Some books I am considering.

dbphoenix · Mar 7, 2004

Slim it down to zero by using interlibrary loans. Then buy what you'll really use.

Baruch · Apr 10, 2004

Quote from iceman1:

The ones above plus the original "Market Wizards", and (surprised that) no one mentioned "Trading in the Zone" (Douglas) and The Disciplined Trader" (Douglas).....

should read them early on IMHO...

regards,

ICe

More...

I have just read "The Disciplined Trader". It's bad, useless and poorly written. Don't buy it.

Wittgenstein · Nov 13, 2004

Quote from Cutten:

I think the autobiographical trading books, that basically cover one trader's development from unprofitable loser to consistently profitable successful trader, are amongst the most useful, because they help you see what is required to make that transition. It then becomes much easier to realise what you have to do yourself. Good examples include "Reminiscences of a Stock Operator", "How I made $2 million in the Stock Market" (Nicholas Darvas), and "How I trade for a living" (Gary Smith).

I also really like any book containing a detailed trading diary, explaining the trades made, why they were made, how the trader dealt with the positions while the market moved in favour or against them, how they handled the psychological side, and so on. These are useful for the same reason mentioned above - they show you what you have to learn and deal with if you are going to trade for a living. "Alchemy of Finance" is the only book I am aware of which provides this in detail.

If anyone knows of a book with a good detailed trading diary, I would like to hear about it.
More...

Yes, the books of Livermore and Darvas are great reading.

Hume1515 · Dec 29, 2006

Quote from Baruch:

I have just read "The Disciplined Trader". It's bad, useless and poorly written. Don't buy it.
More...

I agree.

hausse · Apr 3, 2008

Quote from Cutten:

I think the autobiographical trading books, that basically cover one trader's development from unprofitable loser to consistently profitable successful trader, are amongst the most useful, because they help you see what is required to make that transition. It then becomes much easier to realise what you have to do yourself. Good examples include "Reminiscences of a Stock Operator", "How I made $2 million in the Stock Market" (Nicholas Darvas), and "How I trade for a living" (Gary Smith).

I also really like any book containing a detailed trading diary, explaining the trades made, why they were made, how the trader dealt with the positions while the market moved in favour or against them, how they handled the psychological side, and so on. These are useful for the same reason mentioned above - they show you what you have to learn and deal with if you are going to trade for a living. "Alchemy of Finance" is the only book I am aware of which provides this in detail.

If anyone knows of a book with a good detailed trading diary, I would like to hear about it.
More...

"The Professional Commodity Trader" by Stanley Kroll. To me it is a classic.

TheDarkness · Apr 3, 2008

Quote from hausse:

"The Professional Commodity Trader" by Stanley Kroll. To me it is a classic.
More...

One of my all-time faves as well.

nirav34 · May 5, 2008

Before plunging into technical analysis and what not, read Reminiscence of a Stock Operator. It will save you lot of time and money. My professor is a bond trader and recommended it to me. Good luck.

Wittgenstein · Jan 17, 2009

Quote from Cutten:

I think the autobiographical trading books, that basically cover one trader's development from unprofitable loser to consistently profitable successful trader, are amongst the most useful, because they help you see what is required to make that transition. It then becomes much easier to realise what you have to do yourself. Good examples include "Reminiscences of a Stock Operator", "How I made $2 million in the Stock Market" (Nicholas Darvas), and "How I trade for a living" (Gary Smith).

I also really like any book containing a detailed trading diary, explaining the trades made, why they were made, how the trader dealt with the positions while the market moved in favour or against them, how they handled the psychological side, and so on. These are useful for the same reason mentioned above - they show you what you have to learn and deal with if you are going to trade for a living. "Alchemy of Finance" is the only book I am aware of which provides this in detail.

If anyone knows of a book with a good detailed trading diary, I would like to hear about it.
More...

The two books about Jesse Livermore and Nicolas Darvas are the best books ever written about trading.