The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life

This book offers a surprisingly personal history of Warren Buffett's upbringing, family and key personal relationships, and the development of his political views. It also describes more fully than any account I have seen before the personality, drive and genius behind his extraordinary business success.

To borrow a phrase from his partner, Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett has been a "learning machine" in business and financial affairs from his teen years. While he has generously shared with Berkshire shareholders, business school students and others, the investment precepts that have guided him, there can be no doubt after reading this book that Buffett's success cannot be duplicated by simply following his precepts.
His success is owed in greater part to native intelligence, drive, dedication and hard work.

The book also illustrates why Buffett is so widely admired: it cites numerous examples where Buffett acted with fairness and integrity when he had an opportunity to make more money with a less noble, but perfectly legal, alternative course of action. He exemplifies a life that has placed as much importance on doing things the right way as it has on achieving success in his chosen field.

Did I really want to listen to a 37 hours and 1 minute biography of Warren Buffett? He's a fascinating person, of course, but 2,220 minutes? I'm 75 now -- that's a big investment of my remaining minutes.

Well I clicked the "purchase" button and got hit with a five part download. I transferred it to hundreds (it seemed) of CD's and left for work. Luckily it's a 45 minute drive. 49.3 one-way trips. I could handle it!

I quickly got hooked. A generally (needed a touch more editing for a few redundencies) well written biography on basically a good man. It's not a gloss-job. The warts are in there too. I give Buffett credit for his cooperation in producing this biography, warts and all.

Really an excellent book and a fascinating subject!

Obviously tough to hear it through the total 36 hours, but at the end I ended up thinking that my time was well invested. Entertaining and educating at the same time... I also liked the narrator, Kirsten Potter. I would rate the book as one of the top listens I've had at audible.

This is one of the best bio's I have ever heard. It's lengthy at 30+ hours but I had a hard time pulling out the ear phones. Warren Buffett truly inspires and this book show's the side of him that you don't often hear about in the media.
I will warn that this is a "life" story, and not a play-by-play of Warren's investments over the years. If you'd like to hear about this man's personal struggles, and what shapped him to become who and what he is today there's not better book!
If you'd like to get a comprehensive idea of how he invest, and his process well... There are a few nuggets but this isn't the book you need to be reading.

Kirsten Potter does a great job reading through the pages with little to no vocal change from what had to have been a great task to finish.

Worth the time and money.

For me some of the legal battles where the most interesting things in the book. You learn a lot about how being honest played a big role in fixing problems. (Some of which would have truly tested the mighty among us)

Warren himself

*****Major Spoiler Alert HERE*****

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***I Warned You***
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The death of Susan Buffet, and Katherine Graham where particularly telling.

Conservative (Republican or the like) readers will have a few bumps while trying to read this due to today's political issues. However, it's not a book that tries to get you to switch your beliefs, and I was able to sit through and undertand his reasonings for switching parties.
If you are a conservative like myself don't let the fact that Warren is a domo move you away from enjoying this story.

One of the most interesting book I read (listen to). Full of details and insights. I love it!!!

I have little time to read, but found that books like this are great to listen to while driving, walking and running.

It's long, never boring, and well worth a careful listen to every part to understand the way Mr. Buffet thinks about money and life.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to enrich their life and have concrete life lessons that also the very rich mistake in many ways.

Misses B, her life story makes everyone want to grow old like her and not let life have the best of you even if your 100 years old

i personally focus a lot better on Audible books. they give me better understanding of the story and Kristen gives a stella delivery that keeps you intrigued

it made me understand life and things about my life better

Must read for everyone

Incomparable! I love it! definitely I will buy a book version!

well written.. a very good listen..

Having listen to this book, I really regret not having got the abridged version. The problem with this book is that the editor and author have not cut nearly enough. My guess is that the abridged version is close to how the final edited book should have been.

If in any doubt, get the abridged version.

(I would have given that four or five stars.)