The First Billion Is the Hardest: Reflections on a Life of Comebacks and America's Energy Future

A great book! T. Boone Pickens is a true Patriot. One who loves this country and mankind before the love of money. I enjoyed knowing more about the man and his direction for America's energy future; even though I did not agree with everything he says. For example, as the author of The Truth Behind Gas Prices, a former gas dealer and someone who has studied this industry for 12 years, I believe oil companies are manipulating supply to raise prices. Nevertheless, this book and his life is an inspiration to me.

Richard Clough
www.thetruthbehindgasprices.com

As of this writing, Boone has probably lost a billion since the oil/gas markets have crashed and his BP Capital hedge fund has dropped some 60% this year. This is a man who bets big, levers up and generates spectacular results when he's right and awful results when wrong. However, the fact that he's lost so much this year shouldn't be a reason to gloat or a reason to dismiss this book.

His is an inspirational story in that his most dramatic success and probably his most daring plans have come at an age where most people are content retiring and sliding downhill. His description of physical exercise as crucial to his spirit, energy and mental health should inspire seniors that it's never too late to go for it.

The reviewers who criticze his ego are off the mark in my opinion. He is constantly crediting others with helping him be successful, but in the end, if an 80 year old man can still accomplish what he has in the past decade, that man has the right to boast a bit in my book even I don't see much of that here anyway.

Finally, perhaps the most important part of the book is the end where he presents the Pickens Plan. Many have criticized the plan as self-serving or pure self-enrichment. While there may be some truth to it, I feel the benefits of adopting the plan far outweigh the negatives and if an octogenarian who is extremely philanthropic benefits in the process, so what! He admits in the book that he likely won't be around when his plan would yield real economic benefits for him, but the benefits to the country in terms of diminishing our dependence on oil purchased from countries that do their best to undermine us every chance they get will last far into the future. Boone will be long gone by then, but what a legacy he would leave the country. Is your envy so all consuming that you'd rather see the country bankrupted than seeing a man make another billion or so which will probably all go to charity?

I for one hope that Boone lives to see his plan adopted in full.

I decided to take a look at this book after I heard how much he lost recently in the market. I decided to buy the book because it's pitched as a life filled with challenges and comebacks, which I think is what most entrepreneurs and investors faced. T. Boone Pickens did not disappoint. He takes us along on a fascinating journey, filled with obstacles and triumphs. I learned a lot and was thoroughly entertained.

I also noticed a review here for The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book and decided to buy that book as well. I really enjoyed it and would like to pass that recommendation on to you!

T. Boone Pickens began at age 11 delivering papers, mowing lawns and pumping gas in Oklahoma to becoming chairman of the BP Capital Management hedge fund. He invested a mere $2,500 into Mesa Petroleum and built it into one of the largest independent oil companies in America and then overcame a time of personal difficulties by taking an investment fund of $3 million and turning it into $8 billion in just a few years. That's why

I picked up a copy of Boone's book The First Billion is the Hardest and read it from cover to cover with close attention and fascination.
In his book, Pickens presents his plan for America to become energy independent as well as detailing his life of improbable triumphs. The book provides an inside view of his oil and gas career, of mergers and acquisitions, of his dealings with CEOs and investment bankers, and on his personal management style.

On energy, Pickens makes the argument that the U.S. cannot drill its way out of our current crisis but must think our way out. In discussing energy solutions, Pickens stresses that crude oil is not used only for gasoline, heating oil and jet fuel but for other important petroleum products such as plastic, synthetic fibers, fertilizers, ink and many more products. For that reason, even if no foreign oil went to energy uses we'd still be beholden to the Middle East. Pickens wants to replace at least a third of gasoline demand with natural gas to reduce our foreign oil bills by 16 percent annually.

The book contains 11 chapters on the author's personal insights and experiences, including his insights on energy, and one chapter on his energy plan. While some readers may scoff at the author's folksy personality and "Bonneisms" the fact is that T. Boone Pickens has 60 years experience in the energy field - experience that gives him credibility and suggests we should listen closely when he speaks.

The book also provides an interesting peak into how Pickens spends his money - a philanthropic approach to use his money to perpetuate helping others. In fact, the author shares his intent to give away all of his money and how he will do it. But before he could give away as much he has, Pickens first had to earn his fortune and The First Billion is the Hardest is a fascinating and compelling story of how that was done.

By Darin Manis
CEO and Founder
RJ & Makay
[...]

I've been a huge fan of Boone Pickens since the early 80s when he unlocked shareholder value at Gulf Oil and other sleepily managed oil companies. I even bought shares in Mesa Petroleum and I've mentored someone who works closely with him.

But, Lordy! He loves himself just a little too much.

This slim book is written in first person as though into a tape recorder with scant evidence of any editing. It's a quick read and after a couple of chapters you are already past his Mesa days. It dwells instead on his BP (as in Boone not British Petroleum) days. It also is full of wind and gas on his Pickens energy plan.

Frankly, I don't need to read a commercial on his energy plan, but I'll grant him a pass on that. It's the overall tone of the book that gets to me. There's way too much tooting of his own horn. I have to wonder if he was a middle child or something like that happened to starve him of attention.

It certainly is a quick read and you could polish it off on a longish plane flight. Still, it pales by comparison with the much longer but brilliantly written and insightful "The Snowball" on Warren Buffett.