Jump to content

Welcome to the new Traders Laboratory! Please bear with us as we finish the migration over the next few days. If you find any issues, want to leave feedback, get in touch with us, or offer suggestions please post to the Support forum here.

  • Welcome Guests

    Welcome. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest which does not give you access to all the great features at Traders Laboratory such as interacting with members, access to all forums, downloading attachments, and eligibility to win free giveaways. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free. Create a FREE Traders Laboratory account here.

matinthehat

Book Recommendation

Recommended Posts

Hi,

 

I will be out of high-school within months and am going to dive immediatel,y into trading information. I need a list of books to read to get me prepared for my future career.

 

First i want to get a good understanding of futures (my understanding is already decent but i would like to further it). Second, i would like to learn about trading as a career. Then, i want to learn about direct market information. For the latter i already will be buying Mind Over Markets, Steidlmeyer on Markets, and Markets in Profile.

 

Please give me your opinions. I will accept any advice from anyone. Thanks.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome to TL. This topic has cropped up a couple of times here before you might want to have a rummage around. There are books that are considered 'classics' (Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, Douglas' stuff spring to mind) and people will offer books that cover there particular area of interest. If you have decided on MP as your main tool try not to get too distracted.

 

I would recommend taking a look at the trade/money management side of things Van Tharp is OK ish for a grounding, I quite liked Tewles. Psychology and mindset are important (hence people recommending Douglas). Ypu might want to get a basic 'dummys guide to starting a business' type book.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There are many good books out there, and on your journey to be the best trader you can be, you'll most likely always have your nose a book.

 

From the very beginning, you should be reading books that will teach you how to trade markets based on price action alone (no indicators). This is analogous to driving a car with a stick shift. You'll have a better understanding of whats going on, and have much greater control over your trading no matter where your journey later takes you.

 

On this site do a search for a trader called "DbPhoenix", and look for the free "introduction/ebook" on his blog. To get the full version, contact him directly.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  xracer said:
There are many good books out there, and on your journey to be the best trader you can be, you'll most likely always have your nose a book.

 

From the very beginning, you should be reading books that will teach you how to trade markets based on price action alone (no indicators). This is analogous to driving a car with a stick shift. You'll have a better understanding of whats going on, and have much greater control over your trading no matter where your journey later takes you.

 

On this site do a search for a trader called "DbPhoenix", and look for the free "introduction/ebook" on his blog. To get the full version, contact him directly.

 

Whilst I agree price action is king and complimentary to may other approaches (as a trigger for example), I would never presume to tell him how he should trade. He has already decided to go down the market profile road, at a later stage the material you mention might be useful however whilst studying MP as a beginner it is likely to add confusion rather than clarity. I do agree its all good stuff of course.

 

btw the futures book I mentioned is called "THE FUTURES GAME. Who Wins, Who Loses & Why." It's a pretty good all round book about futures and you could dispense with van Tharp if you read it as it covers the same money management principles.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  BlowFish said:

 

btw the futures book I mentioned is called "THE FUTURES GAME. Who Wins, Who Loses & Why." It's a pretty good all round book about futures and you could dispense with van Tharp if you read it as it covers the same money management principles.

 

The Futures Game: Who Wins, Who Loses, & Why (Hardcover)

 

I recall hearing about that book as well, haven't read it myself though.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

To the OP - in addition to building your trading library, start to get some screen time. Screen time meaning watching the markets in real-time and getting a feel for them.

 

If you plan to trade futures or just need a low cost solution to watching real-time, I would strongly suggest using the Open ECry simulator.

 

Here's why:

1) Everyone here, regardless of how they trade, will tell you that screen time is important. And it is.

 

2) Starting out, it can get expensive getting data feeds and such to be able to watch in real-time if you are not trading. For example,
charges over $100/mo easily if you don't trade.

 

3) OEC is inexpensive IMO for what they offer to sim users. You get an incredible amount of live data (limited back data) and you can play around as much as you want. I believe the cost is $24.95/mo. You won't be able to beat that.

 

So look around and get your hands on something. NinjaTrader is free to sim but you'll still need data to plug into it. Not sure what other brokers offer as well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  brownsfan019 said:
NinjaTrader is free to sim but you'll still need data to plug into it. Not sure what other brokers offer as well.

 

I believe several brokers offer NinjaTrader with the Zen-Fire feed for free while you're just trading demo. Not only is this probably the cheapest way to get a good real-time data feed, NinjaTrader is pretty good as a trading software itself.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  AgeKay said:
I believe several brokers offer NinjaTrader with the Zen-Fire feed for free while you're just trading demo. Not only is this probably the cheapest way to get a good real-time data feed, NinjaTrader is pretty good as a trading software itself.

 

Any idea what brokers? And is it unlimited or capped?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

How about adding the following:

 

a. Vadym Graifer: Techniques of Tape Reading

 

b. Suri Duddella: Trade Chart Patterns Like the Pros

 

c. Pascal Willain:Value in Time: Better Trading through Effective Volume (I just ordered this book, to the best of knowledge, the author tries to unmask the selling/buying patterns of the big boys using his proprietary Effective Volume)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Let us know how that goes Jesse (Value in Time).

 

I'd love to see a review. Also your opinion of its effectiveness on futures, small caps, big caps etc. Its one of the few books I've seen recently that looked really interesting.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Guys thanks a lot!!!

 

I have the Ninjatrader and Zen-fire setup right now on simulation, but have not been able to find the screen-time required, as my school courses are kicking my but. I also currently have trading for dummies, but it isn't that in-depth.

 

Keep the recommendations coming, thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  brownsfan019 said:
Any idea what brokers? And is it unlimited or capped?

 

You can sign up through http://www.zen-fire.com for the demo. The broker used with NT is Mirus (http://www.mirusfutures.com), but if you are using NT in pure sim mode, then you do not interact with Mirus at all.

 

I tried it for a few weeks to see if this give me any real advantage over IB and I didn't see any. The bids/asks are definitely coming in fast and furious through it and if you are using tick charts, it probably will make a big difference, but since I am using plain old time charts, IB works well enough for my needs.

 

I just checked and I can still connect in Sim mode, so I am not sure if there is a limit. I'm surprised there isn't a limit and although I am not complaining, I also find it odd that no one from Mirus has attempted to contact me to try and convince me to open an account with them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, Kiwi,

 

I love to provide review of Pascal's Book "Value in Time", but it'll take a bit of time for my order to arrive as I ordered it thru Traderslibrary taking advantage of their free worldwide shipping offer. From past experience, they'll ship it by surface mail.

 

In the meantime, members can visit Pascal's website: effectivevolume.eu.

 

Btw, the author is a philanthropist: if one donates US$50 or above to the foundation for handicapped children, one can get his Excel Add On software.:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Buy 4 copies of The Taylor Trading Technique read the book 100 times. When one copy gets too marked up start a new copy. I a number of trading books. Some mentioned here. Taylors is the best book hands down. Hard to understand but the best book. You can find what you need in that book to trade.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  brownsfan019 said:
The Futures Game: Who Wins, Who Loses, & Why (Hardcover)

 

I recall hearing about that book as well, haven't read it myself though.

 

I haven't for a long time, it was recommended years ago by a trader I respected. A good 'everything you wanted to know but where scared to ask' type thing. The most important section is about money mangement, trade management, risk of ruin and all the stuff Van Tharp covers which is a corner piece of the whole trading jigsaw.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  brownsfan019 said:
Any idea what brokers? And is it unlimited or capped?

 

Mirus & Amp. Mirus are meant to be very good from what I have heard. Amp I believe are a 'white box' company selling OEC?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  WHY? said:
Buy 4 copies of The Taylor Trading Technique read the book 100 times. When one copy gets too marked up start a new copy. I a number of trading books. Some mentioned here. Taylors is the best book hands down. Hard to understand but the best book. You can find what you need in that book to trade.

 

How would this help someone wanting to learn market profile, or how to run a trading business (with all the cash flow and management issues to sort out) or the trading psychology? :) I am sure its a great book but will it help the guy set up and run a trading business?

 

Incidentally if I had to pick one book it would be Reminiscences. Not read it 100 times but probably 20. Funnily enough the majority of the Market Wizards (in Shwagers book) made the same recommendation, not that I am putting myself in the same category of course :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since you are just beginning your quest for the Holy Grail of Trading, You might want to read Johm Murphy's "Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets". It is full of techniques that were "Holy Grails" at one time, but they all stopped working or only work in some markets some of the time.

 

There isn't a Holy Grail, or if someone found it, they aren't sharing it with the rest of us. But you will have to convince yourself of that fact.

 

In my humble opinion, the skill to be learned is pattern recognition. Have you ever seen a chess Grand Master play 30 kids at one time. He can walk from board to board and make the next move almost intuitively. However, if you show him a board where the pieces were postioned randomly, he is lost. It is pattern recognition. I have read several books written by successful traders that suggest that it takes 5-7 years for them to become successful.

 

Linda Raschke suggested that you have to look at a million charts. Do the math: 800 charts a day/5days per week/5 years.

 

Buck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree with the last poster. My suggestion is to finish reading reminiscences..., read a bit about money management (and make a few calculations yourself to prove it to yourself) and then just start watching some market in real time with volume historgram and VWAP on it and see if you notice something (i.e. find a real edge). Reading books about trading is a waste of time if you want to trade professionally, 99% of what is written is bullshit, especially about indicators and strategies. Attached is a short interview by Mark Oryon (used to be a pretty large DAX trader and traded for Velocity Futures, don't know what he's doing now) you should read. I absolutely love that interview because he is 100% no-nonsense.

 

Getting a hold of your personally psychology is also a lot easier if you think of as a business. I like to think of it of running a casino. They have an incredibly small edge, but they have an edge (this is important!) and make sure no-one takes it away (forbidding card counting on Blackjack, etc.), and they make an incredible amount of money that way. So think of yourself as a casino and you won't allow yourself to make those stupid mistakes that would cause most traders to blow up.

Mark Oryon Interview.pdfFetching info...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  BlowFish said:
How would this help someone wanting to learn market profile, or how to run a trading business (with all the cash flow and management issues to sort out) or the trading psychology? :) I am sure its a great book but will it help the guy set up and run a trading business?

 

Incidentally if I had to pick one book it would be Reminiscences. Not read it 100 times but probably 20. Funnily enough the majority of the Market Wizards (in Shwagers book) made the same recommendation, not that I am putting myself in the same category of course :)

 

If a person has the ability and discipline to follow a system then all they need is in the book. Of course, if they aren't disciplined then they will need some help there. Taylors system clocked price movement and has strict rules to follow when things do not pan out. If one follows the rules the money managment issue will take care of itself. It is the one trading book Joe Ross says is eternal. Linda Bradford Raschke bases much of her trading on the Taylors concepts I understand. She also highly recommmends the book. I have lots of trading books. If I were forced to give them all up but one..well you know the one I would keep. :did I say that?:

 

There are 2 or 3 threads here at TL about Taylor. I would suggest anyone interested in Taylor look at the threads. I have shared quite a few posts in those threads also. There have been many adaptations of Taylor methods. I guess"whatever adaptations floats ones' boat" and makes money is fine.

Edited by WHY?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Thx for reminding us... I don't bang that drum often enough anymore Another part for consideration is who that money initially went to...
    • TDUP ThredUp stock, watch for a top of range breakout above 2.94 at https://stockconsultant.com/?TDUP
    • How long does it take to receive HFM's withdrawal via Skrill? less than 24H?
    • My wife Robin just wanted some groceries.   Simple enough.   She parked the car for fifteen minutes, and returned to find a huge scratch on the side.   Someone keyed her car.   To be clear, this isn’t just any car.   It’s a Cybertruck—Elon Musk's stainless-steel spaceship on wheels. She bought it back in 2021, before Musk became everyone's favorite villain or savior.   Someone saw it parked in a grocery lot and felt compelled to carve their hatred directly into the metal.   That's what happens when you stand out.   Nobody keys a beige minivan.   When you're polarizing, you're impossible to ignore. But the irony is: the more attention something has, the harder it is to find the truth about it.   What’s Elon Musk really thinking? What are his plans? What will happen with DOGE? Is he deserving of all of this adoration and hate? Hard to say.   Ideas work the same way.   Take tariffs, for example.   Tariffs have become the Cybertrucks of economic policy. People either love them or hate them. Even if they don’t understand what they are and how they work. (Most don’t.)   That’s why, in my latest podcast (link below), I wanted to explore the “in-between” truth about tariffs.   And like Cybertrucks, I guess my thoughts on tariffs are polarizing.   Greg Gutfield mentioned me on Fox News. Harvard professors hate me now. (I wonder if they also key Cybertrucks?)   But before I show you what I think about tariffs… I have to mention something.   We’re Headed to Austin, Texas This weekend, my team and I are headed to Austin. By now, you should probably know why.   Yes, SXSW is happening. But my team and I are doing something I think is even better.   We’re putting on a FREE event on “Tech’s Turning Point.”   AI, quantum, biotech, crypto, and more—it’s all on the table.   Just now, we posted a special webpage with the agenda.   Click here to check it out and add it to your calendar.   The Truth About Tariffs People love to panic about tariffs causing inflation.   They wave around the ghost of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff from the Great Depression like it’s Exhibit A proving tariffs equal economic collapse.   But let me pop this myth:   Tariffs don’t cause inflation. And no, I'm not crazy (despite what angry professors from Harvard or Stanford might tweet at me).   Here's the deal.   Inflation isn’t when just a couple of things become pricier. It’s when your entire shopping basket—eggs, shirts, Netflix subscriptions, bananas, everything—starts costing more because your money’s worth less.   Inflation means your dollars aren’t stretching as far as they used to.   Take the 1800s.   For nearly a century, 97% of America’s revenue came from tariffs. Income tax? Didn’t exist. And guess what inflation was? Basically zero. Maybe 1% a year.   The economy was booming, and tariffs funded nearly everything. So, why do people suddenly think tariffs cause inflation today?   Tariffs are taxes on imports, yes, but prices are set by supply and demand—not tariffs.   Let me give you a simple example.   Imagine fancy potato chips from Canada cost $10, and a 20% tariff pushes that to $12. Everyone panics—prices rose! Inflation!   Nope.   If I only have $100 to spend and the price of my favorite chips goes up, I either stop buying chips or I buy, say, fewer newspapers.   If everyone stops buying newspapers because they’re overspending on chips, newspapers lower their prices or go out of business.   Overall spending stays the same, and inflation doesn’t budge.   Three quick scenarios:   We buy pricier chips, but fewer other things: Inflation unchanged. Manufacturers shift to the U.S. to avoid tariffs: Inflation unchanged (and more jobs here). We stop buying fancy chips: Prices drop again. Inflation? Still unchanged. The only thing that actually causes inflation is printing money.   Between 2020 and 2022 alone, 40% of all money ever created in history appeared overnight.   That’s why inflation shot up afterward—not because of tariffs.   Back to tariffs today.   Still No Inflation Unlike the infamous Smoot-Hawley blanket tariff (imagine Oprah handing out tariffs: "You get a tariff, and you get a tariff!"), today's tariffs are strategic.   Trump slapped tariffs on chips from Taiwan because we shouldn’t rely on a single foreign supplier for vital tech components—especially if that supplier might get invaded.   Now Taiwan Semiconductor is investing $100 billion in American manufacturing.   Strategic win, no inflation.   Then there’s Canada and Mexico—our friendly neighbors with weirdly huge tariffs on things like milk and butter (299% tariff on butter—really, Canada?).   Trump’s not blanketing everything with tariffs; he’s pressuring trade partners to lower theirs.   If they do, everybody wins. If they don’t, well, then we have a strategic trade chess game—but still no inflation.   In short, tariffs are about strategy, security, and fairness—not inflation.   Yes, blanket tariffs from the Great Depression era were dumb. Obviously. Today's targeted tariffs? Smart.   Listen to the whole podcast to hear why I think this.   And by the way, if you see a Cybertruck, don’t key it. Robin doesn’t care about your politics; she just likes her weird truck.   Maybe read a good book, relax, and leave cars alone.   (And yes, nobody keys Volkswagens, even though they were basically created by Hitler. Strange world we live in.) Source: https://altucherconfidential.com/posts/the-truth-about-tariffs-busting-the-inflation-myth    Profits from free accurate cryptos signals: https://www.predictmag.com/       
    • No, not if you are comparing apples to apples. What we call “poor” is obviously a pretty high bar but if you’re talking about like a total homeless shambling skexie in like San Fran then, no. The U.S.A. in not particularly kind to you. It is not an abuse so much as it is a sad relatively minor consequence of our optimism and industriousness.   What you consider rich changes with circumstances obviously. If you are genuinely poor in the U.S.A., you experience a quirky hodgepodge of unhelpful and/or abstract extreme lavishnesses while also being alienated from your social support network. It’s about the same as being a refugee. For a fraction of the ‘kindness’ available to you in non bio-available form, you could have simply stayed closer to your people and been MUCH better off.   It’s just a quirk of how we run the place and our values; we are more worried about interfering with people’s liberty and natural inclination to do for themselves than we are about no bums left behind. It is a slightly hurtful position and we know it; we are just scared to death of socialism cancer and we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is.   So, if you’re a bum; you got 5G, the ER will spend like $1,000,000 on you over a hangnail but then kick you out as soon as you’re “stabilized”, the logistics are surpremely efficient, you have total unchecked freedom of speech, real-estate, motels, and jobs are all natural healthy markets in perfect competition, you got compulsory three ‘R’’s, your military owns the sky, sea, space, night, information-space, and has the best hairdos, you can fill out paper and get all the stuff up to and including a Ph.D. Pretty much everything a very generous, eager, flawless go-getter with five minutes to spare would think you might need.   It’s worse. Our whole society is competitive and we do NOT value or make any kumbaya exception. The last kumbaya types we had werr the Shakers and they literally went extinct. Pueblo peoples are still around but they kind of don’t count since they were here before us. So basically, if you’re poor in the U.S.A., you are automatically a loser and a deadbeat too. You will be treated as such by anybody not specifically either paid to deal with you or shysters selling bejesus, Amway, and drugs. Plus, it ain’t safe out there. Not everybody uses muhfreedoms to lift their truck, people be thugging and bums are very vulnerable here. The history of a large mobile workforce means nobody has a village to go home to. Source: https://askdaddy.quora.com/Are-the-poor-people-in-the-United-States-the-richest-poor-people-in-the-world-6   Profits from free accurate cryptos signals: https://www.predictmag.com/ 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.