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THE SNOWBALL: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life | 
 enlarge | Author: Alice Schroeder
Publisher: Bloomsbury UK
Category: Book
Buy New: $37.83
New (9) Used (2) Collectible (1) from $37.83
Avg. Customer Rating:  128 reviews
Sales Rank: 619593
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 976
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.7
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.2 x 2.3
ISBN: 0747591911
Dewey Decimal Number: 332.6092
EAN: 9780747591917
ASIN: 0747591911
Publication Date: June 30, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new book delivered from the UK in 10-14 days.
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Product Description
Shortlisted for the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Prize 2008 The Snowball is the first and will be the only biography of the world's richest man, Warren Buffett, written with his full cooperation and collaboration. Combining a unique blend of "The Sage of Omaha's" business savvy, life story and philosophy, The Snowball is essential reading for anyone wishing to discover and replicate the secrets of his business and life success. Warren Buffett is arguably the world's greatest investor. Even as a child he was fascinated by the concept of risk and probability, setting up his first business at the age of six. In 1964 he bought struggling Massachusetts textile firm Berkshire Hathaway and grew it to be the 12th largest corporation in the US purely through the exercise of sound investing principles - a feat never equalled in the annals of business. Despite an estimated net worth of around US$62 billion, Buffett leads an intriguingly frugal life taking home a salary of only GBP50,000 a year. His only indulgence is a private jet, an extravagance he wryly acknowledges by calling it "The Indefensible".In 2006, he made the largest charitable donation on record, with most of it going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Snowball provides a comprehensive, richly detailed insight one of the world's most extraordinary and much loved public figures.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 123 more reviews...
 Interesting Subject, Some Stiff Writing January 6, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm fascinated by this folksy Richest Man in The World, and so I can't put the book down. Lots of background information and description of his life and business. After reading more about him as a person, I'm coming away less in awe of the man than I was.
However, I don't think the writing is all that great. At times it reads like a bland listing of life events and investments made. The author rarely offers much commentary on what she is describing. Seems like she is trying so hard to describe every day of his life that she didn't have time to make any insightful comparisions or comments.
Still, I'm fascinated by the guy and am enjoying learning more about him.
 No college degree required to be successful! January 5, 2009
Great book by Warren Buffett! Did you know that, based on the criteria to teach at a University, Warren Buffett, Peter Jennings and Bill Gates would not be able to be a teacher? None of them have the necessary college degree. Makes you wonder how much of the federally funded Universities studies are necessary for success?
 A wasted opportunity January 3, 2009
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Schroeder had unprecedented access to information on Buffett's history. She could have written an in-depth account of the financial analysis that Buffett used in key moments of his investing history. She could have educated readers on why Buffett saw opportunity where others didn't. Instead she wrote about his personal life which is no more interesting than the average person's because Buffett chose to live a relatively normal life outside of his work. Also the personal life material has been covered before by other authors in practically the same level of detail.
This was a missed opportunity to write a unique book about a unique financial genius. Students of Buffett would be better served by learning from Buffett's annual letters or Roger Lowenstein's book.
Awesome! January 1, 2009
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Lowenstein's biography of Warren Buffett was a classic, The one to read. Schroeder's book has now filled the gaps in Lowenstein's work.
Don't get me wrong though. I do greatly admire Roger Lowenstein. However, Schroeder's latest work takes the cake.
 Not the best biography but interesting December 30, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
On the whole Warren Buffet in the hands of Alice Schroeder is not that interesting. This is a rather dry Buffet bio about a grandfather, a dogmatic father, mentally ill mother, and the damaged siblings of these parents. About 75% of the content of this book is a tiresome account of the people in Buffett's life and Buffett's singular focus on things that only interest himself - his lack of interest in his family, wife, boring affairs.
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