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The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life | 
 enlarge | Author: Alice Schroeder
Publisher: Bantam
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
Buy New: $19.90
You Save: $15.10 (43%)
New (57) Used (14) Collectible (8) from $19.90
Rating:  128 reviews
Sales Rank: 59
Format: Roughcut
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 976
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.7
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.7 x 2.2
ISBN: 0553805096
Dewey Decimal Number: 332.6092
EAN: 9780553805093
ASIN: 0553805096
Publication Date: September 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 123 more reviews...
 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.
 No college degree required to be successful! January 5, 2009
Great book by Warren Buffett! Did you know that, based on the criteria to teach at a University, Warren Buffett, Peter Jennings and Bill Gates would not be able to be a teacher? None of them have the necessary college degree. Makes you wonder how much of the federally funded Universities studies are necessary for success?
 A wasted opportunity January 3, 2009
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Schroeder had unprecedented access to information on Buffett's history. She could have written an in-depth account of the financial analysis that Buffett used in key moments of his investing history. She could have educated readers on why Buffett saw opportunity where others didn't. Instead she wrote about his personal life which is no more interesting than the average person's because Buffett chose to live a relatively normal life outside of his work. Also the personal life material has been covered before by other authors in practically the same level of detail.
This was a missed opportunity to write a unique book about a unique financial genius. Students of Buffett would be better served by learning from Buffett's annual letters or Roger Lowenstein's book.
Awesome! January 1, 2009
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Lowenstein's biography of Warren Buffett was a classic, The one to read. Schroeder's book has now filled the gaps in Lowenstein's work.
Don't get me wrong though. I do greatly admire Roger Lowenstein. However, Schroeder's latest work takes the cake.
 Not the best biography but interesting December 30, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
On the whole Warren Buffet in the hands of Alice Schroeder is not that interesting. This is a rather dry Buffet bio about a grandfather, a dogmatic father, mentally ill mother, and the damaged siblings of these parents. About 75% of the content of this book is a tiresome account of the people in Buffett's life and Buffett's singular focus on things that only interest himself - his lack of interest in his family, wife, boring affairs.
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