The Warren Buffett Way: Investment Strategies of the World's Greatest Investor (Mass Market Paperback)

by Robert G. Hagstrom (Author) "FOR YEARS ACADEMICIANS and investment professionals have debated the validity of what has come to be known as the efficient market theory..." (more)
Key Phrases: owner earnings, consistent operating history, economic goodwill, Berkshire Hathaway, Capital Cities, Cap Cities (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starting with $10,000 in 1956 and today worth some $8.5 billion, with significant holdings in Coca-Cola, Capital Cities/ ABC and the Washington Post Company, Omaha, Nebr.-based Buffet is a major player on Wall Street. Financial consultant Hagstrom, who did not interview his subject but obtained permission to quote from his Berkshire Hathaway annual reports, here outlines Buffet's iconoclastic tenets for investing. Unlike many entrepreneurs who take over companies to sell them off in bits, Buffet buys and holds. He rejects the "efficient market theory"; he doesn't worry about the stock market; and he buys a business, not a stock. He manages with a small staff, no computers and a "hands off" strategy. Learning his secrets here, now the rest of us can do a Buffet? Illustrations. Fortune Book Club dual main selection.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Hagstrom, a principal in a Philadelphia investment firm, describes the investment strategies and techniques used by Warren Buffett to realize enormous success as a professional investor. Aiming his analysis at the individual investor, Hagstrom reviews the influence of Buffett's mentors, Ben Graham and Philip Fisher, and illustrates Buffett's synthesis of their investment philosophies. Hagstrom provides case studies of Buffett's major investments, showing the qualities of the companies that had appeal. Buffett's investment philosophy espouses long-term investing, respect for good management, and recognition of the value of a business franchise. This insightful work is a worthwhile complement to Graham's classic writings, considered essential for new investors.
Joseph Barth, U.S. Military Acad. Lib., West Point, N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471177504
• ISBN-13: 978-0471177500
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #129,952 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

350 of 370 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Amazed by good reviews of this book, April 3, 1998

By A Customer

I am continually amazed by the good reviews this book receives; so I finally felt compelled to write. There is nothing in this book that Warren Buffett hasn't already said in his annual letters. Robert Hagstrom revealed his true reason for writing this book when the first paperback edition came out and in it, in fine print, was a notice stating that Hagstrom had started an investment fund designed to invest using Warren Buffett's principles (read: way). That is, he wrote the book so you would learn his name, become confident in his ability to analyze investments like Buffett does, and invest in his fund (which has a hefty expense ratio and has performed quite poorly I understand). So he writes this page book, in which he recommends that if you ever have the chance to read Buffett's annual letters, you should, since they "read like a book on his investment philosophy". I took his suggestion, ordered the back annual letters (sold by Berkshire Hathaway for $15) and found they repeated everything in this book - sometimes word for word (now how could Buffett have known what Hagstrom was going to write?). I get the feeling that Hagstrom has never met Buffett and never discussed investing with him (unlike Lowenstein, Lowe, Train, etc.) and his only research for this book was Buffett's annual letters. I learned more about Buffett's style from Roger Lowenstein's biography. Take Robert Hagstrom's advice and purchase the annual letters; they say the same thing - except Buffett's sense of humor is better.

141 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A tedious read with very little practical application, July 1, 2002

By	A. Jonsson "Justin" (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First let me say that the low rating I'm giving does not reflect my opinion of Warren Buffett and his methods in general, but rather specifically this book by Hagstrom.

I was quite disappointed by this book. It seems confused about whether it is an investment guide or historical narrative, and so fails to do an adequate job of either. (For a much more interesting account of Buffett's life and investments, read Roger Lowenstein's biography).

I was hoping this book would explain in specific detail HOW Buffett determines whether a company's shares are undervalued by the market and by how much. However I found that the few explanations in this book are too vague to be of any real practical application in analyzing companies and making investment decisions. The book spends more time detailing WHAT Buffett has invested in, as opposed to WHY. And more time discussing what happened to these companies AFTER Buffett had invested in them, rather than what specifically made them attractive to Buffett beforehand.

Maybe this would be a good enough book for someone to read as an introduction to Buffett, if it wasn't just so boring!

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Philosophy, Good Read, Average Practical Use, December 8, 2002

By	Bryan Vacek (Overland Park, KS) - See all my reviews

The "Warren Buffet Way" never ventures too far from common sense but whether that makes it ingeniously sound or blandly uninspired will be left for the reader to decide. The techniques Warren Buffet employed to attain success (and wealth) are well documented here with summaries of his investments from early life to recent times (1994). Each investment in analyzed through the lense of Warren Buffets economic principles, a blend of widely recognized economic minds and Warren Buffets own basic philosophy, and the result is an appreciation for his business sense and stock selecting ability.

This hindsight review of his choices is partially intended to teach you, the reader, how to make equally good investments and turn a profit without extensive risk. The problem lies in the fact that Buffet's confident simplicity is hard to obtain. The crux of his theory is calculating the intrinsic value of a company through research that is probably second nature to long-time professional investors like Buffet but is vague or downplayed in the book. Technological methods and industry readings are turned down in favor of a physical appraisal of the company and its management and an unexplained calculation of its potential.

But who has the time or money to visit and interview every possible investment they are considering? And to do so when they are only just starting out with little idea of where to start or what is an important indicator of value and while being told to expect only long-term gains? The book tells you to look past the popular and fickle market at the company itself but it is unclear what to focus on. The idea is good, I'll try to put it to good use in my own investing, but its too general to nail down or check off on a list.

Overall though, it will provide an insightful look at one of the richest men in the world. You'll learn some basic investment strategies and a little history. Its not an economic Bible but it may help beat the crowd without going too far over your head.