Warren Buffett on Business : Principles from the Sage of Omaha

Acknowledgments

Unknowingly, this book began in April 2006, when I wrote Judith Schwartz, the executive director of the Washington University in St. Louis Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) proposing a course on Warren Buffett. Rather than throwing the letter away, she forwarded it to Harry Estill. After several planning meetings with Harry and Butch Sterbenz, the course was born. Thanks to Charlie Moore of the LLI for his encouragement and input. I thank them all for their interest and support and the LLI for its great facility, and its administrators and volunteers for their extraordinary contribution to the senior citizens in St. Louis.

I thank the many participants who have attended the course over the past three years. Their enthusiasm and participation were all A+. At the last class of each course, we feasted on Cherry Cokes, See’s Candies, and Dairy Queen, all Warren ’s favorites. We had a lot of fun.

Thanks to Bob Shirrell, Alice Aslin, Bob Leggat and Bob Leonard for their early readings of the first draft. I am blessed to have signed up with John Wiley & Sons and its wonderful team, especially Debra Englander, Adrianna Johnson, Judy Howarth, and Mary Daniello. They had to work with a totally inexperienced rookie. Also, I thank Emma Harris who worked tirelessly to produce the initial electronic version of the manuscript and to Carrie Kizer, an assistant to Warren, who always promptly responded to my e-mails.

Last, and most importantly, I thank Warren for his time and extraordinary ...