Warren Buffett Doesn’t Work Harder Than Most — He Reads Smarter
After this week’s announcement that Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, I tuned in to the conference and the Q&A — and once again, I was struck by how much his success comes down to something deceptively simple: daily habits.
I’ve followed Buffett for years. Not just the investments, but the way he works. His discipline. His thinking. And especially, his reading.
Buffett’s ability to absorb, process, and apply knowledge is second to none. His routine isn’t built on busyness — it’s built on focus. He spends most of his day reading, thinking, and sharpening his edge. That’s what has always fascinated me. So here it is — a clear breakdown of Warren Buffett’s reading routine, and what we can learn from it to improve our own.
Let’s follow what works.
Why Buffett’s Reading Habit Is the Real Secret to His Billions
Warren Buffett is one of the richest people in the world, but his most valuable asset isn’t money — it’s time. And how he uses it: by reading, thinking, and learning every day.
This isn’t an opinion — it’s his formula. Buffett spends up to 80% of his day reading. He doesn’t chase meetings or micromanage. He studies, reflects, and waits until the right opportunity comes along.
The Obsession Started Early
By age 10, Buffett had read every book in the Omaha public library on investing — some more than once.
“When I got out of school, I went through Moody’s manual page by page…”
He didn’t skim. He studied companies in depth and found hidden gems, like an insurance stock trading under 1x earnings. That wasn’t luck. That was the result of patient, focused reading.
Buffett’s Daily Routine: Read, Think, Repeat
Buffett reads 5 to 6 hours a day. That’s most of his workday.
“I just sit in my office and read all day.”
He avoids packed schedules, keeps meetings to a minimum, and guards his time fiercely. Even Bill Gates was shocked by how open Buffett keeps his calendar.
“I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think.”
This is how Buffett compounds wisdom — not by doing more, but by thinking better.
What Buffett Reads
Every day, Buffett reads:
The Wall Street Journal
The Financial Times
The New York Times
USA Today
The Omaha World-Herald
American Banker
He also reads annual reports, 10-K filings, and trade publications. And he avoids opinion pieces:
“We don’t read other people’s opinions… we want to get the facts, and then think.”
His book diet includes biographies, economic history, and investment classics like The Intelligent Investor, which he says gave him his entire investing framework.
How He Learns — Not Just What He Reads
Buffett’s technique is active reading. He:
Prefers raw data to summaries
Thinks through what he reads
Builds mental filters for evaluating ideas
Files away insights for years until they’re needed
“If you read 500 pages a day, knowledge builds up like compound interest.”
He doesn’t speed-read — he reads deeply. His recall is legendary not because of memory tricks, but because of true understanding.
Applying the Knowledge
Buffett stores insights in his mind, not in spreadsheets.
He once read through an entire book of Korean companies in a single afternoon — and identified 20 undervalued stocks.
Decades earlier, he found small insurers trading absurdly cheap by digging through Moody’s manuals.
“My job is essentially just corralling more and more and more facts and information, and occasionally seeing whether that leads to some action.”
He acts when what he’s learned matches what the market misprices. Until then, he waits. He reads.
The Buffett Formula for Continuous Learning
Buffett famously told a group of students:
“Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest.”
And then he added:
“All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”
He and Charlie Munger both credit reading — not IQ or talent — as the foundation of their success.
“I don’t know any wise person who doesn’t read all the time.” — Charlie Munger
Want Buffett’s Results? Start With His Rituals
Buffett doesn’t rely on talent. He built his edge through focused, lifelong learning. Here’s your action plan:
✅ Carve out 2–3 hours daily for reading
✅ Prioritize raw sources: filings, reports, primary data
✅ Avoid fluff and distractions
✅ Read broadly — history, business, behavior
✅ Reflect and file away what matters
✅ Be patient — act when your filters say yes
If compounding wealth begins with compounding knowledge, the first investment you should make is in your own reading habit.
Are you a business owner or entrepreneur with a story to share? Whether it’s a key lesson, a success, a setback, or something that shaped how you work — I’d love to hear it. I’m always looking to feature real stories from people who are building, leading, and learning. If you’re open to a conversation, reach out. You might just be the teacher in a future article.
References
Buffett, W. (n.d.) Interview with CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com
Gates, B. (2017). Gates Notes: What I Learned from Warren Buffett. Retrieved from https://www.gatesnotes.com
Combs, T. (2016). “Buffett’s Reading Advice”, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, personal remarks.
Schroeder, A. (2008). The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life. New York: Bantam Books.
Graham, B. (1949). The Intelligent Investor. New York: Harper & Brothers.
Munger, C. (2017). “Daily Journaling and Continuous Learning.” Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Meeting.
CNBC Staff (2015). “Warren Buffett: I spend 80% of my day reading.” CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com
Buffett, W. (2015). Iconic Voices Interview. Arizona State University.
American Banker (n.d.). Buffett’s media diet and industry insight. Retrieved from https://www.americanbanker.com
Galbraith, J.K. (1990). A Short History of Financial Euphoria. New York: Penguin.