Poor Charlie’s Almanack is a strange name for a book.

It is actually a tip of the hat to Benjamin Franklin, one of Charlie Munger’s heroes. Back in the day, Franklin wrote this book called “Poor Richard’s Almanack.” It was full of all sorts of useful tidbits—weather forecasts, advice, you name it—and it was written under this quirky pseudonym, “Richard Saunders.” Franklin used “Poor Richard” to come off as an everyman, doling out wisdom in a way that was really humble and relatable.

So, fast forward to Charlie Munger. A book filled with his speeches, thoughts, and a good dose of humor, is compiled, aimed at sharing his insight on business and life is compiled by Peter Kaufman. When it came to naming the book, Munger chose “Poor Charlie’s Almanack.” It’s a playful nod to Franklin’s work, using “Poor Charlie” to echo that same relatable, down-to-earth vibe. Plus, it’s a bit ironic too, given that Munger is anything but poor!

Basically, the title is Munger’s way of saying, “Here’s a collection of wisdom, much like Franklin’s, but for the modern world.” It’s a tribute and a continuation of that style of sharing knowledge—packed with wisdom we can all use in our personal and professional lives.

The book is a collection of Charlie Munger’s best advice given over 30 years, in the form of 11 speeches given as commencement addresses and roundtable talks.

This is a truly eye-opening book into the world and thought processes of Charlie Munger. He describes how and why he thinks the way he does, stresses the importance of learning the basics in the fundamental disciplines in order to avoid becoming “the man with a hammer who sees everything as a nail,” and how this has translated into the enormous success that is Berkshire Hathaway.

Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

The book is a collection of Charlie Munger’s best advice given over 30 years, in the form of 11 speeches given as commencement addresses and roundtable talks.

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