It is the first of its kind in American literature. It is simple yet very fascinating record of a man rising to wealth and fame from a state of poverty and obscurity into which he was born, the faithful account of the colorful career of America’s first self-made man. It is, first of all, a Puritan document. It is Puritan because it is a record of self-examination The Puritans believed in Predestination, they constantly examined their conscience to ascertain for themselves how much more they should do to ensure salvation. He (Franklin) tries to note down his past experience as if in this way, he could communicate with God. The effort he made to improve his person, the belief that God helps those who help themselves and that every calling is a service to God— all these indicate that Franklin was intensely Puritan. Then, the book is also a convincing illustration of the Puritan ethic that in order to get on in the world, one has to be industrious, frugal and prudent.
It is also an eloquent elucidation of the fact that Franklin is the spokesman of 18th century enlightenment. He held that man was basically good and free by nature, endowed by God with certain inalienable rights of liberty and pursuit of happiness. Franklin confidently believed that the new world of America was a land of opportunities which might be met through hard work and wise management. He also thought that man was good and capable of becoming better, and that although men and institutions were often corrupt, they might be improved.
Its style is characterized by simplicity, clarity, directness, concision, order, as he said: “the words used should be the most expression that the language affords…. Nothing should be expressed in two words that can as well be expressed in one.”