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- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Speak little, do much.
In his Autobiography, Ben Franklin writes about self-improvement, civic engagement, and the pursuit of knowledge.
While he made groundbreaking scientific discoveries, his most powerful creation wasn’t electrical—it was social: the art of uniting diverse minds to tackle big challenges.
Keep reading to learn how Franklin’s “Junto” sparked ideas that shaped our society.
SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
The Art of Self-Improvement
1️⃣ Track Your Progress: Franklin created a system to master 13 virtues, marking his daily failures with black spots in a personal ledger. While acknowledging perfection was unattainable, he found that "the endeavor made him a better and happier man."
2️⃣ Learn Continuously: Unable to afford formal education, Franklin rigorously educated himself through borrowed books, writing exercises, and debate.
3️⃣ Embrace Pragmatism: Franklin approached life with Enlightenment ideals of reason and practicality. His methodical approach to self-improvement reflects his scientific mindset, treating his life almost like an experiment.
Ben Franklin started 'The Junto’ in 1727, a diverse group interested in mutual improvement
INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
The Junto
At just 21, Franklin organized a weekly meeting of diverse tradesmen with a simple purpose: mutual improvement.
The magic was in the mix. Each member brought their personal books to meetings, and the pooling of knowledge allowed a collision of perspectives. Through structured questions about philosophy, science, and business, they all benefited from the collective wisdom of their peers.
A number of successful institutions can even be traced back to conversations that started in The Junto:
First Lending Library – The Library Company of Philadelphia (1731)
First Volunteer Fire Department – The Union Fire Company (1736)
First Learned Society – The American Philosophical Society (1743)
First Public Hospital – The Pennsylvania Hospital (1751)
First Nonsectarian College – The University of Pennsylvania (1751)
BOOK FACTS
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Franklin wrote his memoirs in four different sittings between 1771 and his death in 1790.
First Published: 1868
Print length: 135 pages
Ratings: 4.5 Amazon, 3.9 Goodreads
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BOOK JAMS
A modern day Junto 📚
We’re planning our next meetup in New York.
Inspired by Ben Franklin’s Junto Club, we’re bringing curious leaders together in the spirit of mutual improvement.
Great people
A variety of books
Lively discussion and debate
Practical ideas you can put into action
If interested, reply to this email with “NYC” and we’ll share more details.
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