Autobiography
64% recommend36% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Franklin's firsthand account of his rise from printer's apprentice to statesman, with practical lessons on self-improvement, habits, and civic work. It is engaging and worth rereading.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2007–2024The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Karl Popper
Recommended by 15 · mentioned by 2615 recommend · 26 mention15 recommend · 2615 recommend
2015–2023The Rosie Project
Graeme Simsion
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 119 recommend · 11 mention9 recommend · 119 recommend
Revolt of the Masses
José Ortega y Gasset
Recommended by 8 · mentioned by 138 recommend · 13 mention8 recommend · 138 recommend
2007–2025The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Recommended by 23 · mentioned by 3623 recommend · 36 mention23 recommend · 3623 recommend
2010–2025Benjamin Franklin
Walter Isaacson, Boyd Gaines, Nelson Runger
Recommended by 16 · mentioned by 2516 recommend · 25 mention16 recommend · 2516 recommend
2010–2026A treatise of human nature
David Hume
Recommended by 12 · mentioned by 2512 recommend · 25 mention12 recommend · 2512 recommend
2007–2026The Game
Neil Strauss
Recommended by 37 · mentioned by 6337 recommend · 63 mention37 recommend · 6337 recommend
…Malkiel, "Liberalismus" by Ludwig von Mises, "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius, "A Treatise of Human Nature" by David Hume, "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman, "The Law" by Frédéric Bastiat, "Autobiography" by Benjamin Franklin, "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, "Gespräche mit Goethe" by Johann Peter Eckermann, "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau, "The Old Regime and the Revolution" Alexis de Tocqueville, "On…
on “Ask HN: What's one book that changed your life?” ↗…professionally or even personally?" Professionally: Peter F. Drucker's books. Personally: "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius, "A Treatise of Human Nature" by David Hume, "The Law" by Frédéric Bastiat, "Autobiography" by Benjamin Franklin, "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, "Gespräche mit Goethe" by Johann Peter Eckermann, "The Old Regime and the Revolution" Alexis de Tocqueville, "On Liberty" by John Stuart Mill, "The…
on “Ask HN: Non-tech books that have helped you grow professionally?” ↗…Noodle and Get The Boodle (aka Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill - that was his proposed but rejected title), Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini, Be My Guest - Conrad Hilton Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, The Success System That Never Fails - W. Clement Stone, Winning Through Intimidation - Robert Ringer, Scientific Advertising - Claude Hopkins, The Ultimate Marketing…
on “The Best Business Book I’ve Ever Read (2014)” ↗That's a very bad question ! I get the feeling I will need to buy some books once this thread gets 100 answers :) I'm kind of biography / autobiography geek. The one I really love is Benjamin Franklin Autobiography - truly fantastic read (I've read it twice already, it's about time for a 3rd one !)
on “Ask HN: What is the best autobiography you have read?” ↗Franklin Autobiography: http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin-Illust... Franklin Biography by Isaacson http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Franklin-ebook/dp/B000FBJG4U
on “Kevin Rose Interviews Elon Musk” ↗…It could have just as easily been named "How to be a Good Person". Carnegie's advice is practical, yet powerful. I return to it every few months to make sure I'm staying on track. Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography. Franklin led one of the most interesting lives in human history, and this book is a window into his mind. There's a lot of great advice sprinkled in with subtle, timely humor. Another book I return to…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books of all time, and why?” ↗I have 4: -Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography - you can download it for free - Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell - A bit simplistic but it opens your eye to the fact that talent is a small part of being successful in whatever you…
on “Ask HN: Which books do you wish you'd read earlier in life?” ↗I second Benjamin Franklin Autobiography and would like to add Andrew Carnegie Autobiography as well. Both great and in my opinion worth reading multiple times.
on “Ask HN: What is the best autobiography you have read?” ↗…you can understand it, relates a history that we still teach today, and provides a view into our country that's hard to achieve anywhere else. Highly recommended recent reads: Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography Looters of the Public Domain, S.A.D. Puter. The Boston Tea Party and Memoir of George R.T. Hewes.
on “The Vital Necessity of Very Old Books (2023)” ↗For me, an American, the work ethic comes from reading Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography after being inspired by a passage found in an American Literature textbook in 10th grade. [0] edit: Of all the different philosophies a young person can subscribe to, entering in the middle of my life,…
on “The cult of doing business” ↗Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography
on “What would you recommend to read?” ↗…Biography - Joseph Frazier Fooled by Randomness - Nassim Taleb - 2nd reading Bed of Procrustes - Nassim Taleb Never Split the Difference - Christopher Voss The intelligent investor - Benjamin Graham Autobiography - Benjamin Franklin I always remember this quote: "In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn't read all the time -- none, zero." Charlie Munger
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2017?” ↗…http://www.amazon.com/New-Penguin-Atlas-Medieval-History/dp/... http://www.amazon.com/World-We-Have-Lost-Explored/dp/0415315... http://www.amazon.com/Extension-Man-History-Physics-Quantum/... http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin/dp/161... http://www.amazon.com/Life-English-Country-House-Architectur... http://www.amazon.com/Mohammed-Charlemagne-Henri-Pirenne/dp/... http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Constantinople-1453-Canto/dp/0521...…
on “PG's Rarely Asked Questions” ↗…then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.” — Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography
on “What are farm animals thinking?” ↗…reading sometimes, since they're usually addressed to one person about a topic that may or may not be of general interest, and often missing greater context. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Franklin-Autobiography-Richa...
on “Zuckerberg and Peter Thiel on Facebook, Millenials, and Predictions for 2030” ↗