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Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist

Roger Lowenstein · 5 HN comments
HN Books has aggregated all Hacker News stories and comments that mention "Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist" by Roger Lowenstein.
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Amazon Summary
Since its hardcover publication in August of 1995, Buffett has appeared on the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Newsday and Business Week bestseller lists. The incredible landmark portrait of Warren Buffett's uniquely American life is now available in paperback, revised and updated by the author. Starting from scratch, simply by picking stocks and companies for investment, Warren Buffett amassed one of the epochal fortunes of the twentieth century--an astounding net worth of $10 billion, and counting. His awesome investment record has made him a cult figure popularly known for his seeming contradictions: a billionaire who has a modest lifestyle, a phenomenally successful investor who eschews the revolving-door trading of modern Wall Street, a brilliant dealmaker who cultivates a homespun aura. Journalist Roger Lowenstein draws on three years of unprecedented access to Buffett's family, friends, and colleagues to provide the first definitive, inside account of the life and career of this American original. Buffett explains Buffett's' investment strategy--a long-term philosophy grounded in buying stock in companies that are undervalued on the market and hanging on until their worth invariably surfaces--and shows how it is a reflection of his inner self.
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Hacker News Stories and Comments

All the comments and stories posted to Hacker News that reference this book.
I found it a bit slow and think Lowenstein is a better read https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buffett-American-Capitalist-Roger-L...
> Buffett has navigated far worse situations in his business career. Look at what he went through with Solomon.

Absolutely. Or, to a lesser extent, the Buffalo Courier-Express antitrust case back in the 70s. Buffet's "go honest early" policy is yet another brilliant long term strategy that seems slightly crazy / ruinous in the short run.

For anyone interested, this book was a good read:

http://www.amazon.com/Buffett-American-Capitalist-Roger-Lowe...

http://www.amazon.com/Buffett-American-Capitalist-Roger-Lowe...

This is the best business book I've ever read. Buffett is methodical, implacable, and brilliant -- but too smart to overthink anything.

The nice thing about Buffett is that being a little more like him will make you a little more money (unlike emulating, e.g., Gates -- if you want to be like Gates, you have to be completely ruthless and smart; 90% won't do.)

that and buffett has been outspoken against quants. he has also been accused of 'being in the right place at the right time' or 'lucky' quite a few times, but this is not the case.

another good book on buffett which has some sections dedicated to buffett vs quants and buffett vs 'its all luck' ppl is "The making of an American Capitalist" (http://www.amazon.com/Buffett-American-Capitalist-Roger-Lowe...) -- first book I got on him, perhaps the best (got snowball, haven't read it yet).

byrneseyeview
The books go well together. "Making of" is way more hagiographic, and less detailed.

What would be really great would be a wikified list of his transactions, linked to the financial statements and news stories that were current at the time.

The best book on investing that I've ever read is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Buffett-American-Capitalist-Roger-Lowe...

It's a biography, but there are lots of anecdotes about specific analyses. Nobody can invest like Buffett, but just about everyone can benefit from reading about how he did it.

aasarava
I'll second that recommendation. Lowe's biography of Buffett is an excellent book -- it's a biography with lessons on investing woven in.
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