This book and "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian (http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/aww/) are my two favorite books I've read repeatedly for over 20 years. It sounds very cheesy, but they are both like a road map for my life. Everyone knows about "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" but few have heard of Gracian. Paul, based on your essays that I've read, I think you would enjoy reading Gracian.