Options Trading Books

A Beginner’s Guide to Day Trading Online (2nd edition)
Amazon Price: $10.85


Customer Review: Very informative indeed, and I am more-than-ever convinced NOT to daytrade. I know, now, that I have too little education, the wrong software, not enough energy, and not the gambling spirit. I also learned a bunch of other good stuff that can help my longer-term investing.


Option Volatility & Pricing: Advanced Trading Strategies and Techniques
Amazon Price: $40.95


Customer Review: I bought this book based on all the high review ratings of so many other readers. Unfortunately I found this book to be disappointing. The author clearly knows what he is talking about but I feel does a poor job conveying the concepts to the reader. The basics of placing orders, commission structure,etc get glossed over and the author frequently mentions concepts and then states the will be discussed later in the book. This just needlessly muddies the waters. The presentation of numerical data is also poorly handled. The author describes in long-winded paragraphs concepts that could be more clearly illustrated in tables or graphs. At any rate I found the book disappointing and feel I have learned little about option investing. The book seems to be more of an academic study in options, not an investment oriented, “real world” way to profit from trading options. Someone with advanced knowledge can probably appreciate this but beginners and intermediates I think will find this book lacking.


Sell and Sell Short (Wiley Trading)
Amazon Price: $53.55


Customer Review: This reasonably sized book outlines what a trader needs to know about selling (rather than holding) stocks. It also provides a good guide on how to approach short-term buying and selling, of which I am a fan. (I am not interested in selling short, but the information provided on the subject is useful for both directions.)

It is not an exhaustive work on trading as it touches upon chart patterns, but does not dwell upon them. Instead, it helps provide the framework in which to organize one’s thinking. I took notes on the book and used these notes for further research. Based on curiosity, I created, for example, a Microsoft Word document listing 150 chart studies. I continuously update this document with my own SnagIt-based observations on selected studies, making it a slick, inter-active guide.

My friends, who are “investors,” rather than traders, have been losing money left and right. I think that this book is the perfect gift for anyone who lets money slip through their fingers - either in retirement accounts or by their own active investing - without being preachy.



The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading: How to Earn High Rates…
Amazon Price: $16.47


Customer Review: When people first think of trading as a profession, they typically focus on two key elements - self employment and lots of money, and probably not in that order. But The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading sheds light on the reality of trading - that it’s hard work and, if managed the right way, can be quite rewording.

The book opens with a review of the many emotions involved in trading and how there needs to be a balance to have a successful career in trading. It also offers a detailed look at various types of markets (Broad, Stock, Bond, Futures, Options, Forex and Commodity), the types of traders associated with each (Day, Swing and Position), and an overview of order placements.

In detailed description, the book educates readers considering a career in trading about the ins and outs of the trading profession. With its step-by-step instruction, this book is a terrific business tool for anyone with a desire to participate in the world of trading. It offers fundamental information including a glossary for novices and more advanced information for traders already working in the field.

This is one comprehensive book for anyone considering a career as a trader.



Hot Commodities: How Anyone Can Invest Profitably in the World’s Best Market
Amazon Price: $10.85


Customer Review: ignoring commodities as these potentially offer a better rate of return than running after stocks, bonds, real estate, some currencies or timber (that’s an interesting one).

The first four chapters of the book give you the nuts and bolts of investing in commodities accompanied by plenty of anecdotes from Rogers’ own investment activities. Of this first half of the book, chapter 4 is by far the most important. You need to know this information inside out, otherwise there is little point in investing in the futures market.

In the second part of the book - chapters five to the end - Rogers explains why China is likely to drive commodity prices in future largely based on where it is going economy-wise and even though there are certain long-term risks with regards to China’s political stability, this is unlikely to dent much the country’s demand for raw resources. Rogers follows this up with looking at five commodities, namely, oil, gold, lead, sugar and coffee. Some of his thoughts are quite convincing, but at the end of the day you will have to make up your own mind. In fact Rogers mentions on more than one occasion that every investor must do his own research before committing his money.

In his conclusion, Rogers again urges the investor to look `deeply’ into commodities if only that it should make any investor a better investor even if he only ever invests in stocks and bonds.

I also urge you to read the appendix. You will find the information given here qu…