Omaha, Nebraska—When it comes to investing, few names carry the weight of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. The duo, who built Berkshire Hathaway into a juggernaut, have long been revered for their sharp insights, not just on stocks but on life itself. Now, a new book capturing their decades of wisdom has hit shelves, and it’s already turning heads. Among its fans? Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who’s calling it a must-read.
The book, The Tao of Berkshire Hathaway, hit bookstores on March 10, 2025, pulling together the best of Buffett and Munger’s talks, letters, and annual meeting quips. Compiled from official Berkshire Hathaway archives and shareholder meeting transcripts, it’s a dense but lively read, packed with lessons on business, risk, and even morality. Think of it as a front-row seat to the minds behind one of America’s most storied companies.
Ackman, the hedge fund titan behind Pershing Square Capital, didn’t hold back his enthusiasm. On December 6, 2024, he took to a public platform to praise the book, saying he was preordering it and urging others to do the same. He’s no stranger to Buffett and Munger’s orbit, having attended multiple Berkshire annual meetings in Omaha over the years. Those gatherings, often dubbed the “Woodstock of Capitalism,” draw thousands to hear the pair riff on everything from stock picks to human nature. Ackman’s endorsement carries weight—he’s not one to gush lightly.
The book’s release comes at a poignant time. Munger, Buffett’s longtime partner, passed away on November 28, 2023, at 99, leaving a void in the investing world. His dry wit and no-nonsense takes—like calling out “dumb” corporate moves or preaching patience in a frenetic market—made him a legend. Buffett, now 94, still helms Berkshire, but the company’s annual letters and meetings, which form the book’s backbone, reflect their shared philosophy. Together, they’ve championed ideas like long-term thinking, ethical leadership, and sticking to what you know.
What makes this book stand out isn’t just the star power. It’s the raw material—decades of Buffett’s shareholder letters, Munger’s speeches, and unfiltered Q&A sessions from Berkshire’s annual meetings, all public record. The editors, financial historians with access to Berkshire’s vaults, didn’t fluff it up. You get Munger’s blunt warnings about overpaying for “hot” stocks and Buffett’s folksy breakdowns of complex ideas, like why cash flow matters more than hype. It’s practical, not preachy, and it doesn’t dumb things down.
Ackman’s not alone in his praise. The book climbed bestseller lists within weeks of its launch, with retailers reporting strong sales by April 2025. It’s found an audience beyond Wall Street—small business owners, retirees, even college kids looking for a crash course in clear thinking. Berkshire’s annual meeting on May 3, 2025, saw Buffett fielding questions about the book, confirming its fidelity to their ideas. He called it “a fair shake” at capturing their approach, high praise from a man who chooses words like he picks stocks.
The numbers back up the buzz. Berkshire Hathaway’s market cap stood at $1.1 trillion as of April 30, 2025, a testament to the principles laid out in the book. Its portfolio, spanning Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express, reflects the disciplined, value-driven strategy Buffett and Munger preached for decades. Their track record—averaging 20% annualized returns since 1965—gives the book’s lessons a hard edge of credibility.
No one’s saying you’ll read it and become a billionaire. But for anyone curious about how two guys from Omaha outsmarted Wall Street while keeping their integrity, it’s a rare window into their world. Ackman’s already got his copy. Maybe you will too.