The Buffett/Berkshire Blog

Image by Getty Images via DaylifePublisher Random House has announced the forthcoming publication of the authorized biography of Warren Buffett. The hardcover book will have 976 pages and is written by Alice Schroeder, a former managing director with Morgen Stanley.

Schroeder has spend “thousands of hours” talking to Buffett about his life and career. She’s also spoken to many of the investor’s friends and has had access to private documents.

The official list price is set at $35, but Amazon.com has already discounted this to less than $25.

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder (Hardcover, 976 pages)

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We all know that right now, Warren Buffett is the richest man in the world. But he isn’t the richest man of all time. Indeed, he doesn’t even make the top ten list. If you want to know who does, read the post 10 Richest People of All Time and How They Made Their Fortunes at Neatorama.

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Superinvestor Warren Buffett made a cameo appearance in the ABC Soap Opera All My Children. Watch the video >

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Yesterday, Forbes launched their brand new list of the world’s billionaires, ranked by net worth. Warren Buffett now holds the first spot with an astonishing $62 billion. He surpassed both his bridge mate Bill Gates and the Mexican Carlos Slim Helú.

Also recently released is Berkshire Hathaway’s Annual Report of 2007. The company posted a profit of $13 billion, up about $2 billion from 2006. As always, the report includes Buffett’s Letter to Shareholders. He writes that Berkshire was hit lightly by the real estate market crash, especially in Berkshire’s manufactured homes division. If you don’t want to read the whole letter, check the New York Times analysis.

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As you may have already heard, Berkshire Hathaway has created a bonds insurance company by the name of Berkshire Hathaway Assurance. The company will offer to  guarantee lower government bonds. BusinessWeek digs into the matter >

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Warren Buffett speaks to Florida U about value investing and his personal life.

Also see:

• Warren Buffett’s Bio
• Buffet Q&A with Tuck Investment Club
• Warren Buffett books at Amazon.com

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A few days ago, Buffett spoke with the investment club of the Tuck School of Business. There are some interesting questions and insightful answers in the long article. Check it out.

Janet Lowe has a new book on the billionare investor, Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World’s Greatest Investor. Half of the book is about his investment theory, the other half about his personal life. Promises to be a great read for the Buffett enthousiast.

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I came across a paper today covering the history of value investing. It talks about how Warren Buffett shifted his approach from a purely technical approach based on reports and balance sheets, to analyzing the business as a whole. Reading the 41 pages is certainly worthwile, so check it out: The Evolution of the Idea of “Value Investing”: From Benjamin Graham to Warren Buffett.

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I found a reprint from a 1998 article in The Investor Journal. It has some nice notes from one of Berkshire’s famous annual meetings, including:

•  ”Because of the use of options and warrants, we estimate earnings for many companies could be 10% or more lower than what they state.”
• “We have decentralized Berkshire Hathaway to the point of abdication. The only thing we have centralized is money.”
• “Good businesses throw up easy questions for the managers and the board, bad businesses throw up tough questions.”

I recommend you read the full article yourself.

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