Page 17 - Gears and Ears March 2014

Book Review

40 Chances by Howar d C. Buf fett

IF YOU HAD THE RESOURCESTO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING GREAT IN
THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Legendaryinvestor WarrenBuffett posedthis challenge to his sonin 2006, whenhe
announcedhewasleaving the bulk of his fortune to philanthropy. Howard G.Buffett setout to
helpthemostvulnerablepeopleonearth—nearlyabillion individuals who lack basic
food security. And Howard hasgiven himself adeadline:40yearsto put morethan$3billion to
work onthis challenge.

Eachof ushasabout 40 chancesto accomplish our goals in life. Howard learned this lesson
through his passionfor farming: all farmers canexpectto haveabout40 growing seasons,
giving themjust 40 chancesto improve on everyharvest.This lessonapplies to all of us,
however, becausewe all have about 40 productive years to do the best job we can, whatever
our passionsmay be. 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World is a book that
captures Howard’s journey. Wejoin him around the world ashe seeksout new approachesto easethe suffering of so many. It
is told in auniqueformat: 40 storiesthat will provide readersacompelling look atHoward’s lessonslearned,ranging from his
own backyard to someof the mostdifficult anddangerousplaceson Earth.

PrimeMinister TonyBlair Prime Minister of GreatBritain andNorthern Ireland from 1997–2007
“This bookis like Howardhimself: inspiring, positive, andfull of greatstories.If you everfind yourself
doubting that we canchangethe world for the better, readthis andyour optimism will return.”

CarlosSlim BusinessmanandPhilanthropist
“Howard hasthreepassions:his devotion to the fight againsthungerandmisery; his love for farming; and
his ability asaphotographerandwriter to sharehis amazing journey. Through the stories in 40 Chances,
Howardinvites all of usto join his efforts to fight poverty.”

DanGlickmanFormer USSecretaryof Agriculture
“The JewishTalmud teachesthat if you saveonelife you savethe entire world. Howard Buffett haslived
this prescription, andin the processhassavedthe world many times over. 40 Chancesillustrates that his
commitment andpassionto help folks out of poverty, at homeandespecially in the developing world, has
hadaremarkable andmeasurableimpact on the lives of farmers andrural citizens worldwide. 40 Chances
should be aprimer for all our citizens on how onemanhasthe passionto savethe world, andhow we
canall follow his leadin our own way.”

Publisher’sWeekly Book Review
“In 40 chapters—constructedaselegant essays—Buffett describeshis questto makeadifference in the
world […] herecountshis personalandprofessional experiencesin surprisingly candidandcolorful
fashion.An accomplishedphotographer,Buffett humanizeshis storieswith his own pictures […] Those

interestedin theseissuesor global philanthropy aresureto find this asatisfying read.”