Warren Buffett's Book Recommendations

"The book tells you a lot about its leaders, Tom Murphy and Dan Burke. These two were the best managerial duo — both in what they accomplished and how they did it — that Charlie and I ever witnessed. Much of what you become in life depends on whom you choose to admire and copy."

"The best book I read last year. Author Phil Night, co-founder and current chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc.. He is a very wise, intelligent and competitive fellow who is also a gifted storyteller."

"For investors, the most valuable takeaway is his list of 10 simple rules of “Common Senses Investing.” According to Bogle, it “may not be the best strategy ever devised. But the number of strategies that are worse is infinite. One of my favorite lines from the book: “Where returns are concerned, time is your friend. But where costs are concerned, time is your enemy.” (Why? Because it can pretty much apply to all aspects of your life, not just investing.)"

"The Outsiders is an outstanding book about CEOs who excelled at capital allocation. It has an insightful chapter on our director, Tom Murphy, overall the best business manager I’ve ever met."

"There are a few investment managers, of course, who are very good — though in the short run, it’s difficult to determine whether a great record is due to luck or talent. Rather than listening to their siren songs, investors — large and small — should instead read The Little Book of Common Sense Investing."

"Sums up what Charlie and I have been saying over the years in annual reports and at annual meetings."

"It’s very impressive [to] read about people pondering how to figure out the weight of the Earth or something in the 18th century."

"Reading [this author] will make you smarter about securities and markets."

"I think this is one of the best books I've ever read."

"In my early days, I, too, rejoiced when the market rose. Then I read chapter eight of Ben Graham’s ‘The Intelligent Investor,’ the chapter dealing with how investors should view fluctuations in stock prices,” he wrote in his 2011 letter. “Immediately, the scales fell from my eyes, and low prices became my friend. Picking up that book was one of the luckiest moments in my life."

"Very good."

"Sensational . . . [This book] will forever be the definitive work on what causes financial panics and what must be done to stem them when they occur."

"The best autobiography I’ve ever read."

"Said the most important thing in hitting is waiting for the right pitch."

"[The author]'s best ability is to cut to the chase on an issue, to cut through the bureaucratic fog. Keep it simple is his principle and mine too."

"[A book] that investors can learn much from."

"Forgive a parent when I say I couldn't be more proud of him, as would his mother be if she were alive to watch him. As you read his words, you will understand why."

"This is that rarity, a useful book."

"The ever-popular book about my partner."

"Warren Buffett's favorite book about business."

"I made an offer [to buy Clayton Homes] based solely on First A Dream my evaluation of Kevin, the public financials of Clayton and what I had learned from the Oakwood experience."

"[The author] does an excellent job of capturing the Bob Noyce I knew: part small-town boy, part big-time genius and always a wonderful friend and citizen."

"Cogent, honest, and hard-hitting. A must read for every investor."

"Terrific."

"A road map for investing that I have now been following for 57 years."

"Excellent."

"A must-read for those concerned with the safety of our country."

"I love reading good political books, starting with The Making of the President 1960."

"A wonderful book."

"If you are fascinated by investment theory and practice, you will enjoy this book."

"Warren Buffett recommended this book in his 2003 Annual Letter."

"[This] story should be an inspiration to everybody, as it is for me."

"When I see memos from [this author] in my mail, they're the first thing I open and read. I always learn something, and that goes double for his book."

"In my office, you will not see the degree I have from the University of Nebraska, or the master’s degree I have from Columbia University, but you’ll see the certificate I got from the Dale Carnegie course."

"I think you’ll enjoy reading Keeping At It."

"By 1999 [State Farm] had amassed a tangible net worth exceeding that of all but four American businesses. If you want to read how this happened, get a copy of The Farmer from Merna."

"Very early, probably when I was seven or so, I took this book."

"[The author] is as wise as his son is brilliant. I’ve learned a lot from both of them and believe everyone can benefit from the insights [the author] shares in this book."

"Warren Buffett recommended this book in his 2003 Annual Letter."

"In this book, [the author] says I like baseball metaphors. He’s right."

"The funniest book ever written about investing."

"You’ll learn how my interest in the company was originally piqued by my receiving in the mail a hunk of ugly metal whose purpose I couldn’t fathom."

"We have as fine an array of operating managers as exists at any company. (You can read about many of them in The Warren Buffett CEO)."

"Talked about investment speculation and the propensity of people to speculate."

"A terrific history of the credit card business."

"I am an eager reader of whatever [this author] has to say, and I recommend him to you."

"Carol Loomis has been invaluable to me in editing this letter since 1977."

"This is the funniest book ever written about investing. It lightly delivers many truly important messages on the subject."