Poor Richard's Almanack was a highly popular publication in colonial America, offering a mix of seasonal weather forecasts, recipes, conversion charts, proverbs, puzzles, and other entertaining content. Franklin wrote and published the almanack under the pseudonym 'Richard Saunders' or 'Poor Richard.' The publication was known for its witty sayings and proverbs, many of which have become part of American vernacular. It also promoted Enlightenment principles such as reason, self-improvement, and practical wisdom, reflecting Franklin's broader influence on American culture and society[1][3][5].
Originally published in 2005, Poor Charlie's Almanack is a collection of eleven talks delivered by Charles T. Munger between 1986 and 2007. Edited by Peter D. Kaufman, this book draws on Munger's extensive knowledge across various fields to provide a framework for rational and rigorous approaches to life, learning, and decision-making. It is renowned for its sharp wit and rhetorical flair, making it an essential read for investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to enhance their wisdom and critical thinking skills.
This book tells the story of Yvon Chouinard, who brought doing good and having grand adventures into the heart of his business life. It details his journey from his youth as the son of a French Canadian handyman to his ambitious climbing expeditions that inspired his innovative designs for climbing equipment. The book also explores how Chouinard built Patagonia into one of the most respected and environmentally responsible companies, emphasizing the importance of sustainability, personal growth, and unconventional business practices.
This biography by Walter Isaacson chronicles the life of Benjamin Franklin from his early days as a runaway apprentice to his later years as one of America's most influential Founding Fathers. The book explores Franklin's contributions to science, politics, and literature, including his work on the Declaration of Independence, his diplomatic efforts in France, and his inventions such as bifocal glasses and the lightning rod. Isaacson also delves into Franklin's personal life, including his relationships and his philosophical underpinnings that shaped American society. The narrative highlights how Franklin helped forge the American national identity and his enduring relevance in the twenty-first century.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a classic and influential work that covers various periods of Franklin's life. It is divided into four parts, written at different times, and includes his childhood, apprenticeship to his brother James, his early methodical plans for 'arriving at moral perfection,' his experiments with electricity, and his political career. The autobiography provides an intimate and honest account of Franklin's life, reflecting his determination, work ethic, and practical wisdom. Despite its tortuous publication history, it remains one of the most famous autobiographies ever written.
What I learned from reading Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson.
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He was, during his 84 year long life, America’s best scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, and business strategist. [0:01]
On Founders #62 I covered Ben Franklin’s autobiography [4:10]
The family produced dissenters and nonconformists who were willing to defy authority, although not to the point of becoming zealots. They were clever craftsman and inventive blacksmiths with a love of learning. Avid readers and writers, they had deep convictions, but knew how to wear them lightly. [5:00]
The industrialist Thomas Mellon, who erected a statue of Franklin in his banks headquarters, declared that Franklin had inspired him to leave his family's farm and go into business. "I regard the reading of Franklin's Autobiography as the turning point of my life. Here was Franklin, poorer than myself, who by industry, thrift, and frugality, had become learned and wise, and elevated to wealth and fame. The maxims of poor Richard exactly suited my sentiments. I read the book again and again, and wondered if I might not do something in the same line by similar means." [13:10]
Franklin is learning how to deal with people and to change his behavior to get the outcome he desires: Being argumentative, he concluded, was a very bad habit because contradicting people produced disgusts and perhaps enemies. Later in his life he would wryly say of disputing: "Persons of good sense, I have since observed, seldom fall into it.”[17:50]
Ben Franklin understood marketing [22:10]
Ben Franklin would tell you to keep reading and learning so you are more interesting to talk to. This produces positive externalities. [23:50]
Franklin’s plan for his business and how to overcome an entrenched competitor [30:00]
Franklin would tell you it is foolish to avoid all criticism [33:28]
The Ben Franklin method for making difficult decisions [34:15]
As Franklin is building his business he is focused on self improvement: A list of 12 virtues he thought desirable [35:56]
Most of Poor Richard's saying were not totally original as Franklin freely admitted. "They contained the wisdom of many ages and nations. Not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own." / Picasso had a saying good artists copy; great artists steal. we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas --Steve Jobs [38:25]
Franklin telling you how to turn adversaries into allies. [41:38]
Halfway through his life, Franklin realizes he has enough: "Lost time is never found again." [43:25]
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