Forty Chances

I recently read a book titled 'Forty Chances' written by Warren Buffett's son, Howard Buffett.  It is interesting or ironic how I qualified his name by associating it to his famous father.  He may not want to be remembered as such.

There is something about the genetic lottery (as Warren himself is known to refer), that identifies a person for who they are and what they likely become.  In case of Howard, it was indeed a fortunate accident to be born to one of the world's wealthiest people.

Not to take anything away from what this son has accomplished inspite of this notoriety, is what is captured in this book.  I like the metaphor used in the writing of the book.

It is about any human that is born on this earth having approximately forty good years to do what they are able to before its time to go.  Howard uses the theme to talk about forty crop cycles on a farm that an average farmer can tinker with and influence before he gets it just right to optimize production and best possible yield.

The book largely focuses on the disconnect between food growers and consumers, or in some cases the net surplus and net deficit facing the world's populations.  Africa is a big part of the story in this book with the majority of world's malnourished citizenry facing imminent threats.

He will lead Berkshire after Warren is done and will have tremendous influence on how wealth distribution logistics could be handled to improve quality of life for the most needy.

It is indeed strange to see how religion and beliefs in god and other abstract ideas have been manipulated to steal from people or make them subservient all over the world.  Lack of basic necessity in large chunks of populations is exposed through an old camera lens as the second story line in this book.