The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
By Alice Schroeder
The Snowball offers an intimate look at the life and investing philosophy of Warren Buffett, one of the world's most successful investors. Written with Buffett’s cooperation, it provides an unparalleled view into his early experiences, formative influences, and business triumphs.
Alice Schroeder draws upon extensive interviews and research to paint a nuanced portrait of how Buffett’s passion for investing and personal discipline shaped his remarkable career and fortune.
Beyond the numbers, The Snowball also examines the human side of Buffett’s journey, revealing lessons about relationships, ethics, and the principles that propelled him to become a legend in business.
Long-Term Focus
Buffett’s success is rooted in his ability to look beyond short-term market fluctuations and invest in the underlying value of businesses.
Value Investing Principles
He consistently applies fundamentals-based analysis, seeking undervalued companies with strong financials and durable competitive advantages.
Power of Compound Growth
Buffett’s approach highlights the exponential impact of reinvesting returns over decades, likening it to a snowball rolling downhill.
Ethics and Reputation
Building trust through honesty and integrity is a cornerstone of Buffett’s relationships with partners, shareholders, and the public.
Personal Discipline
His frugal habits and intense focus demonstrate how a consistent lifestyle can align with ambitious long-term goals.
Investing is not a game where the guy with the 160 IQ beats the guy with the 130 IQ.
Chapter 5
It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.
Chapter 12
Price is what you pay; value is what you get.
Chapter 18
Honesty is a very expensive gift; don’t expect it from cheap people.
Chapter 21
The snowball just happens if you’re thinking about the snow and not about the money.
Conclusion
Alice Schroeder is a former Wall Street analyst recognized for her insightful coverage of the insurance and financial services industries.
Her deep financial expertise and direct access to Warren Buffett enabled her to document his strategies and personal life in unprecedented detail.
The Snowball remains one of the most authoritative works on Buffett’s philosophies and the forces that shaped his path to becoming a business icon.
