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Gems from Warren Buffett: Wit and Wisdom from 34 Years of Letters to Shareholders
In one "A lifetime of Warren Buffett's Wit and Wisdom in 122 pages"Warren Buffett is the world's most famous and successful investor. Every year, he writes a 30-40 page letter to shareholders of his company, Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. These letters have become required reading for people seeking success in all walks of life, but especially business and investing. "Gems from Warren Buffett" is a collection of 240 of Warren Buffett's wittiest and most insightful thoughts ("gems"), culled from 34 years of his iconic letters. These gems lighten spirits with their humor, enlighten minds with their wisdom, and provide an interesting view into one of America's most successful CEOs.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2012
662 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 28, 2015
Invest in companies with great businesses AND great management, then mostly leave them alone.
In investing, it is not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results. Do ordinary things well. Same holds true with life.
Facts do not cease to exist, either because they are unpleasant or because they are ignored.
Noble intentions should be checked periodically against results.
Accounting numbers are the language of business and as such are of enormous help to anyone evaluating the worth of a business and tracking its progress.
However, accounting is but an aid to business thinking, never a substitute for it.
Bad terminology is the enemy of good thinking.
Managers that always promise to ‘make the numbers’ will at some point be tempted to make up the numbers.
The intellect should be the servant of the heart, but not its slave
It's a good idea to review past mistakes before committing new ones.
Manic-depressive personalities produce manic-depressive valuations.
Price and value can differ; price is what you give, value is what you get.
You can't make a good deal with a bad person.
Should you find yourself in a chronically-leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.
It's not what you've got - it's what you do with what you've got.
We are willing to look foolish as long as we don't feel we have acted foolishly.
Speculation is most dangerous when it looks easiest.
You can be highly successful as an investor without having the slightest ability to value an option. What students should be learning is how to value a business. That’s what investing is all about.
The declines make no difference to us, given that we expect all of our businesses to now and then have ups and downs. (Only in the sales presentations of investment banks do earnings move forever upward.)
In the stock market, what the wise do in the beginning, fools do in the end.
Occasional outbreaks of those two super-contagious diseases, fear and greed, will forever occur in the investment community. The timing of these epidemics will be unpredictable. And the market aberrations produced by them will be equally unpredictable, both as to duration and degree. Therefore, we never try to anticipate the arrival or departure of either disease. Our goal is more modest: we simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.
Stocks can’t outperform businesses indefinitely.
When forced to choose, I will not trade even a night’s sleep for the chance of extra profits.
The most important thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.
It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked.
A promise is no better than the person or institution making it.
the most elusive of human goals - keeping things simple and remembering what you set out to do.
Anyone who says money can’t buy happiness simply hasn’t learned where to shop.
In investing, it is not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results. Do ordinary things well. Same holds true with life.
Facts do not cease to exist, either because they are unpleasant or because they are ignored.
Noble intentions should be checked periodically against results.
Accounting numbers are the language of business and as such are of enormous help to anyone evaluating the worth of a business and tracking its progress.
However, accounting is but an aid to business thinking, never a substitute for it.
Bad terminology is the enemy of good thinking.
Managers that always promise to ‘make the numbers’ will at some point be tempted to make up the numbers.
The intellect should be the servant of the heart, but not its slave
It's a good idea to review past mistakes before committing new ones.
Manic-depressive personalities produce manic-depressive valuations.
Price and value can differ; price is what you give, value is what you get.
You can't make a good deal with a bad person.
Should you find yourself in a chronically-leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.
It's not what you've got - it's what you do with what you've got.
We are willing to look foolish as long as we don't feel we have acted foolishly.
Speculation is most dangerous when it looks easiest.
You can be highly successful as an investor without having the slightest ability to value an option. What students should be learning is how to value a business. That’s what investing is all about.
The declines make no difference to us, given that we expect all of our businesses to now and then have ups and downs. (Only in the sales presentations of investment banks do earnings move forever upward.)
In the stock market, what the wise do in the beginning, fools do in the end.
Occasional outbreaks of those two super-contagious diseases, fear and greed, will forever occur in the investment community. The timing of these epidemics will be unpredictable. And the market aberrations produced by them will be equally unpredictable, both as to duration and degree. Therefore, we never try to anticipate the arrival or departure of either disease. Our goal is more modest: we simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.
Stocks can’t outperform businesses indefinitely.
When forced to choose, I will not trade even a night’s sleep for the chance of extra profits.
The most important thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.
It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked.
A promise is no better than the person or institution making it.
the most elusive of human goals - keeping things simple and remembering what you set out to do.
Anyone who says money can’t buy happiness simply hasn’t learned where to shop.
April 2, 2020
Wit and Witticisms
Warren Buffett is a sage in our time. This compendium of his wit and sayings culled from annual reports and other public sources is funny, wise and a must read for everyone. You get a true appreciation for a brilliant mind and a wise yet humble soul.
Warren Buffett is a sage in our time. This compendium of his wit and sayings culled from annual reports and other public sources is funny, wise and a must read for everyone. You get a true appreciation for a brilliant mind and a wise yet humble soul.
December 13, 2023
Funny & Insightful, mostly because of Warren Buffet.
The collection could have been more interesting & relatable for a wider audience if pop culture references were restricted.
The collection could have been more interesting & relatable for a wider audience if pop culture references were restricted.
October 17, 2017
Warren Buffett es hoy en 2017 la segunda persona más rica del mundo detrás de Bill Gates, aunque durante algún tiempo ha sido el primero de la lista Forbes. Tiene unos 80 billones de dólares, aunque lleva una vida simple y austera. Nicholas Nassim Taleb, un inteligente analista de finanzas que usa estrategias basadas en su propia filosofía de la probabilidad de lo atípico, dice que Buffett es un idiota con suerte. Es cita textual, “idiota con suerte”. Leí este libro que recopila declaraciones de Buffett sobre sus estrategias de negocios para revisar informalmente la hipótesis de Taleb. Creo que está equivocado. Aunque algunas declaraciones de Buffett parecen bromas y otras son obviedades, el Oráculo de Omaha no parece tener nada de idiota. Al contrario, creo que es justamente en los entornos multivariados de alta incertidumbre donde destacan los genios en toma de decisiones expertas. Es cierto que algo de suerte ha tenido. Con Coca Cola, con Apple, con Walmart, con empresas de golosinas, con bienes raíces, con la industria textil. Mucha suerte ha tenido, pero también habilidades extraordinarias. Claro que el árbol que da estos frutos es este asqueroso e inhumano mundo tardocapitalista neoliberal. En cualquier caso, que Taleb siga apostando al cisne negro.
February 6, 2022
Clips of written words of Warren Buffet
This book has many great, good quotes fro Buffet at his annual letters. The quotes are wise, sometimes funny. Some quotes are not only for the financial industry, but for life. Enjoyable & easy read.
This book has many great, good quotes fro Buffet at his annual letters. The quotes are wise, sometimes funny. Some quotes are not only for the financial industry, but for life. Enjoyable & easy read.
October 23, 2017
You know what they say. Appearance is just half of the story. Only if actions match the words - the face is real.
December 27, 2017
The ultimate in wisdom.
Beautiful perfect guidance book !
Beautiful perfect guidance book !
March 19, 2018
Poor
Poor book. Not recommended. Good that this is a free book. ;) :) :) :) 3) :) :) 3) :)
Poor book. Not recommended. Good that this is a free book. ;) :) :) :) 3) :) :) 3) :)
October 24, 2018
Some really good quotes.
April 7, 2019
Very droll but always thought-provoking comments from the Sage from Omaha. The drive, discipline and intellect is just incredible.
September 29, 2019
Pathetic
After a very log time I have read something really pathetic book.. I've wasted my money and time for this shit book...
After a very log time I have read something really pathetic book.. I've wasted my money and time for this shit book...
October 2, 2019
Just zings
July 2, 2020
Full of wit, integrity and the knowledge that Mr Buffet has offered to his shareholders in the past
September 11, 2024
Good
I like it.better than anything .so good .can't wait to read it again soon. Bye for now and have a good day
I like it.better than anything .so good .can't wait to read it again soon. Bye for now and have a good day
October 3, 2015
For one of the most successful businessman and investor around, Warren Buffett has the most incredible sense of humor, simple and clear thinking, and a sincerity that explains why he has, and is so successful.
An extremely light, and delightful reading of his notes and comments from Berkshire Hathaway's annual reports from over the decades.
An extremely light, and delightful reading of his notes and comments from Berkshire Hathaway's annual reports from over the decades.
July 7, 2016
Good quotes
There were many witty and good quotes from the notes of Warren Buffett. He seems like an interesting man and a man of integrity. I'm sure he has many other words of wisdom to share with the world, although I must admit that many of the quotes related to financial dealings were over my head since I don't have any finances to invest.
There were many witty and good quotes from the notes of Warren Buffett. He seems like an interesting man and a man of integrity. I'm sure he has many other words of wisdom to share with the world, although I must admit that many of the quotes related to financial dealings were over my head since I don't have any finances to invest.
April 26, 2015
Good man, good advice
This summation of Warren Buffett's shareholder letters allows a unique glimpse into the practical, pragmatic mind of one of America's great capitalists. Several good quotes, with enough context to make them meaningful, makes for a simple, enjoyable read.
This summation of Warren Buffett's shareholder letters allows a unique glimpse into the practical, pragmatic mind of one of America's great capitalists. Several good quotes, with enough context to make them meaningful, makes for a simple, enjoyable read.
April 27, 2014
Short read. I'd prefer more general life wisdom quotes than investing quotes. Also baseball quotes are way, way over-represented in such a brief collection.
Still lots of gems and very good humor.
Still lots of gems and very good humor.
June 16, 2015
A nice read.
August 23, 2015
insights in to complex world of finance & investment.
August 22, 2015
Great Snippets of advice
This book is a collection of quotes from annual letters to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway. Very entertaining and lots of good advice.
This book is a collection of quotes from annual letters to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway. Very entertaining and lots of good advice.
February 17, 2016
There are definitely some gems in this book. In general though, they are very specific. I had hoped to find more general wit and wisdom.
April 29, 2017
Tag lines from his letters to shareholders
This book consists of tag lines and witty little gems that show Warren Buffets sense of humor. I was hopeful to learn some nuggets from this book however found myself more so entertained then anything. It's worth a quick once over.
This book consists of tag lines and witty little gems that show Warren Buffets sense of humor. I was hopeful to learn some nuggets from this book however found myself more so entertained then anything. It's worth a quick once over.
May 2, 2017
an average book. gems, some polished, some really dull. lot of things which makes no sense out of context.
March 27, 2019
Filled with quips that are cheesy and sexist. But he’s in his late 80s as I write this comment, and he’s a billionaire many times over and I am not. The book was entertaining - a perfect night table item.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews