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M. Christine Torrington: Image 78,

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Acknowledgments

Without the help of many people this book would never have come into being. If I’ve succeeded, it’s mainly thanks to the generosity of others. First among them, of course, is Warren Buffett. The generosity he showed by giving me so much access to his time, his family, his friends, and his files, and the courage he showed by refraining from meddling with the book for more than five years—right up until the day it went to the printer—are remarkable. His conviction that a smart person can do anything and his gentle but persistent Carnegizing lifted my aspirations as a writer and as a person, and changed my life. His influence on me cannot be described in a paragraph or a couple of pages—but for everything, Warren, I am grateful.

My literary agent, the peerless David Black, gave impeccable guidance. I trust him implicitly—above all to tell me important things that I don’t want to hear—the most valuable quality you can have in a friend. He also stunned Warren into a moment of silence at his negotiating skill, not a small achievement.

My great good fortune was that the book was sold to the perceptive Irwyn Applebaum, the president and publisher of Bantam Dell, whose support and wisdom have inspired me throughout. Helping me was Ann Harris, my editor, who elevated The Snowball through her encouragement to write the story of a man’s life seen in whole, and her editing with a meticulous eye for tone, context, and nuance. Later in the process, Beth Rashbaum unsheathed her red pencil, relentlessly pruning material this first-time author couldn’t bear to cut herself, to the immeasurable improvement of the book. The Snowball owes much to them and I am grateful to have worked with two such talented editors. Any flaws, of course, are mine alone.

At Bantam I also thank Loren Noveck, who as the book’s title administrator oversaw the multiple processes involved in producing a complex book; Virginia Norey, its designer; Ann’s assistant Angela Polidoro; and the several others who collaborated in making The Snowball happen: deputy publisher Nita Taublib; publishing director Gina Wachtel; attorney Matthew Martin; production experts Tom Leddy, Maggie Hart, and Margaret Benton; creative marketing director Betsy Hulsebosch and her team; sales marketing director Cynthia Lasky; and publicity director Barb Burg.

I wrote this book while associated with Morgan Stanley as an advisory director, and appreciate my friends’ and colleagues’ and the firm’s support. Throughout, Lisa Edwards, my friend and assistant, organized the material, scheduled interviews, planned my annual Berkshire Hathaway dinner, handled innumerable other matters, and generally kept my life together. Lauren Esposito, my researcher, who also came from Morgan Stanley, brought with her a set of financial skills that added immensely to the book, and became adept at locating critical research material. To watch an artist like Marion Ettlinger at work inspired me near the end of the writing, and I thank her for the result.

Doris Buffett, Roberta Buffett Bialek, and Warren Buffett’s children Susan, Howard, and Peter, Charlie Munger, Bill Gates, and Don Graham were especially generous with their time and insight, and I am grateful to them for their important contributions.

People trusted by both me and Warren—Sharon Osberg, Vinay Saqi, and Devon Spurgeon—provided various types of assistance throughout, from financial commentary to calming frayed nerves. The love and support of my sister, Elizabeth Davey, and my father, Ken Davey, helped bring the book into being. David Moyer came into my life just in time to learn what it means to live with a writer who is finishing a book on deadline, and kiddingly referred to himself as my “fiancé in exile” while providing a shoulder to lean on, advice, laughter, love, and romance. He, along with Sharon Osberg and Justin Bennett, served as early readers, and The Snowball would be far poorer without their comments and advice.

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