Product Description

Since its hardcover publication in August of 1995, Buffett has appeared on the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Newsday and Business Week bestseller lists. The incredible landmark portrait of Warren Buffett's uniquely American life is now available in paperback, revised and updated by the author.

Starting from scratch, simply by picking stocks and companies for investment, Warren Buffett amassed one of the epochal fortunes of the twentieth century--an astounding net worth of $10 billion, and counting. His awesome investment record has made him a cult figure popularly known for his seeming contradictions: a billionaire who has a modest lifestyle, a phenomenally successful investor who eschews the revolving-door trading of modern Wall Street, a brilliant dealmaker who cultivates a homespun aura.

Journalist Roger Lowenstein draws on three years of unprecedented access to Buffett's family, friends, and colleagues to provide the first definitive, inside account of the life and career of this American original. Buffett  explains Buffett's' investment strategy--a long-term philosophy grounded in buying stock in companies that are undervalued on the market and hanging on until their worth invariably surfaces--and shows how it is a reflection of his inner self.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #476 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-29
• Released on: 2008-04-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Amazon.com Review
Starting from scratch, simply by picking stocks and companies for investment, Warren Buffett amassed one of the epochal fortunes of the 20th century -- an astounding net worth of $10 billion and counting. That awesome record has made him a cult figure.

This illuminating biography reveals a man whose conscientiousness, integrity, and good humor exist alongside an odd emotional isolation. Buffett also masterfully traces his life: his enormously successful partnership; his early, inspired investments in American Express and Geico; his companionship and investment with Katharine Graham of the Washington Post; his role in the Capital Cities purchase of ABC; his unique relationship with his wife and mistress; and his rescue of the scandal-ridden Salomon Brothers.

From Publishers Weekly
By picking the right stocks and businesses to invest in, plainspoken Nebraskan Warren Buffett became the richest man in the U.S. In this excellent biography, Wall Street Journal reporter Lowenstein details the billionaire stock market wizard's strategy of betting on the long-term growth of a handful of successful companies such as American Express and Berkshire Hathaway. Providing personal glimpses of a very private man, Lowenstein unearths childhood traumas such as the tormenting rages of Buffett's mother and his forced relocation to Washington, D.C., in 1943, where, at 13, he ran away from home (he was found by the police the next day). Buffett's wife, Susan Thompson, a nightclub singer, walked out on him in 1977 and was quickly replaced by his mistress, Latvian-born Astrid Menks. Lowenstein profiles an emotionally guarded, "strangely stunted" Midas obsessed with work and secrecy, who seemingly derives little pleasure from his fabulous wealth. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Of all the so-called financial wizards, one stands above them all: Warren Buffet. Starting out in a middle-class Nebraska family, Buffet turned his prodigious talents for investing into a fortune of over $9 billion. Like many with a particular sort of genius, the man contains myriad complexities and contradictions: a traditional moral base that somehow includes both wife and mistress; a serene exterior that masks a fixed fear of death and a history of parental abuse; and a generosity that does not preclude requiring his children to repay all loans with interest. Lowenstein, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has made a thoroughly researched attempt at exploring how Buffet's mind works. He gives a largely sympathetic view of a man who says bankers should wear ski masks, a billionaire who has "no art collection or snazzy car...but lives in a commonplace house on a tree-lined block." A worthwhile addition to most public and academic libraries.?Katherine Gillen, Luke Air Force Base Lib., Ariz.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Great Read - Could Use More Updated Materials and a Bit More Investing Philosophy
When I first came across this book, I had planned on reading a Buffet biography for quite some time. I hesitated for a while because there were so many options. As I enjoyed reading Roger Lowenstein's, When Genius Failed, I made my decision to read this particular book based solely on my knowledge of the author. Fortunately, Lowenstein did not disappoint. Indeed, this Buffet biography is very well written and will be entertaining to both the lay person and professional investor, alike. If I could suggest one or two improvements, it would be for the author to reduce the overall length and sprinkle in a few more investing ideas. Also, potential readers should be aware that most of the content ends in the 1990s when the first edition was printed. So, much of the color about his friendship with Bill Gates and his first non-US investment, Israeli-based ISCAR, is missing.

Just as he did in When Genius Failed, Lowenstein does a great job describing historical accounts of entertaining or semi-dramatic events in Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist. Remarkably, the author is able to paint very clear pictures of scenes that occurred 50 years ago. This particular work is especially impressive as the author received no assistance from Buffet himself making the task of collecting details on such events very difficult.

Unfortunately, the book contains very little explanation of Buffet's investment strategy. This book is not an investing textbook, which is understandable. Rather, it is a biography that has some elements of Buffet's investing wisdom explained. It would be nice if it had more details on the investing front.

Some readers might find the book a bit longer than necessary. Of course, the wordiness may be a matter of personal preference. I would argue that most readers will stay thoroughly entertained throughout the book.

English major lovin on Buffett
Read this because you want to know about the man and the method, not the money. I admire the billions of dollars that he's amassed on his own terms, but it's his history, relationships, and singular outlook on life that had me plowing through this tome like it was a short story. I am a reborn fan of biographies, and a new follower of financial books. I hope there are other books out there like this: clear, absorbing, and off-beat enough to make you laugh like a fool on a packed metro. I never dog-ear, but I had to all the way through this book for the stellar quotes dashed off here and there. One being, off the top of my head: "God sent me a blessed gift in the form of a Berkshire Hathaway Annual Report." AGH! And don't get me started on Mrs. B. Extremely worthwhile read.

Excellent
Well researched, analyzed, and written.

I see why Buffett was silently acceptive in autographing it. Superb job in reporting both analytical economics and personal life. Truth.

I will read more from this author.