40 chances

the long version

If you had the resources to accomplish something great in the world, what would you do? Legendary investor Warren Buffett posed this challenge to his son, Howard G. Buffett in 2006, when he announced he was leaving the bulk of his fortune to philanthropy. Howard set out to help the most vulnerable people on Earth, nearly a billion individuals who lack basic food security. And Howard has given himself a deadline: 40 years to put more than $3 billion to work on this challenge. Howard learned this lesson through his passion for farming: each farmer can expect to have about 40 growing seasons, giving him just 40 chances to improve on every harvest. This lesson applies to all of us, because we all have about 40 productive years to do the best job we can, whatever our passions may be. This book captures Howard's journey around the world as he seeks out new approaches to ease the suffering of so many. -- From publisher description.