Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist
by Roger Lowenstein
The first serious Buffett biography, through the mid-1990s: Omaha, Graham, the partnership, Berkshire, the Salomon crisis, and the temperament behind the returns. Lowenstein is a fine writer and the book remains the best introduction to how Buffett thinks and why his approach is hard to copy.
Read it if…
you want to understand Buffett's temperament and method through his life.
Skip it if…
you want the later years; see The Snowball.
Three things you will actually use
- Temperament beats intellect in investing.
- Stay in your circle of competence.
- Reputation is the asset that compounds longest.
Do this first
Read the Graham chapters and then Buffett's partnership letters.
Our verdict
Best Buffett introduction.
Compare with other Money books
University of Berkshire Hathaway
Daniel Pecaut and Corey Wrenn · Money
Closest thing to attending.
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