If ever there was a story that embodies what has become known as the American Dream, it is the life story of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin could be considered a passionate and energetic man who motivated himself with self-determination and a strong work ethic to achieve self-improvement. Beyond his sometimes lofty personal aspirations to achieve self-improvement, Franklin's deep conviction inspired him to help others live well. He demonstrated this belief in his reasons for writing, in his willingness to represent his mistakes as well as his successes as a means of instruction, in recounting the help he gave to others, and in his desire to create useful solutions. Franklin successfully used his story to describe this self-improvement. As a result, Franklin's journey from a meager, uneducated beginning to a wealthy man of immense stature and influence highlights his emphasis on hard work and determination. Franklin's insatiable thirst for knowledge and his relentless pursuit of self-improvement were central to his character. Every success and achievement only encourages him to achieve more. He states of his writing ability: "I was fortunate enough to improve in method or language, and this encouraged me to think that in time I might become a tolerable English writer, of which I was extremely ambitious." (Franklin, p.15) Indeed, later in his life, Franklin recognized that many of the opportunities he had been afforded were due to his ability to write. (Franklin, p. 61) Franklin's expressed intent at the beginning of his book is to write down his personal anecdotes for his son. He says he began in poverty and obscurity and reached a place of reputation. He hoped... mid-paper... for God's help in his quest for perfection. However, it should be noted that the nature of man prohibits perfection and any true happiness. Only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and a changed nature can one embark on a life of true fulfillment and happiness. Upon further reflection, Franklin realized that he had never achieved the perfection he aspired to, but that he was better and happier than if he had not tried. (Franklin, p.84) Hence the reason to publish his plan, so that others can benefit from it as he did. It can be concluded that Benjamin Franklin's life had a great effect not only on his generation, but on many generations that would follow. His intellectual curiosity, ingenuity, and desire to do good inspired him to pursue a lifelong pursuit of self-improvement and serving as a role model from which others can benefit...