Benjamin Franklin's Collection of Moral and Ethical Teachings: A Guide to Living a Virtuous Life

T. R.: It's a little odd. Written more like it was taken from a short hand note book. Despite that it is full of good information and words of wisdom. There is a reason why BF is one of the founding fathers. If we had more people like Ben today we would be in better shape.

United States on May 21, 2023

Joshua Love: This book was written by someone who is probably 150% smarter than the smartest person you could imagine.

United States on Apr 17, 2023

N.J. Arthur Marks: This book provides a sensible, timeless introduction to the discipline of business conduct.

Australia on Jun 07, 2022

JackieJackie: Having purchased these books from the same publisher as Christmas stocking stuffers for my father and brothers, I’m so happy with the items delivered! I was a bit worried (as I always am when buying things online) but the price was extremely reasonable and I figured with Prime I can expect a quick delivery to see if anything is wrong with the books in case I need a backup. But they are very sturdy for such small hardcover books. The printing was great on the pages and I absolutely love the aesthetic of the covers. These are the type of little books you want to display on your desk.

I snuck a quick read from each one before wrapping them. I’ll have to borrow them once my family finishes reading them. Also they’re made in the US so that’s a plus!

United States on Dec 13, 2021

William J. Bahr: A man of method and measurement, Benjamin Franklin was hooked on self-improvement. As his main strategy for character development and self-betterment, he started out tracking his performance on a round dozen virtues he thought the most important to better himself. However, a friend (a Quaker, no pun intended) then told Franklin perhaps his biggest weakness was pride. So Franklin then had a patriotic baker’s dozen (13) virtues to monitor. Quite simply, Franklin made a grid with red ink with the initials of his virtues running down the first column, and the days of the week for the headers of the other columns. During the first week of 13 weeks, he’d focus on the first virtue, the second week, the second, and so on. When he had a failing during a day, he’d make a mark in pencil for that day but only for that virtue and the ones in rows above it. His objective was to have as few marks as possible. Once the 13 weeks were up, he’d start over, doing this four times per year, covering 52 weeks.

For the dozen virtues I’ve not mentioned, you’ll need to read the book, which also gives you some wonderful background to Franklin’s efforts, all in Franklin’s words, of...

United States on May 09, 2021

Ed: Super cool book. 10/10

Canada on Aug 15, 2020

Dan J Eickmeier: Classic little book

Canada on Aug 29, 2018

jmonague: wonderful little book.

United Kingdom on Aug 03, 2017

J. Hauck (Guerrilla Reader): Review of: "Benjamin Franklin's Book of Virtues," Hardcover – September 27, 2016 by Benjamin Franklin (Author).

This is an excellent little volume. The publisher remarks state: "From 1771 to his death in 1790, Benjamin Franklin was in the process of writing what he referred to as his Memoirs. Portions of the unfinished work were published posthumously as Memoirs of the Private Life of Benjamin Franklin, first in French in 1791, and then in English in 1793. Today the complete unfinished manuscript is known as The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, and is considered one of the most famous and influential examples of autobiography ever written. In the heart of the work, Franklin wrote of his "bold and arduous Project of arriving at Perfection" when he was a young man. He prepared a list of thirteen virtues he wished to perfect in himself, and created a chart in which to keep track of his shortcomings. Among Franklin's list of virtues were personal traits (frugality, moderation, tranquility) and social traits (sincerity, justice, humility). Franklin strayed from the virtuous path on many occasions, and discovered perfection was an impossible thing to achieve, but felt a...

United States on Jan 31, 2017