Ben Franklin’s Lessons in Life

De: Mark Canada, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Mark Canada

How did a young tradesman in early 18th-century Philadelphia with no money, no connections, and no formal education end up as a leading scientist, an inventor, a master diplomat - and even a Founding Father of the United States of America?

He used the same resource we have inside ourselves: a capacity for self-improvement.

Building a better life through conscious, strategic effort was the essence of who Benjamin Franklin was. An embodiment of the Enlightenment ethos, he had an astonishing ability to set and achieve goals that led not only to personal success, but also to everything that helped to transform America - and the world.

With bona fides like those, who wouldn’t want to follow Franklin’s advice?

In Ben Franklin’s Lessons in Life, you’ll learn how to use Franklin’s strategies to achieve success in your own life and to serve your fellow human beings. Using his own reflections and experiences, Mark Canada discusses many of Franklin’s lessons, which include living with purpose, educating oneself, communicating effectively, maintaining a positive outlook, leveraging others’ strengths, and crafting an image to meet your ends. Even if you don’t have any aspirations of taming lightning or founding a new nation, this Audible Original will help empower you to improve your life, achieve your full potential, and make lasting contributions to society.

We think Franklin would approve.

©2021 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

Brilliant Synopsis of Franklin!

Going to relisten to this again starting now! 😀 A wonderful summary of Frankin's autobiography and then practical applications of the points!

Loved it

This was a fun listen. The little insights into Franklin’s life were interesting. Made me want to go check out his book myself.

Not enough Benjamin Franklin

For a book that is supposed to be about Benjamin Franklin, it almost felt like Franklin was an afterthought. It kind of felt like the author put together and idea for a self-help/self-improvement book, and then decided to use Benjamin Franklin as the gimmick for it. As a result, the vast majority of the book doesn't really feel like it's that much about Franklin, it feels like it's just the author's self-help guidance. To that, it isn't necessarily poorly done, but it's also not particularly memorable and does little to stand out in a crowded field. The author's style is overly repetitive, and there are many books that do a much better job.

For someone interested in the general self-improvement and habit building side, "Atomic Habits", by James Clear is a much better selection than this one. for someone interested in living a more virtuous life, "How to Think Like a Roman Emperor", by Donald Robertson, is a similarly much better choice.

In the end, I would have trouble recommending this book/great course to most people.

a foot in both worlds

he discusses quite a bit about Franklin, but almost all of it his methodology and approach to life. And the way that led to Franklin success. also frames itself as a self-help book in the style of Franklin's autobiography. but it's neither an autobiography or a self-help book. It boldly straddles the line. interesting and enjoyable in its own right but left me looking for more on either side.

One of the best

Do you like American history? Philosophy? Literature? Business? An amazing narrator?

I finished these lectures in two days. You won't be disappointed.