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The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life (Unabridged) | 
 enlarge | Author: Alice Schroeder
Publisher: audible.com
Category: Book
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  132 reviews
Media: Audio Download
ASIN: B001GSJSC6
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Product Description
Here is THE book recounting the life and times of one of the most respected men in the world, Warren Buffett. The legendary Omaha investor has never written a memoir, but now he has allowed one writer, Alice Schroeder, unprecedented access to explore directly with him and with those closest to him his work, opinions, struggles, triumphs, follies, and wisdom. The result is the personally revealing and complete biography of the man known everywhere as “The Oracle of Omaha.”
Although the media track him constantly, Buffett himself has never told his full life story. His reality is private, especially by celebrity standards. Indeed, while the homespun persona that the public sees is true as far as it goes, it goes only so far. Warren Buffett is an array of paradoxes. He set out to prove that nice guys can finish first. Over the years he treated his investors as partners, acted as their steward, and championed honesty as an investor, CEO, board member, essayist, and speaker. At the same time he became the world’s richest man, all from the modest Omaha headquarters of his company Berkshire Hathaway. None of this fits the term “simple.”
When Alice Schroeder met Warren Buffett she was an insurance industry analyst and a gifted writer known for her keen perception and business acumen. Her writings on finance impressed him, and as she came to know him she realized that while much had been written on the subject of his investing style, no one had moved beyond that to explore his larger philosophy, which is bound up in a complex personality and the details of his life. Out of this came his decision to cooperate with her on the book about himself that he would never write.
Never before has Buffett spent countless hours responding to a writer’s questions, talking, giving complete access to his wife, children, friends, and business associates—opening his files, recalling his childhood. It was an act of courage, as The Snowball makes immensely clear. Being human, his own life, like most lives, has been a mix of strengths and frailties. Yet notable though his wealth may be, Buffett’s legacy will not be his ranking on the scorecard of wealth; it will be his principles and ideas that have enriched people’s lives. This book tells you why Warren Buffett is the most fascinating American success story of our time.
From the Hardcover edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 127 more reviews...
 Is he good, or lucky? January 8, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
What I liked-->First, for an 800+ page book, the author keeps a good pace. The book was entertaining throughout. Second, the author sticks to the facts. Third, the chapter on Mrs. B is wonderful. It is America at its best. Fourth, the story of what happened at Salomon Brothers is great to read, and timely. Fifth, after reading the book Mr. Buffett seems like a real human being.
What I didn't like-->The author made a decision that a step by step description of the process Mr. Buffett uses to evaluate what companies or stocks to buy was not worth including in the book. This expertise is the core of who Warren Buffett is. He chose to use it to make money instead of spending time with his family. Maybe Buffett wouldn't go into the details (his friends describe him as secretive in the book); maybe it was edited out to shorten the book; maybe it is boring or trite or obvious; maybe the author felt it was already available in Buffet's extensive commentary on the "The Intelligent Investor" and in the letters to the Berkshire shareholders. What did make it into the book are the stories of several companies whose stock prices went bad for a long time ( Buffalo newspaper, Salomon Bros,, General Re, Coke) after Buffett bought into them. But why he got into them originally instead of all the other stocks in the market, and what financial information gave him his edge to ride through the bad times, well, "Snowball" gives only hints.
 Very unhappy January 6, 2009
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my Son. I ordered it on 28th November but did not receive it until after Christmas so am very very very unhappy.
 fascinating January 6, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It gives us an insight into one of the most complex characters in american finances - both the good and the bad. The info on acquirting companies was terrific. Highlight. On weekend with Reagan, he told the President that what he was doing - spending more than he collected - would forever start the nation on a serious journey of overwhelming debt. This was 1982 and here we are in 2009 and another Republican President has certainly done a number in this area in leaving us shortlyto a horrible long term problem. Finally, you can detect Buffett's sense of humor in things as a number of his words of wisdom have proven to be correct.
A great book, especially in today's economic crisis January 6, 2009
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I purchased this book for my husband and gave it to him for Christmas. Since then, he has been devouring it. The book is quite large and my husband describes it as "heavy reading" because there is a great deal of detail about Warren Buffet's life and the people in it, both from a personal perspective and also from a business perspective. My husband reads passages of the book to me because he is so enthusiastic about it, and I have to admit that the content does indeed sound very interesting. It appears that the content of Warren's book and especially Warren's financial philosophies are very relevant to the current economic crisis in which America finds itself right now.
From the amount of enjoyment my husband is getting in reading this book, I would have to recommend it highly.
Interesting Subject, Some Stiff Writing January 6, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm fascinated by this folksy Richest Man in The World, and so I can't put the book down. Lots of background information and description of his life and business. After reading more about him as a person, I'm coming away less in awe of the man than I was.
However, I don't think the writing is all that great. At times it reads like a bland listing of life events and investments made. The author rarely offers much commentary on what she is describing. Seems like she is trying so hard to describe every day of his life that she didn't have time to make any insightful comparisions or comments.
Still, I'm fascinated by the guy and am enjoying learning more about him.
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