I first knew of Bernstein in 1999 through an article in Businessweek by the then investment columnist Robert Barker. Barker flew out to Coos Bay to meet Bernstein. This was before Bernstein published any book. I don't remember how Barker heard of Bernstein, but Bernstein already got some reputation virally prior to the interview by Barker (I did not and still do not hang out on any investment forum).
I then forgot all about this, until I came to this forum and heard Bernstein mentioned again, along with his books. I read The Four Pillars, and thought that it was good, but did not find it spectacular, because the info was available elsewhere piecemeal but perhaps not collected in one book.