Rating: 
Summary: Damn Right
Review: This book was a disappointment. I expected to gain insight into the way Charlie Munger thinks. Instead I got biographical and familial minutiae. The chapters on See's Candy, Buffalo Evening News, and Blue Chip Stamps filled in background information on Berkshire, but added little about Chralie's thought processes and principles. The most insightful part of the book appears in Appendix D, but most folks won't get that far. There, the author reprints Charlie's Harvard Law School reunion speech entitled, "Multidisiplinary Skills/Educational Implications", followed by a "hypothetical" argument for investing i Coca Cola. Both are worthwhile. Unfortunately, this material makes up only 19 of the book's 276 pages. You can read that much at the bookstore without buying the book.
Rating:
Summary: Damn Right
Review: This book was a disappointment. I expected to gain insight into the way Charlie Munger thinks. Instead I got biographical and familial minutiae. The chapters on See's Candy, Buffalo Evening News, and Blue Chip Stamps filled in background information on Berkshire, but added little about Chralie's thought processes and principles. The most insightful part of the book appears in Appendix D, but most folks won't get that far. There, the author reprints Charlie's Harvard Law School reunion speech entitled, "Multidisiplinary Skills/Educational Implications", followed by a "hypothetical" argument for investing i Coca Cola. Both are worthwhile. Unfortunately, this material makes up only 19 of the book's 276 pages. You can read that much at the bookstore without buying the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Background on the Buffett-Munger Team
Review: While there's too much genealogy of the Mungers from the 1600's on, the book does give a thorough grounding in what makes Charles Munger tick.
While this book provides no easy investment answers, Mr. Munger's values and wise quotes* make this book a winner. It makes me want to go to a Berkshire (or to hear more from Mr. Munger, a Wesco Financial) annual meeting.
* "Good businesses throw up one easy decision after another; bad businesses throw up painful decisions time after time." This is both a wonderful quote and a very Berkshire Hathaway way of looking at businesses in which to invest.
Rating:
Summary: Much about Charlie Munger, not as much about investing...
Review: Without a doubt, Lowe has written an extremely interesting biography of Charles Munger, vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. We learn about Charlie's background, his family (maybe a little too much about his family), and how he eventually met up with a gentleman named Warren Buffett (maybe you've heard of this guy, eh?). From a purely biographical standpoint, you'll want to read this book. Gives much insight into Charlie's personal character as well as some insight into Buffett's character. What I think the book misses on is investment technique. Granted, that's not how the book is advertised...it is a biography. But, I was hoping to get some better insight into the Munger/Buffett investment style. I was hoping the author would--at least--tease me a bit. No such luck. It's an enjoyable read.
Rating: 
Summary: Great subject, disappointing effort
Review: You can't go wrong by choosing to write about Charlie Munger. The unprecedented access Ms. Lowe had to Munger and his family/associates sets the table for an amazing study of a fascinating man. While the author stumbles into some wonderful glimpses of the man that make reading the book worth your time, this is largely a superficial effort by someone who at times seems more interested in Munger's politics than his opinions on investing and education. I was terribly disappointed by the author's squandered effort. The author would have been better off transcribing her interview notes with Munger and Buffett and keeping her scary talent under wraps. I just hope Munger gives a more competent author a chance to take a second crack at his fascinating story. That said, solely for the direct quotes from the Munger and Buffett interviews, I still give the book 3 stars.
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