Helpful insights into how Charlie Munger thinks about things, not terribly personal, but generally helpful if you are into business

Well, I can't exactly say much about this book. My dad got me to read it as an exchange for other books. Of course, I disobeyed him and read them first and only got to finish (sort of) this book 2 months later. Or was it 3...?

So, the introduction was a bit weird to be honest. It was in the perspective of the author talking about the making of the book. It is sort of interesting, in a person's-real-life-story (-in-making-a-book-about-a-person) way.

The all in all story was good. It wasn't really interesting to me, but I guess that is because it isn't my type of book. (I'm more of a fiction type.) It did have some interesting facts in it. I got pretty caught into Munger's life stories at quite a lot of points in the book.

This book made me learn more about Berkshire Hathaway. I have been a big fan of warren Buffet since I was little because of my dad. I thought of him more as a one person person. Turns out I was wrong. 'Damn Right!' has changed my view of Buffet and has given way to Munger in the picture.

I thought this book would be horrible and super business-ey with all these hard words. Again, I was wrong. It seriously is a good book. Munger was wrong when he said no one would want to read a book about him. I'm certainly glad I did.

The best book I have read so far. You leave thinknthat Munger would be interesting and also great fun to spend time with.

There are many overlaps with The Snowball but still great if you're a fan of Charlie Munger. He's truly one of a kind.

The content is a little dated seeing as the book is 20 yrs old. Its everything you ever wanted to know about Charlie Munger though.

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A good coverage of Charlie munger.

It feels “thin” in places. But a worth while purchase and read

5 stars as it added to my knowledge of Charlie (and warren)

Only if you’re interested in the details of Munger’s life spend time reading this book. Personally I don’t see the benefit of knowing details of for example somebody’s holiday house. There is little or nothing to learn if you’re looking for investment wisdom. The most relevant takeway for me is the (scattered across the 250 pages) description of his character.

Reading again about my favorite investor - for inspiration.


The rating is more for the subject, Charlie Munger, than for the book, which is not well written. But it's the best we're likely to have on Munger for now, since his BFF Warren Buffett gets most of the attention. Still, I appreciate the effort Janet Lowe made to do the research and get Munger and his friends and family to talk to her, since otherwise we would not have a biography of this superb investor and fascinating character. Also, thanks to Lowe for referring to other reference sources both in the text and in the footnotes, since books like The Big test by Nicholas Lemann and Roger Lowenstein's Buffet fill in much of the story that Lowe makes unclear. Bottom line on this book is Buffet's plaintive cry during his family's tour of Hearst's San Simeon: "Don't tell us how he spent it -- tell how made it!"

Which, in my opinion, should be one of the main starting points for anyone presuming to write a business biography!

Dziwna książka, nie załapałem motywu przewodniego. Nie jest to ani biografia bo za ogólna ani poradnik z gatunku "inwestuj jak miliarder". Najbliżej temu chyba do kategorii "laurka" opatrzona luźnymi faktami z życia Mungera i Buffeta + kilkoma przypadkami biznesowymi jak i dlaczego przejmowali jakieś firmy.
Jak to często piszą w recenzjach płyt, dla fanów może być, reszta niech odpuści.

Czas czytania: 17,5h [ENG]

Munger is probably the lesser known half of the duo that is running Berkshire, but has achieved enough in his own right that he probably deserves a biography dedicated to his achievements. In many ways then Damn Right! is a bit disappointing. While I myself have been guilty of being in awe of them - Lowe as author could probably a bit more a bit more objective. For example, in covering the purchase of GenRe, she writes: "But Munger and Buffett were undaunted. Their experience told them that long-term, the re-insurer remained an excellent purchase." This "do no wrong" mentality at times feels like Lowe is writing an homage to worship at the shrine of Munger.

Also slightly disappointing, is that a good chunk of Munger's story is simply related back to Buffett. I would have liked to understand the individual that is Munger a bit better - perhaps a bit more focus on the deals that he did for himself.

So while in many ways the book is passable, can't quite recommend it. I would have liked to see something along the line of Schroeder's The Snowball - that account was a bit more impartial as well as impeccably researched (for example - she takes a much more in depth and balanced examination of the GenRe acquisition). However, as a compilation of some of Munger's thoughts and quotes, this book is still a worth read.

Charlie Munger, vice-president of Berkshire Hathaway is quite well known for this 'Mungerisms' or words of wisdom. This book by Janet Lowe shows the ascent of Munger, the businessman from his humble days as a lawyer to a world known billionaire investor. He likes to be in the background and let Warren Buffet do most of the talking. Munger and Buffet completely complement each other. They almost look like siblings. They have the same values and a conservative investing style.

This book will not tell you how to pick stocks like Charlie Munger but how to live an exemplary life. If you are willing to read the tit-bits about Munger family, this book has a lot to teach. Apart from law and investing, he is very knowledgeable about science. He is greatly influenced by Benjamin Franklin. Buffet was very fortunate to have a friend and business partner like him to discuss and get new investing ideas. This partnership is a perfect example of 1+1 = 11. Their investing style looks easy to understand, but it is very hard to follow. As Munger says, you have to adapt your strategy to your own nature and your own talents.

"Damn Right: Behind the Scenes with Berkshire Hathaway Billionaire Charlie Munger" is a book that I had high hopes for, expecting to delve deep into the wisdom and thought processes of the renowned late Charlie Munger. Unfortunately, it fell short of these expectations.

Instead of insightful explorations into Munger's business acumen and philosophies, the book devotes an excessive amount of space to trivial anecdotes. There are endless, seemingly unimportant passages about Munger's fishing trips and whom he went with, which add little value for readers seeking to understand the mind of this financial giant.