A NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

The legendary investor shows how to identify and master the cycles that govern the markets.

We all know markets rise and fall, but when should you pull out, and when should you stay in? The answer is never black or white, but is best reached through a keen understanding of the reasons behind the rhythm of cycles. Confidence about where we are in a cycle comes when you learn the patterns of ups and downs that influence not just economics, markets, and companies, but also human psychology and the investing behaviors that result.

"This is that rarity, a useful book."--Warren Buffett

Howard Marks, the chairman and cofounder of Oaktree Capital Management, is renowned for his insightful assessments of market opportunity and risk. After four decades spent ascending to the top of the investment management profession, he is today sought out by the world's leading value investors, and his client memos brim with insightful commentary and a time-tested, fundamental philosophy. Now for the first time, all readers can benefit from Marks's wisdom, concentrated into a single volume that speaks to both the amateur and seasoned investor.

Informed by a lifetime of experience and study, The Most Important Thing explains the keys to successful investment and the pitfalls that can destroy capital or ruin a career. Utilizing passages from his memos to illustrate his ideas, Marks teaches by example, detailing the development of an investment philosophy that fully acknowledges the complexities of investing and the perils of the financial world. Brilliantly applying insight to today's volatile markets, Marks offers a volume that is part memoir, part creed, with a number of broad takeaways.

Marks expounds on such concepts as "second-level thinking," the price/value relationship, patient opportunism, and defensive investing. Frankly and honestly assessing his own decisions--and occasional missteps--he provides valuable lessons for critical thinking, risk assessment, and investment strategy. Encouraging investors to be "contrarian," Marks wisely judges market cycles and achieves returns through aggressive yet measured action. Which element is the most essential? Successful investing requires thoughtful attention to many separate aspects, and each of Marks's subjects proves to be the most important thing.

Howard Marks's The Most Important Thing distilled the investing insight of his celebrated client memos into a single volume and, for the first time, made his time-tested philosophy available to general readers. In this edition, Marks's wisdom is joined by the comments, insights, and counterpoints of four renowned investors and investment educators: Christopher C. Davis (Davis Funds), Joel Greenblatt (Gotham Capital), Paul Johnson (Nicusa Capital), and Seth A. Klarman (Baupost Group).

These experts lend insight into such concepts as "second-level thinking," the price/value relationship, patient opportunism, and defensive investing. Marks also adds his own annotations, expanding on his book's original themes and issues. A new chapter addresses the importance of reasonable expectations, and a foreword by Bruce C. Greenwald, called "a guru to Wall Street's gurus" by the New York Times, speaks on value investing, productivity, and the economics of information.

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Howard Marks, the chairman and cofounder of Oaktree Capital Management, is renowned for his insightful assessments of market opportunity and risk. After four decades spent ascending to the top of the investment management profession, he is today sought out by the world's leading value investors, and his client memos brim with insightful commentary and a time-tested, fundamental philosophy. Now for the first time, all readers can benefit from Marks's wisdom, concentrated into a single volume that speaks to both the amateur and seasoned investor.

Informed by a lifetime of experience and study, The Most Important Thing explains the keys to successful investment and the pitfalls that can destroy capital or ruin a career. Utilizing passages from his memos to illustrate his ideas, Marks teaches by example, detailing the development of an investment philosophy that fully acknowledges the complexities of investing and the perils of the financial world. Brilliantly applying insight to today's volatile markets, Marks offers a volume that is part memoir, part creed, with a number of broad takeaways.

Marks expounds on such concepts as "second-level thinking," the price/value relationship, patient opportunism, and defensive investing. Frankly and honestly assessing his own decisions--and occasional missteps--he provides valuable lessons for critical thinking, risk assessment, and investment strategy. Encouraging investors to be "contrarian," Marks wisely judges market cycles and achieves returns through aggressive yet measured action. Which element is the most essential? Successful investing requires thoughtful attention to many separate aspects, and each of Marks's subjects proves to be the most important thing.

"This is that rarity, a useful book."--Warren Buffett

"Quando vejo que há memorandos de Howard Marks em meu e-mail, eles são a primeira coisa que abro e leio. Eu sempre aprendo algo, e isso vale em dobro para este livro."

Warren Buffett, presidente e diretor-geral da Berkshire Hathaway 

Howard Marks, fundador da Oaktree Capital, é reconhecido mundialmente por sua incrível habilidade no mercado de ações. Depois de quatro décadas se destacando como um dos gestores que mais deu retorno na Bolsa de valores americana, ele partilha sua estratégia vencedora sobre como avaliar os melhores papéis e aplicar o seu dinheiro de maneira inteligente. Este volume único reúne dicas valiosas para o investidor experiente e também para quem está iniciando os primeiros passos no mercado financeiro.

O livro, que se tornou um best-seller instantâneo, é obra de referência para grandes investidores mundiais, como Warren Buffett, Joel Greenblatt, Ray Dalio, entre outros.

Descreve a chave para o investimento de sucesso e alerta sobre as armadilhas que podem destruir o capital. Traz lições valiosas relacionadas à tomada de decisão e às gestões de risco, analisa com sabedoria os ciclos de mercado e mostra como é possível obter ótimos retornos por meio de uma estratégia calculada.

Quais elementos são essenciais? Marks demonstra aqui o que é o mais importante. 

Com prefácio de Henrique Bredda, sócio da gestora Alaska Asset Management e um dos investidores de maior renome do mercado nacional, que declara: "Ter ouvido Howard Marks foi extremamente rentável!". 

"Poucos livros sobre investimentos atingem o alto patamar estabelecido por Marks em O mais importante para o investidor... Se você quer evitar armadilhas de investimento, deve ler este livro!"

John Clifton Bogle, fundador do The Vanguard Group

"O mais importante para o investidor facilmente poderia ter lugar na estante de qualquer investidor inteligente. Howard Marks destilou anos de conhecimento sobre investimentos em um livro sucinto, que é lúcido, divertido e, afinal, profundo."

Joel Greenblatt, professor da Columbia Business School, fundador e sócio-gerente da Gotham Funds