POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC

Starting in 1732, Franklin publishes a book called "Poor Richard's Almanac" under the name of Richard Saunders. Its purpose is to instruct and entertain. In the book, Franklin tries to give only pertinent facts and avoids any biased opinions that might cause controversy. The almanac is written in calendar format with proverbs inserted amongst the dates. The almanac is published for twenty-five years, and every year nearly one thousand copies are sold. In the 1757 edition of the almanac, Franklin includes the proverbs of different nations. As a result, the almanac is soon distributed to France in a French translation.

Notes

In this section, Franklin reveals that he seeks a harmonious society. He believes that the press has a responsibility to encourage peace and understanding among its readers. As a result, he never allows his newspaper to be used for any kind of communal disharmony or criticism. When he creates "Poor Richard's Almanac," he makes certain that it too presents pertinent facts and that it avoids controversy. The almanac, which is published for twenty-five years, is very popular.

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