“Why me?"

"That is a very Earthling question to ask, Mr. Pilgrim. Why you? Why us for that matter? Why anything? Because this moment simply is. Have you ever seen bugs trapped in amber?"

"Yes."

"Well, here we are Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why."

- Kurt Vonnegut, "Slaughterhouse-Five"

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Kurt Vonnegut was an American novelist, satirist, and graphic artist known best for his semi-autobiographical novel, "Slaughterhouse-Five." Vonnegut dropped out of Cornell University in 1943 to serve in the Army during World War II. He was captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge and became one of the few survivors of the Dresden firebombing while being held captive there. After the war, Vonnegut began writing short stories and novels.

Over a career spanning more than 50 years, Vonnegut shared with us fantastic stories, dark humor and sincere pieces of wisdom. Here are seven reasons why Kurt Vonnegut should be your best friend.

1. He was funny!

2. He was most encouraging.

3. He was an excellent writer.

"His situation, insofar as he was a machine, was complex, tragic, and laughable. But the sacred part of him, his awareness, remained an unwavering band of light.

"And this book is being written by a meat machine in cooperation with a machine made of metal and plastic. The plastic, incidentally, is a close relative of the gunk in Sugar Creek. And at the core of the writing meat machine is something sacred, which is an unwavering band of light.

At the core of each person who reads this book is a band of unwavering light."

My doorbell has just rung in my New York apartment. And I know what I will find when I open my front door: an unwavering band of light."

- Kurt Vonnegut, "Breakfast of Champions"

4. He promoted peace and sustainability.

5. He was honest and wise.

6. He was a little odd.

7. Despite their follies, he loved all people.

So it goes.