The Snowball (edit title)

Shelfari edited the description of The Snowball 12 days ago.

• 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. From the Hardcover edition.

Timothy Gray approved Kevin’s request to change the title of The Snowball Sunday, November 1 2009.

Kevin changed the title of The Snowball Friday, October 30 2009.

Kevin edited the awards of The Snowball Friday, October 30 2009.

• Added an award: The Washington Post "Best Books"
• Added year of an award: The Washington Post "Best Books" 2008
• Added an award: Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2008
• Added year of an award: Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2008 2008
• Added an award: The Globe and Mail "Top 10 Business Books"
• Added category of an award: The Globe and Mail "Top 10 Business Books" Business
• Added year of an award: The Globe and Mail "Top 10 Business Books" 2008
• Added an award: People Magazine "Top Ten Books"
• Added year of an award: People Magazine "Top Ten Books" 2008
• Added an award: Goldman Sachs/Financial Times Business Book of the Year
• Added category of an award: Goldman Sachs/Financial Times Business Book of the Year Business
• Added year of an award: Goldman Sachs/Financial Times Business Book of the Year 2008
• Checked finalist field of an award: Goldman Sachs/Financial Times Business Book of the Year

Kevin edited the first sentence of The Snowball Friday, October 30 2009.

• Warren Buffett rocks back in his chair, long legs crossed at the knee behind his father Howard’s plain wooden desk.

Kevin edited the characters of The Snowball Friday, October 30 2009.

• Changed the section title: Important People
• Added a character: Warren Buffett
• Added a character: Suzie Buffett
• Added a character: Charlie Munger

Shelfari edited the description of The Snowball Saturday, August 1 2009.

• 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. From the Hardcover edition.

Shelfari edited the contributors of The Snowball Tuesday, July 21 2009.

• reordered the contributors.
• 1 : Alice Schroeder:

Shelfari edited the contributors of The Snowball Thursday, July 16 2009.

• Added a contributor: Alice Schroeder: (Primary Author)