Subject: Re: Alice Schroeder Interview
It has been so interesting to read thoughts about Snowball by different members here. Especially so by those of you who knew Warren personally. Very interesting. What was written and what was left unsaid.

So maybe it's time for me to share my thoughts about Snowball? I didn't know Warren. But I THOUGHT I knew him. Via Lowenstein's book, Money Masters, Intelligent Investor, others, all shareholder letters since inception 3Xs, 85% in since 2000/2005.

So for those who don't know or forgot? Here's some background and chronology:

1. 1952. Warren and Susan married. Warren was 22 and Susan was 20. They had three children. Susie 1953, Howard 1954, Peter 1958.
2. 1977. Susan left Warren. To pursue a singing career in San Francisco, CA. They were separated for 27 years. They remained friends and traveled together. Susan attended BRK annual meetings, etc.
3. 1978. Susan introduced Astrid to Warren. Astrid was the hostess at the Omaha facility where Susan sang. Susan suggested that Astrid "take Warren some soup".
3.5 Subsequently as we all know, Astrid moved in to "take care of" Warren.
4. 1999. Alice Schroeder wrote her Berkshire Hathaway report for Paine Weber, the first professional analysis of Berkshire. 54-55 pages.
5. 6/2003. Alice Schroeder began research at Warren's invitation to write his authorized biography with access to all files, family, and friends.
6. 10/2003. Susan Buffett was diagnosed with oral cancer, treated with radiation, and had facial reconstruction. Warren was with her in CA every weekend throughout this treatment.
7.7/9/2004. Susan Buffett died of a cerebral hemmorage with Warren at her side in Cody, Wyoming at a friend's home. Warren was devastated.
8. 8/30/2006. Astrid married Warren.
9. 9/29/2008. Snowball was published by Alice Schroeder. 976 pgs.

It's an interesting chronology and difficult to digest. Provided as a reference.

I ordered four copies of Snowball prior to publication. One for myself and one for each of our three sons. I read the book pretty much straight through. I knew the Buffett family history from other published books. There seemed to be no new Berkshire analysis provided in Snowball which I was hoping to find. Alice was an analyis, afterall. And I felt like the "bait" thoughout the book was to keep you
reading to find out more about Susan's story.

After reading the book, I was so disgusted that I threw all four book in the trash. I didn't donate them to a library, or sell to a used book store. Done. Get rid of them.

Warren had three heroes: his father, Benjamin Graham, and Susan, his wife.

I don't think that Warren hired Alice to expose his wife Susan in the manner that she did. I don't think that Warren was aware of the situation regarding Susan either. Or he never would have hired Alice to write his biography in the first place. And I think that that type of a "tell all" should have been left until Warren had passed.

After publication of the book? I think I remember that Astrid said that she felt she had been HAD. I must have seen that on the old TMF Brk board. Christmas cards going out for years signed: Warren, Susan, and Astrid. Etc. Etc. Etc.

I didn't like the book, a bit. And it turned out that Warren didn't like it either. My take is that it was the exposure of Susan that turned Warren against Alice and her book. Nothing else.

It is so complicated. Warren and Susan and Astrid. I wish Alice had left Susan alone.

FYI:
Warren and Susan 1952-1977 = 25 years
Warren and Astrid 1978-2025 = 47 years

Astrid is the unsung hero, IMO. I get the immense importance of Susan to Buffet's life. HUGE. And I understand her leaving Warren after the kids were grown. But I didn't really want/need to know more about Susan. Not while Warren was still living. I think Warren was blindsided - by Susan AND Alice.

After all this discussion? I may just have to reread Snowball. :-)

I would appreciate it if any of you who knew Buffett personally? and posted about Warren's shortcomings regarding his personal relationships - would private email me. I don't understand. And I would like to understand.

Mary