Synopses & Reviews
The world takes note when WARREN BUFFETT SPEAKS:
"If people want to improve their investing skills, it has to help to study how the Master does it. This short book outlines Buffett's philosophy and techniques." -Peter S. Lynch, Vice Chairman Fidelity Investments
"Common sense with a deft irony . . ." -John C. Bogle, Chairman The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies
"It was Warren Buffett's thoughts and philosophy that first captivated investors. Janet Lowe has done us all a great service by collecting and arranging Warren Buffett's wit and wisdom in an easy-to-read and enjoyable book." -Robert G. Hagstrom, Jr. Portfolio Manager, Focus Trust author of The Warren Buffett Way
"A must-read. Buffett's wit and wisdom is a roadmap for anyone looking to succeed in business, investing, and life." - Steve Halpern Editor and Publisher Dick Davis Publishing
"With enough insider information and a million dollars, you can go broke in a year." "What I am is a realist. I always knew I'd like what I'm doing. Oh, perhaps it would have been nice to be a major league baseball player, but that's where the realism comes in." "If a graduating MBA were to ask me, 'How do I get rich in a hurry?' I would not respond with quotations from Ben Franklin or Horatio Alger, but would, instead, hold my nose with one hand and point with the other toward Wall Street."
Discover life's little secrets of success as revealed by the world's greatest investor. In this wise and winning collection of quotes, writings, and favorite sayings, Warren Buffett Speaks on diverse subjects such as investing, running a business, honesty, schoolteaching, paying taxes, and much, much more. Assembled by bestselling author Janet Lowe-and including a wealth of previously unpublished material -this unprecedented peek into the financial genius's wildly profitable philosophy is often surprising, always intriguing, and sparked throughout by Buffett's unique combination of savvy business smarts and wry wit. Here's just a sample of what you'll find inside:
* "Wall Street is the only place that people ride to work in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway."
* "All there is to investing is picking good stocks at good times and staying with them as long as they remain good companies."
* "Maybe grapes from a little eight acre vineyard in France are really the best in the world, but I always had a suspicion that about 99 percent of it is in the telling and about 1 percent of it is in the drinking."
* "I want to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand."
* "In the end, I always believe my eyes rather than anything else."
Synopsis
When Warren Buffett Speaks. . . people listen.
"If people want to improve their investing skills, it has to help to study how the Master does it. This short book outlines Buffett's philosophy and techniques."
Peter S. Lynch
Fidelity Investments
"Common sense with a deft irony . . ."
John C. Bogle
founder of The Vanguard Group and author, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
"It was Warren Buffett's thoughts and philosophy that first captivated investors. Janet Lowe has done us all a great service by collecting and arranging Warren Buffett's wit and wisdom in an easy-to-read and enjoyable book."
Robert G. Hagstrom
Portfolio Manager, Legg Mason Growth Trust mutual fund,and author, The Warren Buffett Way, Second Edition
"A must-read. Buffett's wit and wisdom is a roadmap for anyone looking to succeed in business, investing, and life."
Steve Halpern
Editor, www.thestockadvisors.com
Synopsis
Over the years, as Warren Buffett's influence and affluence have grown, one thing has remained the samehis unpretentious, honest, and optimistic approach toward business and life. In this completely revised edition of Warren Buffett Speaks, bestselling author Janet Lowe shows you why.
Updated to reflect Buffett's life over the past decade, this book contains a delightfully entertaining collection of quotes, writings, and favorite sayings from the world's most successful investor.
Often surprising, always intriguing, and sparked throughout by Buffett's unique combination of savvy business smarts and dry wit, this new edition is filled with Buffett's musings on subjects such as the Internet economy, family and friends, running a business, paying taxes, and much more. It also examines the thinking that prompted the second richest man in the world to give 85% of his wealth to the first richest couple (Bill and Melinda Gates) to distribute to charity.
More than just a book about investing, Warren Buffett Speaks reveals the personality and philosophy of one of the world's most compelling figures.
Peppered with pearls of wisdom cultivated throughout his life, this book will help you understand and appreciate Buffett's beliefs on a variety of important issues. Here's a sample of just some of the honest and engaging insights you'll find inside:
"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently."
"You don't need to be a rocket scientist. Investing is not a game where the guy with the 160 IQ beats the guy with a 130 IQ. Rationality is essential."
"I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand."
"You should invest in a business that even a fool could run, because someday a fool will."
"Over the years, a number of very smart people have learned the hard way that a long stream of impressive numbers multiplied by a single zero always equals zero."
About the Author
JANET LOWE's previous books include the bestselling Benjamin Graham on Value Investing, Value Investing Made Easy, and The Secret Empire. Her hundreds of articles have appeared in such publications as Newsweek, The Christian Science Monitor, the Los Angeles Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Ms. Lowe lives in Del Mar, California, with her husband, Austin Lynas.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
About Life.
Omaha? Omawhere? Omawhat?
Live How You Want To Live.
Eat What You Want To Eat.
Have A Hobby.
Be Passionate.
Aim High.
Aim Well.
Focus On Your Goals.
Keep Life In Perspective.
Be Honest.
Tell The Whole Truth, Please.
Letter To The Wall Street Journal.
Cultivate Good Character.
Believe In Yourself.
But Don't Get Too Stuck On Yourself.
Dodge The Hype.
Share Your Wisdom.
Disregard Old Age.
ALSO:
Attention Investors: Warren Buffett Is Crossing The Street.
Nice Guys Finish First—Sometimes.
Choose Your Heroes Well.
Rose Blumkin, Matriarch Of The Nebraska Furniture Mart.
About Friends.
Know What Friendship Is.
Go To Bat For Your Pals.
Guiding Governor Schwarzenegger.
Build Lifelong Friendships.
ALSO:
Charlie Munger.
About Family.
Don't Spoil Your Kids.
The Buffett Children.
Work Things Out With Your Wife.
Be Kind To Your Mother.
ALSO:
What Others Say About Warren Buffett.
Buffett's.
The Controversial Susan T.
Buffett Foundation.
What Leila Buffett Had To Say About Her Son.
What The Critics Say.
About Work.
Work For The Fun Of It.
Start Early.
Work Where You Want To Work.
Work With Good People.
Give A Pat On The Back.
Be Loyal To Your Partners.
Guard Your Time.
Know When To Quit.
About Running A Business.
Communicate Well.
Know When To Say No.
Set An Example.
Take Care Of Shareholders.
Hire Well, Manage Little.
Put A Premium On Experience.
Be Smart About Allocating Capital.
Be Brave.
Use Crossover Skills.
The Mighty Machine Called Berkshire Hathaway.
ALSO:
The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting.
Goodbye To A Good Idea.
The Salomon Scandal.
Berkshire Hathaway Online.
About Investing.
Have A Philosophy.
Recognize The Enemy: Inflation.
Experience Epiphany.
Never Mind What The Professors Say.
Meet Mr. Market—Your Servant, Not Your Guide.
Ignore Mr. Market's Moods.
Listen For Opportunity's Call.
Know The Difference Between Price And Value.
Seek Intrinsic Value.
Expect To Be Out Of Step.
Earnings, Earnings, Earnings.
Look Forward, Not Back.
Avoid Risk.
Don't Gamble.
Watch For Unusual Circumstances.
Don't Be Surprised By Circumstances.
Avoid Excessive Debt.
Look For Screaming Bargains.
Arbitrage When Possible.
Be Patient.
Think For Yourself.
Have The Right Tools.
Be Wary Of Wall Street.
Only Buy Securities That You Understand.
An Old Dog Prowls New Markets.
PetroChina.
An Expanding Circle Of Competence.
Buy Reading Glasses.
Become An Investigative Reporter.
Keep It Simple.
Think Big.
Know What You're Looking For.
Don't Sweat The Math.
Admire Frugality.
Set Realistic Goals.
Face Facts.
Expect Change.
Be Capable Of Change.
Admit Your Mistakes.
No Thumb Sucking.
Join AA (Airlines Anonymous).
Learn From Your Mistakes.
Buy Storybook Stocks.
Seek Excellent Companies.
Stick With Quality.
Junk Bonds.
Appreciate Franchise Value.
Respect Pricing Power.
Find A Company With Cheap Float (Then Try To Not Misplace The Company).
Learn To Like Monopoly.
Find Managers Who Think Like Owners.
Management Is Important, But A Good
Company Is More Important.
Avoid The Institutional Imperative (The Tendency For Corporations To Act Like Lemmings).
Favor Companies That Repurchase Their Own Stock.
Don't Worry About Diversification.
Invest For The Long Term.
To Sum Up.
And When You've Become Wealthy By Following In The Footsteps Of Buffett, Pay Your Dues To Society.
Investing Is One Way Of Contributing To The Public Well-Being.
When Rewards Are Disproportionate.
Pay Your Taxes And Don't Complain.
Give As Generously As You Receive.
Thoughts On Charitable Giving.
Will Buffett's Gift Affect The Company?
The Last Word.
ALSO:
Benjamin Graham.
The Used-Cigar-Butt School Of Investing.
He Tells Them, But They Don't Listen.
Baby Berkshire Shares.
What Does The Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation Do?
CHARTS:
Berkshire Hathaway Book Value Vs. The S&P 500.
Berkshire Hathaway Share Price.
Time Line.
Endnotes.
Permissions.