02 - The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

March 29, 2026·24 min·2 clips

Benjamin Franklin spent all his childhood money on books, starting with John Bunyan's works.

This episode narrates Benjamin Franklin's early life, focusing on his transition into the printing trade. The text is a direct reading from the second chapter of his autobiography. It details his formative years and the decisions that shaped his career path. Franklin describes a childhood passion for reading, spending all his money on books like John Bunyan's works. He later sold those to purchase R. Burton's historical collections, small and cheap volumes. His father's library contained mostly polemic divinity books, which Franklin read but later regretted as unsuitable. He also read Plutarch's Lives extensively, Daniel Defoe's *An Essay on Projects*, and Dr. Mather's *Essays to Do Good*. Franklin credits the latter book with influencing his future thinking and principal life events. His father, noting this "bookish inclination," decided to make him a printer despite already having a son, James, in that profession. In 1717, James Franklin returned from England with printing equipment to start a business in Boston. Franklin found printing more appealing than his father's trade but still felt a strong desire to go to sea. To curb this maritime inclination, his father urgently arranged an apprenticeship. Young Benjamin resisted the arrangement for a period before finally agreeing. He signed the indentures at just twelve years old, committing to serve as an apprentice until age twenty-one. A key insight is Franklin's belief that seemingly minor books, like *Essays to Do Good*, can profoundly steer one's life trajectory. His father's strategic career placement, based on observing a son's interests, presents an early example of practical mentorship. The episode reveals the economic realities of books in that era, with Franklin trading volumes to afford new ones. Franklin's internal conflict between a safe trade and a life of adventure is a relatable personal struggle. The tone is reflective and narrative, delivered in Franklin's own first-person prose. The style is educational, offering a historical account of personal and professional development. Listeners interested in American history, autobiography, and the origins of self-made individuals would love this episode. Those seeking modern analysis or dramatic storytelling might find it too straightforward.

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