Michael Faraday's Mental Exercises: An Artisan ... May 2026

: The collective writings were preserved in a manuscript now held by the Royal Institution . Key Themes and Philosophies

In July 1818, a 26-year-old Michael Faraday—then a chemical assistant at the Royal Institution—organized a self-help writing group with four other London artisans. This circle met for roughly 18 months with the primary goal of teaching themselves to "write like gentlemen" and mastering the art of polite discourse. Michael Faraday's Mental Exercises: An Artisan ...

: Members met regularly to read their original essays and poems aloud and provide critical feedback on each other's style and reasoning. : The collective writings were preserved in a