Product Description

Inventor, Writer, Statesman, Military Leader…Businessman

You are holding the only modern adaptation of Benjamin Franklin's 18th century autobiography. It is at its heart one of the greatest business stories ever told.

“Franklin's autobiography is America's first great self-help book. It teaches in a delightful way how to win friends, influence people and succeed in business. Professor McCormick makes this great work more accessible and adds his own insights.”

-Walter Isaacson, author, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

“Anyone who's got the bug and drive to become a great leader and innovator can only be inspired by the life of Benjamin Franklin, who quite literally wrote the book for getting the most out of himself and brining out the best in others. His genius - scientific, entrepreneurial, diplomatic, and literary - was sui generis. His Autobiography is a classic of Americn letters, and he emerges from the pages of Professor McCormick's version not only as our contemporary, but also as a 21st century visionary, not to mention a wise companion.”

-Dr. Judith Rodin, President Emerita, The University of Pennsylvania, President, The Rockefeller Foundation

“Statesman and inventor are the first images that come to mind when we think of Benjamin Franklin, but as his autobiography will remind us, he was also a very successful entrepreneur and a most fascinating individual. Dr. McCormick brings the story of Franklin's entrepreneurial spirit alive for today's audience in his adaptation of Franklin's autobiography.”

-United States Congressman Michael N. Castle (Delaware) Fifth Generation Franklin Descendant

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #784229 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781932531688
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Although this modernized version of Franklin's autobiography achieves its goal of sharing business lessons, it also serves as an accessible—if abbreviated—portrait of the entrepreneur, statesman, scientist and inventor. The author, associate dean for undergraduate programs at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business (and a Franklin scholar), has updated Franklin's 300-year-old text, revising the language and syntax and rearranging some stories so they appear in chronological order. He divides the work into three chunks: Franklin's first 20 years; his years as a Philadelphia printer through his retirement from business in 1748; and his move into the public sphere, as he applied his business know-how to civic, military and diplomatic projects. Each of the 82 short chapters features an introduction contextualizing the events. Some lessons are of the moral variety (honesty is a necessity in all endeavors); others pertain to development (expose yourself to a wide variety of jobs; Franklin worked for his father's candle business, enjoyed watching talented craftsmen at work and toyed with small machines for his science experiments); many are more traditionally business-minded (on partnerships, for example, Franklin advises "clearly defining the roles and expectations of each partner at the very beginning"). History buffs with business interests will enjoy this entertaining, informative account. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap
The most versatile Founding Father was a husband, a father, a writer, an inventor, a statesman, a fundraiser and a military leader. But in his mind, he was first and foremost a businessman. Franklin’s captivating adventures include his almost single-handed responsibility for establishing the first media empire, the first public library, the first fire brigade, the University of Pennsylvania, the first book club and the first franchise – all of which are detailed within these pages with Franklin’s characteristic mix of humility and pride.

Franklin chronicles his own story, from his early days growing up in colonial Boston to his retirement from printing and growing involvement in national politics. It was during these years that he honed his management and leadership skills, acquired a fervent distaste for tyranny of all types, embraced a strong set of morals, and developed an uncompromising work ethic. From the moment he fled his tyrannical master and set himself up as a printer in Philadelphia, all who came into contact with Franklin recognized his destiny.

His wisdom transcends the ages – and his life lessons are insights are as compelling today as ever.

From the Back Cover
You are holding the only modern adaptation of Benjamin Franklin’s 18th century autobiography. It is at its heart one of the greatest business stories ever told.

"Franklin’s autobiography is America’s first great self-help book. It teaches in a delightful way how to win friends, influence people and succeed in business. Professor McCormick makes this great work more accessible and adds his own insights." --Walter Isaacson, author, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

"Anyone who’s got the bug and drive to become a great leader and innovator can only be inspired by the life of Benjamin Franklin, who quite literally wrote the book for getting the most out of himself and bringing out the best in others. His genius – scientific, entrepreneurial, diplomatic, and literary – was sui generis. His Autobiography is a classic of American letters, and he emerges from the pages of Professor McCormick’s version not only as our contemporary, but also as a 21st century visionary, not to mention a wise companion. --Judith Rodin, Ph.D., President Emerita, The University of Pennsylvania, President, The Rockefeller Foundation

"Statesman and inventor are the first images that come to mind when we think of Benjamin Franklin, but as his autobiography will remind us, he was also a very successful entrepreneur and a most fascinating individual. Dr. McCormick brings the story of Franklin’s entrepreneurial spirit alive for today’s audience in his adaptation of Franklin’s autobiography. --United States Congressman Michael N. Castle (Delaware), Fifth Generation Franklin Descendant

This special commemorate edition was published to mark the 300th anniversary of Franklin’s birth.

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Customer Reviews

This book is NOT what you think
The subtitle, "Franklin's Autobiography for Modern Times," is a more accurate description of this breakthrough work. It is a modern translation of the most famous memoir ever written. As an historian and Franklinphile, I recently poured over hundreds of Franklin letters and essays in compiling and editing "The Compleated Autobiography" of Benjamin Franklin. And I can tell you that Franklin's original writing is not easy to understand today. Franklin's great story desperately needed a modern translation, and Prof. McCormick has finally done it. Bravo!

Last month, I spent many days searching for the best edition of Franklin's Autobiography. My mother, who is a direct descendant of Ben Franklin, wished to give copies of the Autobiography to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as an eternal memory of her life and her side of the family.

In looking at all the many editions of the Autobiography, my biggest fear was that young people wouldn't read it because of the outdated 18th century language. Franklin wrote his memoirs specifically "to benefit young readers," and during the 19th century it was highly successful. However, recently, the Autobiography has lost touch with the modern generation because of the language barrier.

Prof. McCormick has solved this problem brilliant. The McCormick edition is completely accessible to people of all ages, and it is beautifully illustrated with commentaries, quotes from Poor Richard's Almanac, and portraits of Franklin and others. As far as I'm aware it's the only hardback edition of the Autobiography available today.

I bought 60 copies of McCormick's version, and my mother has started sending them out to her family members. I've already received positive comments from some of the grandchildren who have started reading this exciting new version of Franklin's story. I'm sure Franklin would find it "most agreeable."

Prof. McCormick's version of Franklin's Autobiography deserves to be read by budding entrepreneurs and business leaders, and everyone else. I suspect it will be in print for many years to come.

Franklin an Inspiration to Today's Entrepreneurs
BOOK REVIEW:
BEN FRANKLIN: AMERICA'S ORIGINAL ENTREPRENEUR
By Blaine McCormick
Reviewed by: Patricia Schaefer
Buy this book from Amazon.com

"Sometime during the last 50 years most of us stopped reading The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin even though it's one of the greatest success stories in American history.

"Contrary to perceptions people might have of him, Franklin fully expected his autobiography to be more useful to young businesspeople than to, say, budding diplomats or scientists. Franklin clearly wanted the book to be useful to those interested in a career in business, and it is in this spirit that I have modernized his original text."

So says Blaine McCormick in his Introduction to Ben Franklin: America's Original Entrepreneur, and McCormick does indeed achieve his objective in this splendid and spellbinding adaptation.

McCormick, Ph.D., and nationally recognized scholar on the business practices of Benjamin Franklin, seamlessly applies and joins together Franklin's eighteenth century business principles to our twenty-first century business world. In addition to the written word, the book itself draws you in with its "weathered" pages and shadow image of Franklin himself gazing upon you from many of its pages.

A Business Know-How poll of a small number of modern day entrepreneurs found that nine out of ten have never read the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Knowledge of Franklin -- one of our greatest Americans -- was often limited to "signer of the Declaration of Independence, the `face' on the 100-dollar bill, and the discoverer of electricity with the famous key on the string of a kite." In McCormick's pages, Franklin's actual accomplishments and beliefs leave one awed and inspired.

Although Franklin's most celebrated achievements came after he had already established himself as a successful businessman, it is his early years of poverty, struggle and strife -- and Franklin's impressive self-made journey to success -- that leap out of the pages and stir one's soul.

Considering our recent corporate scandals rife with dishonesty, greed and negligible regard for the "little guy," every business person today would do well to read about Franklin's personally crafted self-improvement program which he claimed "contributed more to the quality and happiness of my life than anything else I tried." For years, he kept a daily record of his success and failure in developing habits of 13 moral virtues.

According to McCormick's Franklin, "Wrongdoing is not harmful to yourself and others because it's forbidden; it's forbidden because it's harmful. As such, it's in everybody's best interest to live a virtuous life if they want to be happy and successful. This is the way the world works. The young people reading this should take special note: nothing will make a person's fortune like simple goodness and honesty."

Surely, certain Enron executives would have benefited had they heeded this advice.

Franklin himself was not without faults, but masterfully used his mistakes and failings -- particularly in his younger years - as a true learning tool and stepping stone to greatness. At the age of ten, young Franklin led a group of friends in the building of a fishing pier along with the pilfering of a considerable amount of stones to build their pier. Their wrongdoing was soon discovered and, through the wise and convincing words of his father, Franklin cemented his belief in the necessity for honesty in all endeavors.

Possessing an affinity for universal truths and wisdom-guided beliefs, Franklin -- at the age of 26 -- created the character and witty sayings of "Poor Richard" Saunders in his Poor Richard Almanacks. McCormick cleverly sprinkles throughout the margins of his book many of the still-famous sayings and proverbs of Franklin's Poor Richard; things like, "Eat to live, and not live to eat" and "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

It is no accident that Benjamin Franklin is on the top of virtually every list of any poll showing this country's greatest Americans. After reading "Franklin's autobiography for modern times," it becomes evident that this great statesman, inventor, scientist, printer, musician, economist and philosopher possessed a unique brand of intelligence that resonates and relates to the common man.

Every business student, every business owner, every corporate giant would be well served to read and explore the pages of Ben Franklin: America's Original Entrepreneur. Here they will witness -- in Franklin's challenging struggle from poverty to the fulfillment of the "American dream" -- that truth, authenticity and integrity in all business dealings are the foundations to real success.

Great lessons for an aspiring entrepreneur
I just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I read the original, but found it dense and difficult to follow. Dr. McCormick has done a masterful job of translating Franklin's language while still retaining the underlying meaning.

The stories Franklin tells are fantastic, it is almost a primer on how to be successful in business. Many of the pitfalls he encounters are the same as what someone today would run into. The lessons are practical, and Dr. McCormick's commentary makes it easier to see what Franklin is really getting at, whereas it may have been difficult otherwise.

I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for anyone interested in Franklin, colonial history, and most of all, how to be successful.