How has Buffett come so far? Some of it is just a knack for business which he has shown since he was a young boy. But a huge part of Buffet’s success is his voracious appetite for books. When a student asked Buffett how he could prepare for an investing career, Buffet told him to read 500 pages every day. Some of it is the standard stock information, but much of Buffet’s reading has taken the form of financial and investing books. A total Buffet book list could last for pages, but here are five books which have played a key role in Buffet’s life and what an ordinary investor could take away from them.
1. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
Graham, an investor and educator at the Columbia Business School, had a huge influence on Buffett’s life. Buffett enrolled in Columbia Business School because Graham taught there, and a roommate observed that Buffett treated Graham’s book “like a god.” The Intelligent Investor’s key lesson is about the importance of staying calm in the volatile world of investing, a trait which Buffett believes is more important than inside information or mere intelligence. If you give in to the mob and buy what everyone else buys, you will end up in trouble. You need a solid, intellectually justifiable reason to jump in on a stock. And never get emotionally caught up in whether your stock does well or not.
2. Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip A. Fisher
Fisher may not be as well known as Graham, and he may not have had an as big influence on Buffet’s life as Graham. But Buffett still enthusiastically recommends Fisher, stating that he was “an eager reader of whatever Phil has to say.” Fisher’s work is well known for how it values senior management over looking at financial statements. In addition, Fisher like Graham also stresses the importance of a strong will and learning to zag when the crowd zigs. Another thing that he points out is that owning a stock is owning a part of the company – and if you cannot understand the company’s business, you cannot understand the stock you own. This is something which Buffett follows very heavily, as shown by his well-known lack of interest in tech companies.
3. The Outsiders by William Thorndike Jr.
In his 2012 letter to shareholders, Buffett recommended The Outsiders, calling it “an outstanding book about CEOs who excelled at capital allocation.” He also noted how it praised Berkshire Hathaway director Tom Murphy, who Buffett called “the best business manager I’ve ever met.” The Outsiders has become a prominent hit in the business community, as Thorndike spent years profiling CEOs he viewed as particularly successful. He came to the conclusion that the best CEOs are not necessarily charismatic, but instead are “pragmatic, flexible and opportunistic, frugal and patient.”
4. Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Peter Kaufman
This book is a collection of speeches and talks by Charles Munger, the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett has always praised his fellow Omaha boy, calling him, observing that they have always been able to get along despite disagreeing on certain business decisions. Poor Charlie’s Almanack lists Munger’s investment strategies, along with his emphasis on personal finance models. Munger observes that if you only have one strategy or worldview in investment, you will twist reality to fit that worldview. By constantly having multiple models (and multiple means 80 to 90), you will be able to keep yourself grounded, which is how Munger has helped Buffett when Buffett has had some of his wackier schemes.
5. Business Adventures by John Brooks
In 1991, Bill Gates asked Warren Buffett what his favorite business book was. Buffett recommended Business Adventures without a second thought and the book today is also one of Gates’s favorites. Business Adventures was published more than four decades ago, but its stories are just as relevant today. Brooks avoids summing up his stories with neat business lessons, letting the readers draw their own conclusions. But one running theme throughout the book is how executives can get complacent with their own success and fail to innovate. The story of Xerox, which revolutionized offices in the 60s but failed to adapt to the rise of the computer, is relevant here. Buffett has always stayed on his toes and is willing to try new things, as his recent investment in Apple shows. As noted above, these are just a few of the books Buffett recommends. Here is an additional list from Business Insider of Buffett-recommended books which can improve your investment abilities. Featured photo credit: sher xia via flickr.com
