Two new books we like, which definitely involve freethinking.

The first is a biography of Warren Buffet, the Sage of Omaha, the world's greatest investor and indeed the world's richest man. It's the first authorised biography of the great man, The Snowball, by Anne Schroeder is a revealing insight to this mind-bogglingly wealthy, yet humble man. Famous for his aphorisms - inteviewed on CNBC last week about his spending spree during the credit crunch and the huge pile of cash he has at his disposal - he replied, "Well, it's a bit like sex, no good saving it up for old age." Typical Buffet. It is a fascinating insight in to a man who can certainly be called a freethinker and contantly debunks conventional wisdom. one slight word of warning, it's over 800 pages long.

The other book we like a lot is, What They Teach you at Harvard Business School: My Two Years Inside the Cauldron of Capitalism by Philip Delves Broughton. Mr Broughton walked away from what one would think is a rather splendid job, Paris Bureau Chief of The Daily Telegraph; having interviewed many Titans of business, he decided he would rather like to be one himself. He felt this could make him master of his own destiny and equally importantly, in control of his finances. As many of these Titans were products of the Harvard Business School he decided this would be his $175,000 passport to a new life, so he up'd sticks with his wife and child and headed for Boston. Apparently he didn't set out to write a book about his experiences but we are glad he did because what he gives us is a wonderful insight in to this unique institution. It is enthralling and indeed very amusing when his British cynicism rubs up against the 'cult' that is HBS and it's suprising how little they encourage freethinking. We can't recommend this one enough and as so many of the students were heading for Wall Street, it gives you a whole new perspective on the current crisis.