My first barb (recently made) has 1.279k life without BO... BO is level 27.
The skills you should max by 80 are:
WW, Beserk (for immune to phys monsters if you intend to do acts with your barb), BO (always always always) sword / mace / whatever weapon you use mastery
Oh, and put a few points into natural resistance and iron skin.

Maybe tonight we'll fly so far away... We'll be lost before the dawn...