Benjamin Franklin shaped American journalism, civic life, economics, and politics by his example as a publisher, editor, writer, business leader, and statesman. Every American should read the story he wrote of his own life. And now they can, for this edition of his autobiography tells his entire story in his own words, just with fewer words and shorter sentences. His 75,000 word manuscript is boiled down to 53,000 words in this digest, so you get all the calories with 29% less chewing. You will smile, cry, laugh, or wince on almost every page at his humor, pathos, wit, and profound insight into human thought and behavior. Daniel V. Runyon, Ph.D., is Professor of English and Communication at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. He produced this book for the benefit of his writing students as well as for anyone who enjoys learning about people and events that shaped western civilization.