Tap Dancing to Work

Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966–2012: A Fortune Magazine Book

By: Carol J. Loomis

Narrated by: Susan Boyce, Barry Press

When Carol Loomis first mentioned a little-known Omaha hedge-fund manager in a 1966 Fortune article, she didn’t dream that Warren Buffett would one day be considered the world’s greatest investor - nor that she and Buffett would become close personal friends. As Buf­fett’s fortune and reputation grew, Loomis used her unique insight into Buffett’s thinking to chronicle his work for Fortune, writ­ing and proposing scores of stories that tracked his many accomplishments - and his occa­sional mistakes.

Now Loomis has collected and updated the best Buffett articles Fortune published between 1966 and 2012, including thirteen cover stories and a dozen pieces authored by Buffett himself. Loomis has provided commentary about each major arti­cle that supplies context and her own informed point of view. Listeners will gain fresh insights into Buffett’s investment strategies and his thinking on management, philanthropy, public policy, and parenting. Some highlights include:

• The 1966 A. W. Jones story in which Fortune first mentioned Buffett
• The first piece Buffett wrote for Fortune, 1977’s "How Inflation Swindles the Equity Investor"
• Andrew Tobias’ 1983 article “Letters from Chairman Buffett,” the first review of his Berk­shire Hathaway shareholder letters
• Buffett’s stunningly prescient 2003 piece about derivatives, "Avoiding a Mega-Catastrophe"
• His unconventional thoughts on inheritance and philanthropy, including his intention to leave his kids "enough money so they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing"
• And Bill Gates’ 1996 article describing his early impressions of Buffett as they struck up their close friendship

Scores of Buffett books have been written, but none can claim this work’s combination of trust between two friends, the writer’s deep under­standing of Buffett’s world, and a very long-term perspective.

©2012 Time Inc. (P)2013 AudioGO

a good book but it repeats itself a lot

the book is fairly decent. the narrative was done nicely but the entire book i wasn't sure what year the book had been written and the book starts out in the 60's. This book repeats itself a lot. I'm sure this was due to trying to fill up blank spaces but it was a waste of my time.

Good information but it is a compilation if sources

Found my attention wandered while listening. Good information but I’ve heard most of it before, thus my attention waned at times.

Definitely worth a read

I've read other books about Warren. But this one had refreshing information not previously available in other books. Worth every penny

Loved it!!

I learned a lot, even though I have been a student of Buffett for many many years.

Terrible narration

Good read, terrible narration. Sounds like a robot.
Almost kills the book but I slugged through.