The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, widely known as the statesman who helped draft the Declaration of Independence, invented the lightning rod and founded both the University of Pennsylvania and the American Philosophical Society, was a prolific author. In his autobiography, Franklin's writing style is direct and clear as he recounts his early days in Boston, tracing his family tree to the first Ben Franklin (who died in 1657), describing his work as a printer, and recounting his days as an inventor.