"It takes a very inclusive anthology to encompass the protean personality and range of interests of Benjamin Franklin, but The Portable Benjamin Franklin succeeds as no collection has. In addition to the complete Autobiography, the volume contains about 100 of Franklin's major writings--essays, journalism, letters, political tracts, scientific observations, proposals for the improvement of civic and personal life, literary bagatelles, and private musings. The selections are reprinted in their entirety and organized chronologically within six sections that represent the full range of Franklin's temperament. The result is a zestful read for Franklin scholars and anyone wanting to know and enjoy this American icon."--Publisher's website.

The Portable Benjamin Franklin Introduction -- Acknowledgments -- Note on the Texts -- The Portable Benjamin Franklin -- Autobiography -- Selected Writings -- I. Printer, Journalist, Tradesman (1722-1757) -- 1722: The Dogood Papers (Nos. I, II, IV, VII) -- 1728: Epitaph -- The Pennsylvania Gazette -- 1729: The Printer to the Reader -- 1731: An Apology for Printers -- 1732: Letter from Anthony Afterwit -- 1732: Letter from Celia Single -- 1735: Advice to a Pretty Creature and Replies -- Poor Richard, & Poor Richard Improved -- 1736: Hints for Those That Would Be Rich -- 1739: A True Prognostication -- 1753: Title Page -- 1753: Preface -- 1757: Directions for Making a Striking Sun Dial -- 1758: The Way to Wealth -- II. The Betterment of Life -- Civic and Personal Improvement -- 1743: Promoting Useful Knowledge -- 1749: Education of Youth -- 1760: To Mary Stevenson (reading with pen in hand) -- 1760: To Mary Stevenson (acquaintance with nature) -- 1763: To Mary Stevenson (American young begin to lisp) -- 1760s(?): To Oliver Neave (swimming lesson) -- 1782: The Handsome and Deformed Leg -- 1785: To Richard Price (books instead of a bell) -- 1786: The Art of Procuring Pleasant Dreams -- Plans Private and Domestic -- 1748: To Cadwallader Colden (intends to retire) -- 1750: To Abiah Franklin (life in retirement) -- 1756: To Deborah Franklin (camp life) -- 1758: To Deborah Franklin (household arrangements) -- 1762: To William Strahan (intends to move to England) -- 1784: To William Franklin (reconciliation?) -- 1789: Codicil to Last Will and Testament -- Inventions, Experiments, Observations -- 1747: To Peter Collinson (on electricity) -- 1750: To a Friend in Boston (an electric shock) -- 1752: To Peter Collinson (electrical kite) -- 1755: To Peter Collinson (whirlwinds) -- 1757: To John Pringle (electricity in paralytic cases) -- 1762: To Sir Alexander Dick (Pennsylvania fireplace [Franklin stove]) -- 1762: To David Hume (installing a lightning rod) -- 1780: To Joseph Priestley (power of man over matter) -- 1783: To Sir Joseph Banks (some suppose flying now to be invented) -- 1784: To La Sabliere de la Condamine (cures by electricity and animal magnetism) -- 1785: To George Whatley (ruminations approaching age eighty) -- 1786: An Instrument for Taking Down Books from High Shelves -- 1786: To Benjamin Vaughan (lead poisoning) -- III. Politics: Theory and Practice -- Philadelphia, 1734-1757 -- 1751: On Transported Felons -- 1751: Exporting of Felons to the Colonies -- 1751: Increase of Mankind -- 1754: Join or Die -- 1754: Three Letters to Governor Shirley -- London and Philadelphia, 1757-1764 -- 1763: To Isaac Norris (submits receipts) -- 1764: To Peter Collinson (let trade take its course) -- London: Colonial Agent, 1764-1775 -- 1766: Price of Corn, and Management of the Poor -- 1773: Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One -- 1773: An Edict by the King of Prussia -- 1773: To William Franklin (on preceding satires) -- Philadelphia: Revolution, 1775-1776 -- 1775: To William Strahan (you are now my enemy) -- 1775: To Joseph Priestley (the Americans will fight) -- 1775: To a Friend in England [David Hartley] (there is no little enemy) -- 1776: To Lord Howe (impossible we should think of submission) -- 1776: Anecdote recalled by Jefferson about editing of Declaration of Independence -- Paris: American Minister, 1776-1785 -- 1777: To Mary Hewson (figure to yourself an old man) -- 1777: The Sale of the Hessians -- 1777(?): To a Friend (you have no idea of how I am harassed) -- 1777: Model of a Letter of Recommendation -- 1778: To Charles de Weissenstein (Parliament never had a right to govern us) -- 1779: Passport for Captain Cook -- 1779: The Levee -- 1780: To George Washington (you may live to see our country flourish) -- 1782: To James Hutton (murder of the Moravian Indians) -- 1782: Apologue -- 1782: To Sir Joseph Banks (long for a return of peaceful times) -- 1782: Information to Those Who Would Remove to America -- 1783: To Sir Joseph Banks (there never was a good war or a bad peace) -- 1784: To Sarah Bache (honor is a personal thing) -- United States of America: Philadelphia, 1785-1790 -- 1787: Constitutional Convention, Speech on Subject of Salaries -- 1787: Constitutional Convention, Speech at the Conclusion of Deliberations -- 1788: On the Abuse of the Press -- 1789: An Address to the Public on Slavery -- 1789: Plan for Improving the Condition of the Free Blacks -- 1790: Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim on the Slave Trade -- IV. Religion: Belief and Critique -- 1725: A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain -- 1738: To Josiah Franklin (religious opinions) -- 1753: To Joseph Huey (on good works) -- 1762: To Jared Ingersoll (deity not so angry as a New England justice) -- 1779: Conte -- 1780: To Richard Price (religious tests) -- 1784: To Samuel Mather (memory of Cotton Mather) -- 1790: To Ezra Stiles (something of my religion) -- V. Bagatelles and Dalliances -- 1730: A Witch Trial at Mount Holly -- 1745: Advice to a Young Man -- 1747: The Speech of Polly Baker -- 1765: To the Editor of a Newspaper (the world is grown too incredulous) -- 1777: The Twelve Commandments (to Madame Brillon) -- 1778: The Ephemera (To Madame Brillon) -- 1778: Elysian Fields (To Madame Helvetius) -- 1779: The Whistle (To Madame Brillon) -- 1779: Morals of Chess -- 1779: To Elizabeth Partridge (somebody gave it out that I loved ladies) -- 1780: Dialogue Between Franklin and the Gout -- 1784: An Economical Project -- 1785: A Petition of the Left Hand -- VI. Virtuoso -- 1755: To Peter Collinson (contents of a busy mind) -- 1760: To David Hume (unusual words) -- 1762: To Giambatista Beccaria (the armonica) -- 1781: To Court de Gebelin (Indian languages) -- 1789: To Noah Webster (purity of English) -- Chronology -- Glossary of Correspondents -- Editor's Notes.