History’s Greatest Letters: Letters from History’s Greatest Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Innovators

Not long ago, I came across a little-known letter titled Finding Your Purpose and Living a Meaningful Life. The letter was written in 1958 by Hunter S. Thompson, who was just 22 years old when he wrote a letter to his friend Hume Logan in response to a request for life advice. I had never heard of Hume Logan and knew little of Hunter S. Thompson. And yet, as I read the letter, I came across one useful insight after another.

After reading that letter, I got to thinking… What other great letters are out there that I've never heard? As far as I know this is the only place where you can read transcripts of these letters in one place.

Famous Letters and Memos

• Warren Buffett's “Memo to Berkshire's Managers on The Importance of Reputation”
• Benjamin Franklin's “Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One”
• Robert Pirosh's “I Like Words” (Letter to Hollywood Executives in 1934)
• Hunter S. Thompson's “Finding Your Purpose and Living a Meaningful Life”
• ‍Hunter S. Thompson's “Living Versus Existing”

• ‍Hunter S. Thompson's “What Problems to Solve”

• ‍William Safire for Richard Nixon “In The Event of Moon Disaster”

• ‍John F. Kennedy's “Remarks Prepared for November 22, 1963”