Excerpts from the Library of Congress’s list of literature that has influenced the lives of Americans and sparked public dialogue in honor of its multi-year celebration of books.

“The Way to Wealth; or Poor Richard Improved” (1758), by Benjamin Franklin As a writer, Benjamin Franklin was best known for the wit and wisdom he shared with the readers of his popular almanac, “Poor Richard,” under the pseudonym “Richard Saunders.” This piece has been translated into many languages and is the most extensively reprinted of all of Franklin’s writings. Library of Congress