Book review

Benjamin Franklin is best known as a historical figure, for his role in the American Revolution and experiments with electricity.  Franklin, as a scientist, wrote his autobiography almost as if it were a report on the failures and successes of experiments in living. At no point did he claim any special mastery over how to live life, but he was committed to finding a formula that could assure a person of some success.  Franklin’s writing lacks drama, and instead projects a sense of balance and perspective which contributes to the man’s relevancy even today.  As a young man, Franklin believed himself to be highly skilled in argument, but came to the conclusion that this ‘skill’ actually stood in the way of getting things done. He developed the habit of only ever expressing himself in terms of ‘modest diffidence,’ never saying words like ‘undoubtedly’ or trying to correct people. Instead, he used measured phrases such as ‘It appears to me...’ or ‘If I am not mistaken...’ The result was that, even though he was not a great speaker, people focused on his ideas and he was quick to gain credibility. Franklin’s biography doesn’t follow a consistent narrative thread, and feels more like a collection of anecdotes that encourages one to dive in and out.