This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. After finding centuryold letters in her backyard, Nina Sankovitch set off on a journey going back through thousands of years to learn why a single letter matters so much.

Nina Sankovitch is an author and blogger. She is most well known for a project she undertook in 2008 to read one book everyday. She was partially inspired by her need to make sense of the death of her older sister. She later wrote the memoir Tolstoy and the Purple Chair which documents the years leading up to the project, as well as the year of books itself. Her most recent project is Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Celebrating the Joys of Letter Writing which details the history and importance of letter writing. It is also part memoir discussing Nina’s desire for her eldest son to send her a letter from college. Nina also posts on her blog readallday.org regularly.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, selforganized events that bring people together to share a TEDlike experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, selforganized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are selforganized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)