“Practice any art . . . no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming , to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.” — Kurt Vonnegut

In 2006, a group of students at Xavier High School in New York City were given an interesting assignment: to write their favorite authors and try to persuade them to visit the school.

Five students opted to write to none other than Kurt Vonnegut, the inimitable author of numerous hilarious, mind-bending, darkly satirical sci-fi classics such as Slaughterhouse Five and Cat’s Cradle.

Wily ol’ Kurt was the only author to reply to the high school students. Although he opted not to visit the school — noting that he no longer makes public appearances because he “now resemble[s] nothing so much as an iguana” — he did take the time to write the students a marvelous letter.

Vonnegut’s Wonderful Letter

(Scroll down for the transcript.)