Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Back in the colonial times, people would travel by boat from New England to New York and Philadelphia. Ben Franklin starts his biography with details of his genealogy. He then covers his childhood as line of the youngest of the youngest. He started in the printing business and dabbled in writing. Initially he was a rather poor writer, but he gradually developed his skills. He also worked on other areas of self betterment and gradually became more involved with politics. One of his "high points" was his lightening and kite experience which enabled him to receive recognition from scientific societies.

There are also bits of attempts at civic betterment that help tell us about their society. He suggests ways of improving the condition through cleaning and lighting. (He mentioned keeping ways for smoke to escape from street lights. Hmmm... We never seem to worry about that anymore.)