The Snowball (May 2025 Fintwit Book Club)

In this edition of the Yet Another Value Podcast Book Club, host Andrew Walker reunites with Byrne Hobart of The Diff to revisit The Snowball, Alice Schroeder’s biography of Warren Buffett. Triggered by Buffett’s recent retirement, the two reflect on how their views have evolved since first reading the book in their 20s. They unpack Buffett’s complex personal life, his early financial maneuvers, near-catastrophic risks, and lasting investment philosophies. Key discussions include Buffett’s detached family dynamics, calculated leverage, deep value tactics, and overlooked geopolitical caution. With a balance of admiration and critique, Andrew and Byrne present a thoughtful, analytical take on the man often mythologized as America's greatest investor.

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[00:00:00] Podcast intro and book overview

[00:02:05] First impressions of Snowball reread

[00:04:28] Buffett’s emotional and family struggles

[00:05:57] His early business brilliance questioned

[00:08:41] Risks nearly tanked early ventures

[00:10:17] Byrne reflects on insurance troubles

[00:13:44] Buffett’s dual investing motivations

[00:15:27] Shady dynamics of Buffett’s PA

[00:17:45] Hustling to raise initial capital

[00:21:12] Best wins: control and distress

[00:23:36] Early Buffett vs modern strategies

[00:26:54] Why he avoided foreign stocks

[00:28:17] Could modern Buffett act similarly?

[00:30:52] Gray areas in early arbitrage

[00:33:57] Incentives, risk, and bad bets

[00:35:22] Buffett’s paradoxical driving style

[00:36:51] Solomon drama and reputational play

[00:40:33] Was Solomon really near failure?

[00:43:36] Role of Buffett’s presence in bailout

[00:45:10] LTCM: Buffett’s ultimate near-miss

[00:49:40] Snowball ends during 2008 crisis

[00:50:52] Experience shapes Buffett’s crisis style

[00:53:31] Is he great at market timing?

[00:56:14] Tough negotiator in private deals

[01:01:34] Reconciling bearish macro with buys

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