The Great Minds of Investing

This unique book provides a rich array of perspectives on many of the preeminent investors of our time. It features 33 portraits by Michael O'Brien, whose iconic photographs have appeared everywhere from major magazines to museums. Over five years, O'Brien traveled the world to produce the remarkably intimate portraits in this book. When you look through his camera at famous investors such as Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Mario Gabelli, Bill Ackman, Jean-Marie Eveillard, and Bill Miller, you see them in a new light - a testament to O'Brien's gift for capturing the essence of his subjects.§These photographs are accompanied by extraordinary profiles, all of them written or edited by William Green. Over two decades, Green has interviewed many legendary investors for publications such as Fortune, Forbes, Money, and Time, returning again and again to one overarching question: What qualities and insights enable this elite group to achieve enduring success? In his interviews and profiles for this book, Green explores the combination of talent, temperament, and powerful principles that the greatest investors possess. The lessons that emerge from these richly reported and elegantly written profiles will prove invaluable to anyone who wants to become a better investor.§Those lessons are both practical and profound. For example, when Green asks Irving Kahn for the most valuable piece of financial advice he can share, the 108-year-old replies: "Safety. Considering the downside is the single most important thing an investor can do." Francis Chou speaks of detaching oneself from the crowd, warning: "If you want to participate in the market all the time, then it's a mug's game and you're going to lose." In explaining his astonishing investment returns, Joel Greenblatt remarks: "It's easier to find bargains off the beaten path or in extraordinary situations that other people aren't looking at." Howard Marks notes that "the only constant is impermanence" and explains the importance of understanding that "you can't control the environment."§Beyond investing, the brilliant thinkers in this book also share many other lessons they have learned-for example, about family, faith, philanthropy, self-belief, luck, visualizing one's dreams, handling stress, surviving failure, the pleasures and perils of being rich, and what has given them the most satisfaction.§Combining photographs and profiles in this highly original manner, The Great Minds of Investing is both a visual delight and a treasure trove of wisdom. It is a celebration of these investors, their achievements, and their ideas. And it is a timeless source of insight and inspiration. This book is destined to be read and re-read for decades to come.