of how best to be successful, cause Ben was. I did learn some things about how to deal with people, but overall, it was more of a little tidbit of interesting history than a really good guide for how to act in business. Franklin doesn't give the reader enough information on each of his successes to fully understand how he managed to succeed.
Not that it wasn't interesting. I learned things about Ben Franlkin I didn't know, but it isn't a full autobiography.
It is entries from his autobiography, written BEFORE the American Revolution and written in England while he was fighting for the Penn family to start paying their share of taxes. The compiler, Blaine McCormick, chose entries that reflected Franklin's business acumen to set them as examples of how best to be successful, cause Ben was. I did learn some things about how to deal with people, but overall, it was more of a little tidbit of interesting history than a really good guide for how to act in business. Franklin doesn't give the reader enough information on each of his successes to fully understand how he managed to succeed.
May 20, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this. And it was an easy read with short chapters that I could pick up whenever I wanted and put down quickly. The adaptation to modern language was helpful for me and I'm curious about how much of the syntax and language is Franklin's and how much was changed. I would actually like to go back and read the original now. But reading this first was a great intro for me since I'm betting it will make the original easier to understand. We'll see, though. And I love Franklin's theories. He seriously embodies what I want to be in life. Minus the "low women" and all that. But I loved his ideas for self-improvement. So inspiring.
March 22, 2008
An incredible combination of the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and the many business accomplishments he achieved. Franklin is one of the greatest entrepreneurs of all time, and this book illustrates exactly why. This book explores his business acumen while still illustrating his love of science, country, and family. Anyone wanting to improve their professional life will enjoy reading this book.
July 7, 2007
I loved this book. From his autobiography, you can see that Franklin, one of the most important figures in the founding of our country, was probably a big jerk to those who knew him. Most of the time, the humor is unintentional.
June 20, 2013
A rather self-serving and ego-stroking autobiography (but that sort of defines the genre, eh?). Saved by the fact that it's a founding father, and many of these ideas/tips hadn't been put down so effectively on paper before. Plus, who doesn't like Poor Richard?
February 5, 2016
This is a re-do by a Baylor Business professor. Easy to read with modern quotes scattered throughout the book. One of those books you can pick up and read daily without having to remember where you were.
June 18, 2008
Franklin, sir, you are a conceited jackass.
December 11, 2008
This was an inspiring story. I liked this modern version. It made it easy for even my teenagers to read.
May 14, 2010
It is very good book for homeschool kids.
September 22, 2009
I have about 20 pages tagged with post-its of things I want to read over again and again.
April 25, 2010
Really enjoyed this one. It was a very inspiring biography.
May 3, 2011
I thought this was a good book. This was about the story of Ben Franklin and all his acheivements and changes in his life.
December 12, 2012
This man was an outstanding leader, inventor and statesman. Should be required reading for all of us
March 30, 2013
A should-read biograpy on leadership for knowledge workers, managers, directors, C-levels, and entrepreneurs.
December 18, 2014
The best autobiography I have ever read. I can't stop talking about Ben Franklin.
March 20, 2008
interesting...
June 22, 2008
One of the best autobiographies I have ever read
August 6, 2008
Made me want to read the original.
May 26, 2016
From a experienced entrepreneur to the new generation, great read!
March 26, 2017
Great book. Amazing to see how B.F lived during his early years and how he built his life. It also has some great idioms for business and life.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews