The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America | Lawrence A. Cunningham - Warren E. Buffett

The fifth edition of The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America continues a 25-year tradition of collating Warren Buffett's philosophy in a historic collaboration between Mr. Buffett and Prof. Lawrence Cunningham. As the book Buffett autographs most, its popularity and longevity attest to the widespread appetite for this unique compilation of Mr. Buffett’s thoughts that is at once comprehensive, non-repetitive, and digestible. New and experienced readers alike will gain an invaluable informal education by perusing this classic arrangement of Mr. Buffett's best writings.

“Larry Cunningham has done a great job at collating our philosophy.”—Warren Buffett

"Larry Cunningham takes Buffett's brilliant letters to a still-higher level by organizing them into single-subject chapters. The book begins, moreover, with an excellent introduction by Larry.”—Carol Loomis

“The book on Buffett—a superb job.”—Forbes

“Extraordinary—full of wisdom, humor, and common sense.”—Money

“A classic on value investing and the definitive source on Buffett.”—Financial Times

Editorial Reviews 

From the Publisher

The book has garnered substantial critical acclaim from broad cross sections of readers; is being translated into a dozen other languages; and has been designated as a top investment/business book by reviewers ranging from CNN to JP Morgan to the Motley Fool (number 2 investment book of all time!).  --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Author

"I originally prepared this collection as the centerpiece of a symposium featuring Warren Buffett's letters. Warren, Charlie Munger, Bob Denham, and hundreds of others participated in dissecting all the ideas. This arrangement, organized by subject matter, contains a more valuable set of lessons than can be found at just about any school, library, business, or other place of learning. Anyone even remotely interested in business or finance or corporate life should read and study this collection and have a copy available for handy reference."  --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Amazon.com Review

Buffett, the Bard of Omaha, is a genuine American folk hero, if folk heroes are allowed to build fortunes worth upward of $15 billion. He's great at homespun metaphor, but behind those catchy phrases is a reservoir of financial acumen that's generally considered the best of his generation. For example, in an essay on CEO stock options, he writes, "Negotiating with one's self seldom produces a barroom brawl." This is his way of saying that an executive who can give himself compensation totally disproportionate to his performance surely will. There are uncountable gems of financial wisdom to be harvested from these essays, taken from the annual reports he writes for Berkshire Hathaway, his holding company. Just to pick one more, here's a now-famous line about those he competes with when making stock-market investments: "What could be more advantageous in an intellectual contest--whether it be chess, bridge, or stock selection--than to have opponents who have been taught that thinking is a waste of energy?"

While Buffett has a policy of seldom commenting on stocks he owns--he feels public pronouncements will only lead to the public's expectation of more public pronouncements, and he likes to keep his cards close to his vest--he loves to discuss the principles behind his investments. These come primarily from Ben Graham, under whom Buffett studied at Columbia University and for whom he worked in the 1950s. First among them is the idea that price is what you pay and value is what you get--and if you're a smart investor, the first will always be less than the second. In that sense, the value of the lessons learned from Buffett's Essays could be far greater than the book's price. --Lou Schuler

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Cunningham is a leading authority on Berkshire, Buffett, and corporate governance. He is a widely published author, popular lecturer, and professor at George Washington University.  --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Inside Flap

• Buffett is a businessman and investor whose writings, as collated in The Essays of Warren Buffett, define a coherent philosophy of business and investing. 

• Cunningham is a writer and professor whose other books include Berkshire Beyond Buffett: The Enduring Value of Values 

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Back Cover

See also Cunningham's instant classic, Berkshire Beyond Buffett: The Enduring Value of Values.  --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Review

"A classic of value investing." -- The Financial Times, June 23, 2000<br ><br >"Extraordinary--full of wisdom, humor and common sense. By far the best window into the way Buffett's mind works." --Money, July 1998

"Recommended as excellent reading. Two thumbs up." --CNN-fn, June & December 1998

Quoting Warren Buffett: "Larry Cunningham has done a great job at collating our philosophy. If I were to choose one book to read, this would be the one." --Outstanding Investor Digest, January-February 1999