He allowed himself to have a broad definition of what “doing good” meant, having a great conversation with a friend while playing chess was no better or worse than publishing his theories on the effect oil had on calming rough waters. As one of the most productive people in history, it’s inspiring to see how he pursued balance in his life. I believe that’s a major reason why he was able to live into his 80s during a time when life expectancy was 35 and, above all else, be happy until the very end.

My favorite parts of the book were the sections on his daily routine. His routine was methodical but not overly structured in that he dedicated time each day to specific tasks but those tasks would rarely be the same each day. He would start the day by asking himself what good he would do for the world and end it by reflecting on what good he actually did. Without industry and frugality nothing will do with them, everything.” Living within or below his means and becoming proficient at valuable skills is what led him to become regarded as the best writer in the world, decide what woman to marry, negotiate peace with the British to end the Revolutionary War, and much more.īeyond his philosophical ideals, Benny F has gone down in history as one of the most accomplished inventors. He is famously credited with discovering electricity but is also responsible for inventing the bifocal, lightning rod, and the modern-day postal system. His approach to science was to explore his curiosities in pursuit of practical applications, to make discoveries that materially improve the way ordinary people lived their lives. This approach was so successful that he is revered in the same light as Isaac Newton even though he lacked any expertise in mathematics. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. He was an extremely philosophical person who used logic and reason to influence all of his actions. He saw no greater accomplishment than being a frugal and industrious person, “The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. I recently finished the Walter Isaacson biography of Benny F (my nickname for him) and found that those three facts barely scratch the surface of describing this man. The image of him flying a kite and discovering electricity is in history textbooks, his face is on the $100 bill, and his signature is on the Declaration of Independence.

It’s safe to assume that nearly every American has heard of Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin franklin an american life