The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
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The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Alice Schroeder (Author), Kirsten Potter (Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 4,339 ratings
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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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  1. Listening Length
    36 hours and 58 minutes
  2. Author
    Alice Schroeder
  3. Narrator
    Kirsten Potter
  4. Audible release date
    September 29, 2008
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B001GSJSC6
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 36 hours and 58 minutes
Author Alice Schroeder
Narrator Kirsten Potter
Audible.com Release Date September 29, 2008
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B001GSJSC6
Best Sellers Rank #3,594 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#17 in Biographies of Business Leaders
#32 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals
#39 in Rich & Famous Biographies

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
4,339 global ratings
Long book
4 Stars
Long book
I read it and it took me 1 month to finished because it was a long book I mean many pages but I like it anyways
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Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars How to be a billionaire like Warren Buffett? No, but a good way to know the man behind the curtain.
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
If you want some technical tips on how to be the next Warren Buffet, go grab a copy of Ben Graham's Security Analysis from 1934. But if you want a look at the man Warren Buffett, you have come to the right place. Want to know what kind of family man Buffet is? Want to know how a billionaire treats his children? Or how a young millionaire budgets money to his homemaker wife? Fascinating stuff.

You can also learn about his early career and how he got started, as well as his father the politician and the impact that had.

To many of us Warren Buffet is a billionaire investor who knows the ins and outs of Wall Street way better than most of us. Being a financial celebrity, you would expect to find his whole life online. That though isn’t the case with Warren. Little was known about his personal life until Alice Schroeder wrote this book- The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life. Reading through the book you will realize that you don’t have to be successful after everyone else has failed. Warren, commonly known as the “Oracle of Omaha” is a financial investor who also doubles up as a mentor. For only $13.84, you will get to meet Warren in this 832 pages book. He will endow you with timeless financial wisdom and proper business ethics that aren’t taught in school.

His practical approach to life will motivate you to kick start your own. The pity party story that one may tend to propagate as reason as to why they aren’t succeeding will diffuse after reading this book. Warren worked to be where he is currently and was never born with a silver spoon. He is a practical inspiration. As you read along, you will learn that no man is an island and that having a strong support system will go a long way in ensuring you succeed. For example, his associate Charles Munger has been his associate since 1959. It doesn’t have to be the perfect system but rather a unit you can count on.

The book is full of insights and it is by reading it that one will be able to grasp and even apply some of the insights in his/her life. Unlike some autobiographies that are boring to tears, this one is different. There are hilarious snippets after every other chapter and with no time you will complete reading the autobiography and even probably re-read it. It will feel just like the first time you opened the book to read. Alice has also included notes to help you understand the book better.

The title of the book is a metaphor that depicts the ever growing wealth of Warren. The book is lengthy and has a lot of details some of which one may not find necessary but the conversational writing that Alice has employed in penning this book will keep you glued to the book. This is a must read book that walks you through the life of a legend.
63 people found this helpful
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Marcelo P. Lima
5.0 out of 5 stars Finest insight into the man and his investments
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2008
Verified Purchase
Alice has written a singularly remarkable book: for the first time we have a historical record of Buffett's career with his cooperation as well as the cooperation of those close to him. The book gives Buffett masterful treatment by placing his saga in its appropriate historical context. For students of the world's greatest investor, this is a godsend and adds tremendously to the existing literature. You'll get so much out of this that for the price of the book, you're being paid to read it.

One of the book's best features is the amount of detail it provides on many of Buffett's investments. From a bird's eye view (and from reading the existing histories as well as his letters to investors), you've heard that he bought Washington Post stock and that it turned into a multi-decade multi-bagger for Berkshire. Reality is a lot more complicated than that. Buffett created Kay Graham as an expert capital allocator and had hands-on (literally) involvement with the company. The same is true of GEICO. Buffett's greatest investments, therefore, have been those in which he has invested much more than just his capital.

We also learn that Buffett relied much more than previously thought on his network of friends, and encouraged them to "ride the coattails" of great investors (though not his). Whereas the American Express investment during the salad oil crisis had been explained very simplistically, here we learn that Buffett employed friends to dig up large piles of scuttlebutt and reports on the company before committing capital. And so it goes. Alice provides a very balanced, sometimes skeptical, look at Buffett's life. She's no pushover and holds her own by successfully treating her subject objectively (at least much more than I expected).

Buffett is the world's greatest simplifier: he lives by simple, crisp rules. And in the end, he notes that the purpose of life is to be loved by as many people as possible among those you want to have love you. If you take one lesson from this book, it's that there are two things that even a mountain of cash can't buy: a sterling reputation, and love.

Many anecdotes are poignant, others hilarious, and all are instructive and insightful. At various points I was laughing out loud. The world is much enriched by this history. Is it perfect? No, but neither could it be. Different readers will have different demands. Some won't care about the personal side, and wish the author had provided even more detail on the businesses and investments. But the personal side of this enigmatic personality is essential to an understanding of this puzzle of a man who has, without a doubt, the finest reputation and track record of any juggernaut businessman who ever lived.

If Roger Lowenstein's excellent "The Making of an American Capitalist" is the undergraduate course on Buffett, then this is the master's degree -- masterfully written, researched, thought out, and a valuable gift to Buffett aficionados, admirers, and students of life.
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Benjamin Mun
4.0 out of 5 stars A Business Journey
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Through this book, I got to understand better Mr. Buffett both as a businessman and as a man. I gained greater understanding of how he built the titanic Berkshire Hathaway, a household name among any aspiring businessmen. Simultaneously, though, I learned about some of his personal vulnerabilities, such as his social awkwardness (especially when he was young) and semi-abdication of responsibility as a father and a husband because of his unbalanced investment of time in his business affairs. Still, these vulnerabilities humanized him and added depth to his story.
It was pleasant to read about his business journey fueled by his love for busines and money and about his personal journey detailing the growth of an awkward kid from a cornfield state to a caring man who truly wishes his wealth to transform this world into a better, fairer place.
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Proftom
5.0 out of 5 stars This excellent book should be titled "The Life, Trials and Tribulations of Warren Buffett"
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2023
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This is an excellent book.
A lot of books about business and business people can be dull.
This book is definitely NOT DULL.
It is written like a mystery story.
I couldn't wait to turn the page and find out what would happen to Buffett next.
Buffett is an interesting character and has had a lot of trials and tribulations.
The author spent 5 years researching and writing this book.
I have read a lot of books about Warren Buffett.
This book was the BEST I have read about Buffett.
Congratulations to the author for this excellent book.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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David Luarca
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!!
Reviewed in Canada on March 30, 2024
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AAA+++ Thank you for the excellent book and ultra fast delivery!!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro
Reviewed in Mexico on June 24, 2022
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Muy interesante y buen libro!
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Marta
1.0 out of 5 stars Książka przyszła pognieciona, jakby używana.
Reviewed in Poland on December 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
Tak jak w tytule.
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Marta
1.0 out of 5 stars Książka przyszła pognieciona, jakby używana.
Reviewed in Poland on December 28, 2023
Tak jak w tytule.
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Mayank Pant
5.0 out of 5 stars Good print quality
Reviewed in India on December 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
Haven't read the book yet (I am sure it's going to be awesome) but wanted to share that the quality of print is very good and seems like a genuine copy
One person found this helpful
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Tout sur Warren Buffet !
Reviewed in France on March 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
Niveau d'anglais plutôt accessible.
Beaucoup d'anecdotes sur ses réussites, ses échecs et sur sa famille.
Environ 700 pages de texte, puis le reste en notes.
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