Exposure to the casual wit and extensive wisdom of Charlie Munger primed me to grab the book and try to absorb a bit more. The wit doesn't translate as well to paper as a long life's worth of wisdom does.
The book is structured with an opening section that shares a lot of the life background that prepared Charlie Munger for his future. Starting in post-depression Nebraska working in the Buffet store, then on to law school and much more, the story builds through the early association with Warren Buffet, and the broad learning paths through independent learning and a voracious appetite for knowledge. That appetite for knowledge is an enduring theme throughout the book and his life. Hw worked hard to impart that same love of broad learning and wisdom to family, friends, business associates and students along the way. The lessons and the delivery are both top tier.
The rest of the book is a series of descriptions of lectures Charlie gave later in life primarily at various learning institutions. Primarily law and business schools it seems, but a couple others thrown in too. The common theme is to always be open to learnings from outside your focus discipline, and integrate all those outside learnings to build a broad base to continuously build on.
I'm 20+ years Charlie's junior, and can see where the guidance he shares would have made my early career a bit smoother. That said, I think it would be great for people to read and learn from Charlie starting early, then re-read at life intervals that allow one's own life experiences and situations to benefit from regular course-corrections based on the ideas shared in the book. I know too many youngsters who have attention focus based on continuous screen movement and action; few may initially appreciate the pleasure of reading a good book like this. But a read in mid-teens, and again as major decision points arise, would help most people tremendously.
Some of us have had the great fortune to have mentors along the way. Even if you already have that, adding another lesson or twelve from Charlie can only benefit.
Yes, I highly recommend this book. It should almost be essential reading from those stepping up to and stepping through their lives and careers. It's that good.
Yurong Chen