Acknowledgments

As I have said on many occasions, the success of The Warren Buffett Way is first and foremost a testament to Warren Buffett. His wit, integrity, and intellectual spirit have charmed millions of investors worldwide. It is an unparalleled combination that makes Warren Buffett the single most popular role model in investing today and the greatest investor in history.

I first of all thank Warren Buffett for his teachings and for allowing me to use his copyrighted material. It is impossible to improve what Mr. Buffett has already said. The readers of this book are fortunate to be able to read his words rather than be subjected to a second-best paraphrase. My thanks also go to Debbie Bosanek for her kindness and willingness to keep the communication flowing even though I am sure there were a thousand other things that demanded her attention on that day.

I would also like to thank Charlie Munger for his intellectual contributions to the study of investing. His ideas on the “psychology of misjudgment” and the “latticework of mental models” are extremely important and should be examined by all. My appreciation to Charlie also includes thanks for his thoughtful conversations and his kind words of support.

I also have a deeply felt sense of gratitude for Carol Loomis. Two years before Mr. Buffett started his partnership, Carol began her career as a research associate at Fortune magazine. Today, she is senior editor-at-large at Fortune, a New York Times best-selling author, and one of the great American journalists. And as many of you know, she has been editing Berkshire Hathaway’s annual reports since 1977. Carol’s earliest words of encouragement meant more to me than I can express.

I would like to extend special thanks to Andy Kilpatrick, author of Of Permanent Value: The Story of Warren Buffett. Whenever I have misplaced a fact or became fuzzy on a particular event, I would turn to Andy’s book. And if I still needed help, I would call Andy, who quickly gave me what I was looking for. Andy is a gentleman, and I consider him to be the official historian of Berkshire Hathaway.

When you have been a member of the Berkshire Hathaway community for 30 years, you have had the privilege of engaging in thousands of conversations, letters, and e-mails. Never once can I recall an unpleasant exchange, which tells you a lot about the Berkshire faithful. With that in mind I would like to thank Chuck Akre, Jack Bogle, David Braverman, Jamie Clark, Bob Coleman, Larry Cunningham, Chris Davis, Pat Dorsey, Charles Ellis, Henry Emerson, Ken Fisher, Phil Fisher, Bob Goldfarb, Burton Gray, Mason Hawkins, Ajit Jain, Joan Lamm-Tennant, Virginia Leith, John Lloyd, Paul Lountzis, Janet Lowe, Peter Lynch, Michael Mauboussin, Robert Miles, Bill Miller, Ericka Peterson, Larry Pidgeon, Lisa Rapuano, Laura Rittenhouse, John Rothchild, Bill Ruane, Tom Russo, Alice Schroeder, Lou Simpson, Ed Thorp, Wally Weitz, and David Winters.

I owe a great deal to a valued friend, Charles E. Haldeman Jr. Ed was there at the beginning. I remember the day I asked him if I should get my MBA or write a book about Warren Buffett. Ed said, “Write the book!” It was good advice. Ed read the original manuscript and made several suggestions that greatly improved the book. Thanks, Ed.

I am grateful to John Wiley & Sons for not only publishing The Warren Buffett Way but for their unwavering support and tireless dedication to the book these past 20 years. Everyone at Wiley is a true professional. Let me start by thanking Myles Thompson for taking a chance on a first-time writer. I would also like to thank Jennifer Pincott, Mary Daniello, Joan O’Neil, Pamela van Giessen, and the current team: Kevin Commins and Judy Howarth.

Once again and always, I am greatly indebted to my agent, Laurie Harper at Sebastian Literary Agency. Laurie is the perfect agent. She is smart, loyal, and cheerful, and always acts with the highest level of integrity. Most important, she is willing to go the extra mile to make sure our work together is first rate. In a word, Laurie is special.

Twenty years ago, Myles Thompson sent my first draft of this book to Maggie Stuckey and asked if she would put her skills to work in order to help a freshman writer. Since then, Maggie and I have written nine books together, and I have often wondered what would have happened had she not agreed to be my writing partner. Although we are separated by a continent, I am always amazed at how Maggie is able to connect intimately to the material. She works tirelessly from one chapter to the next, always searching for the best way to structure the material and articulate, in simple language, the work I have forwarded to her. Maggie Stuckey is simply the best in the business.

Anyone who has sat down to write a book knows that it means countless hours spent alone that otherwise could be spent with one’s family. Writing requires certain sacrifices from the author, but I assure you much more from the author’s family. I dearly love my children and I am forever grateful to my wife Maggie, who never wavers in her support for me and our family. On the first day I told her I was going to write a book, she smiled and convinced me it could be done. Her constant love makes all things possible. Even though my family comes last in this list, they are forever first in my heart.

For all that is good and right about this book, you may thank the people I have mentioned. For any errors or omissions, I alone am responsible.

R.G.H.