Ben Vs Malcom

After reading both of these autobiographies I am completely astonished.  It is so amazing to me how motivated both of these individuals were to reach a goal, through thick and thin.  I really enjoyed both of the texts immensely.   I found there to be a vast amount of similarities between the two, other than different times and settings, they were extremely alike.  Both of these men had an incredible thirst for knowledge and regardless of Malcom being imprisoned, or Benjamin being indentured, they both were able to continue on their quest for more educational substance.  In both texts the men (or boy in Benjamin’s case) came up with ways to teach themselves how to read or write.  While Malcom copied the dictionary, Benjamin would set up writing exercises.  Not only did they both find a way to practice their skill, but they also were able to find ways to critique themselves, improving certain areas where need be.   Malcom X would stay up all hours of the night reading book after book and Benjamin Franklin would find a way to "borrow" books from his place of work and read them all night just to return them in the morning before anyone noticed they had been missing.  Another alikeness among the pair is that neither man did this for any prize or "degree".  It was solely for their own self-enlightenment that they spent years of time and insurmountable effort.  This pair of autobiographies is truly an immaculate example of what any human is capable of achieving if they have a yearning for inner success.