We know that Benjamin Franklin was a great scientist, inventor, printer, businessman, diplomat, horseman, ambassador, mentor, public servant, and Founding Father. But we don’t often think of him as an author. But we should.

His scientific book about electricity made him a household name in all the civilized world at the time. It was the most widely read book in Europe. Franklin was also the author of a series of political satires that were held in as great esteem as books by Lord Chesterfield and Jonathan Swift.

He was also the best selling author in America with his publication of the English novel, “Pamela” by Samuel Jackson. But the book that even still receives great acclaim and is widely read today is none other than his Autobiography. It was a top seller of the day.

If you haven’t read it you should. If you have previously read it, perhaps you should read it again. It is chock full of not only interesting stories, but of common sense reason. It should be required reading for all high school students.

The Autobiography was on the “best seller” list of his day. It was translated into German, French, Italian, and Spanish. There is even a new edition of “The Compleated (sic) Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”, compiled and edited by Mark Skousen, PhD., 2006, still available today.