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Ben Franklin Autobiography

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In the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, is he viewed as a self-promoter? If he was, was his attempt successful?

What are the key ways Benjamin Franklin presents his autobiography an an illustration for self-improvement?

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Solution Summary

Franklin's autobiography, though written with some sense of vanity (as he states), is clearly a work of guidance toward self improvement. Franklin expresses the importance of education, caution, patience, entrepreneurship, religion, as well as marriage and family which is expressed throughout the book. Although his book is confusing in places, it is definitely written to give the reader the benefit of Franklin's experience. Additionally, when one considers that he was already famous when he wrote his book, it was not published until his death in 1791 and that it was obviously written for his son as evidenced by the opening reference of his book. The examples listed below make a "prima fascia" case in which one can only come to the conclusion based on the historical record that Franklin was genuinely a benevolent man desirous of helping others.

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Franklin's autobiography, though written with some sense of vanity (as he states), is clearly a work of guidance toward self improvement. Franklin expresses the importance of education, caution, patience, entrepreneurship, religion, as well as marriage and family which is expressed throughout the book. Although his book is confusing in places, it is definitely written to give the reader the benefit of Franklin's experience. Additionally, when one considers ...

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