In high school one of the books that was required reading was Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography. I don’t know if it still is. But I do know it had an effect on me, not a major one at the time, but still an effect. Which is saying something for a high schooler.

I’ve read it several times since. It is an amazing book. Did you know that even though Franklin was not the first to write an autobiography, he was the first to have one become what we would now call a Bestseller? It was highly successful commercially. In his day it was even translated into French, Spanish, German and English (that is there was a British equivalent).

Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography is still recommended reading today. It was not fully completed by Franklin, so one author has even produced a book known as Benjamin Franklin’s Completed Autobiography. It adds several events Ben didn’t include. And it’s pretty good, too!

You know that Ben was an inventor. It turns out he was also an importer. That is he imported the first bathtub in America. He had a French model shaped as a slipper sent to be included in his home in Philadelphia. Ben was also a pioneer of indoor plumbing in America. And much, much more!