The Snowball is more than just a biography of Warren Buffett. It’s a deep dive into the life, habits, and mindset of one of the most successful investors of all time.
Written by Alice Schroeder, the book offers readers a rare, inside look at Buffett’s upbringing, business decisions, and personal life. It’s a long read, but for those curious about how money, psychology, and character intersect, The Snowball is rich with insight.
Who is Alice Schroeder?
Alice Schroeder was a Wall Street analyst before she was handpicked by Warren Buffett to write his official biography. This is notable because Buffett had long resisted sharing his life story in such a detailed format. Schroeder’s background in finance gave her the ability to ask the right questions and understand the complexities of Buffett’s decisions, while her journalistic skill helped shape those answers into a compelling narrative. She spent hundreds of hours with Buffett, his family, and his colleagues, giving the book an authenticity that’s hard to match.
Lessons Readers Can Take Away
Compound Interest is a Superpower
The title The Snowball is a metaphor for how Buffett built his wealth. He started early, stayed consistent, and let the compounding effect do most of the work. This is one of the most important financial lessons anyone can learn: starting small and early can lead to massive results over time.
Frugality Isn’t Just a Phase
Despite being a billionaire, Buffett is known for his simple lifestyle. He still lives in the same Omaha house he bought in 1958. His frugality wasn’t just a temporary phase on the road to wealth — it was a lifelong habit. For readers looking to build financial independence, this reinforces the idea that you don’t need to inflate your lifestyle just because your income rises.
Know Your Circle of Competence
Buffett often avoided investments he didn’t understand, staying within what he called his “circle of competence.” For everyday investors, this means it’s OK to keep things simple (like putting your money into a low-cost S&P 500 index fund) and avoid chasing complex or trendy investments you don’t fully grasp.
Psychology Shapes Success
Buffett is highly introspective. He spends much of his day reading and thinking. The Snowball makes it clear that mastering your own emotions, especially fear and greed, is essential for long-term success — not just in investing, but in life. This aligns with the core idea that financial literacy includes understanding your own behavior.
Criticisms of the Book
Some readers have found the book to be overly long. At over 900 pages, it goes into extraordinary detail, including parts of Buffett’s life that don’t directly relate to investing.
Others have pointed out that while Schroeder was granted deep access to Buffett, her portrait is still quite flattering. Critics argue that it glosses over certain flaws or controversial business dealings. If you’re hoping for a hard-edged exposé, this isn’t it.
Why This Book?
The Snowball is valuable because it offers something you can’t find in a spreadsheet or stock chart: context. It’s a story about choices, habits, temperament, and values. For readers trying to get better with money – whether they’re paying off debt, building savings, or investing in the S&P 500 – seeing how Buffett made decisions over a lifetime is both educational and inspiring.
It also emphasizes learning. Buffett is a lifelong reader. He consumes newspapers, annual reports, and books daily. His approach to money is as much about curiosity and patience as it is about spreadsheets and numbers. This makes The Snowball a perfect read for anyone who wants to grow not just their net worth, but also their thinking.
Final Thoughts
Reading The Snowball is a commitment, but one that pays off. It’s not just a book about investing: it’s a book about living well, thinking clearly, and staying grounded. While not every reader will agree with Buffett’s personal choices or admire his business dealings, the lessons in self-discipline, long-term thinking, and financial strategy are universal.
For those serious about learning more about money, and themselves, The Snowball deserves a place on your reading list.
Winchell House 
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