Berkshire Hathaway, the $500 billion conglomerate that Warren Buffett built, is among the world's largest and most famous corporations. Yet, for all its power and celebrity, few people understand Berkshire, and many assume it cannot survive without Buffett. This book proves them wrong.

In a comprehensive portrait of the corporate culture that unites Berkshire's subsidiaries, Lawrence A. Cunningham unearths the traits that assure the conglomerate's continued prosperity. Riveting stories of each subsidiary's origins, triumphs, and journey to Berkshire reveal how managers generate economic value from intangibles like thrift, integrity, entrepreneurship, autonomy, and a sense of permanence.

Rich with lessons for those wishing to profit from the Berkshire model, this engaging book is a valuable read for entrepreneurs, business owners, managers, family business members, and investors, and it is an important resource for scholars of corporate stewardship. General readers will enjoy learning how an iconoclastic businessman transformed a struggling textile company into a corporate legacy.

"An absolute must-read for advisors... this book is one of the great chronicles of corporate history...[an] excpetional volume. [Ranked sixth best book of the year]" - Financial Advisor

"A timely contribution to a swelling debate… an encyclopedic history of the group's operating businesses." - Financial Times

"A detailed study of Berkshire's portfolio and an intriguing profile of the Sage of Omaha's approach to management, not just investment." - The Times

"Important, insightful, and clearly written... a major contribution to the management literature, this book should be read by managers of all organizations, business professors and students, business owners, and investors." - Choice

"There is much to learn from Mr. Cunningham's stories about the companies that Berkshire Hathaway owns." - The Economist

"If you're fascinated with growth strategies, you'll find few books more valuable." - Independent Agent

"A worthy read." - strategy+business