Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son

Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son Being the Letters written by John Graham, Head of the House of Graham & Company, Pork-Packers in Chicago, ... known to his intimates as "Piggy."

Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son, being the Letters written by John Graham, Head of the House of Graham & Company, Pork-Packers in Chicago, familiarly known on 'Change as "Old Gorgon Graham," to his Son, Pierrepont, facetiously known to his intimates as "Piggy."

- Reviews -

John Graham has a massive amount of useful information for his son, and anybody who stumbles across it with a humble spirit should count themselves lucky. 

This is more of an elegant restating of basic principles of life, with a few solid new ideas which ring true to me.

One of my favorites is where Mr. Graham (perhaps in the second book) is describing his early days in poverty with his wife, and he says "we decided we would take our laughs as we go" or something to that effect. I had resolved myself to suffer through very difficult college classes for a better future, and that line has helped change my thoughts - it's okay to work hard but still be happy. Finding that sustainable equilibrium is the key to a happy life.

If you want to be a true blue blooded gentleman I recommend this book. Have life problems? Relationship problems? Work problems? Friendship problems?
The answers are not merely blowing in the wind, they are in these letters.