The most recommended books about speculation

Who picked these books? Meet our 11 experts.

11 authors created a book list connected to speculation, and here are their favorite speculation books.
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Book cover of The Three Skills of Top Trading: Behavioral Systems Building, Pattern Recognition, and Mental State Management

Rubén Villahermosa Author Of The Wyckoff Methodology in Depth

From my list on stock market price and volume analysis.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am Rubén Villahermosa, independent trader and author. My logical and rational mind led me to question the why of market movements, which allowed me to learn the principles of the Wyckoff method. I have deepened in the study of the interaction between supply and demand through high-level Technical Analysis tools such as Wyckoff, VSA, Price Action, Volume Profile, and Order Flow; knowledge that I share through my books from principles of honesty, transparency, and responsibility.

Rubén's book list on stock market price and volume analysis

Rubén Villahermosa Why did Rubén love this book?

Professor Hank Pruden's book covers a more holistic perspective as he develops elements of system building, pattern recognition, and mental state discipline.

In the technical section he teaches us key concepts of the Wyckoff Method such as the protocolization of the development of accumulation and distribution structures through phases, a fundamental contribution to the Wyckoffian community.

By Hank Pruden,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Three Skills of Top Trading as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Praise for The Three Skills of Top Trading "Professor Pruden's new book, The Three Skills of Top Trading, is unquestionably the best book on a specific trading method and the necessary attributes for trading that I have read. His logic, understanding of human foibles, and use of the Wyckoff method of trading are broadly referenced, readable, understandable, and entertaining." - Charles D. Kirkpatrick, II, CMT, coauthor of Technical Analysis: The Complete Resource for Financial Market Technicians, Editor of the Journal of Technical Analysis, and board member of the Market Technicians Association "At long last, someone has taken the time and…


Book cover of What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars

Kevin J. Davey Author Of Entry and Exit Confessions of a Champion Trader: 52 Ways A Professional Speculator Gets In And Out Of The Stock, Futures And Forex Markets

From my list on that help to become a champion trader.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been trading for over 30 years now, and I was lucky to be one of the part-time “hobby” traders to be successful enough to trade full time. Along the way, I was a 3-time trophy winner in the world’s premier real time, real money futures trading contest. My passion is trading, both for my personal accounts and in assisting my students with their trading. While I always say “trading is the hardest way to make easy money” this field is my lifelong passion.

Kevin's book list on that help to become a champion trader

Kevin J. Davey Why did Kevin love this book?

It is a shame the author of this book died in the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack because I always wanted to hear more from him. As with most of the books on this list, for me the details of what he did (did he enter with moving averages? How did he apply stochastics to his entry signals? Etc.) are not nearly as important as his mental state of mind. What did he feel like losing $1 million? How did he recover mentally? For me, being a good trader involves dealing with losses, and this book does a superb job of detailing how one trader did just that.

By Brendan Moynihan, Jim Paul,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Jim Paul's meteoric rise took him from a small town in Northern Kentucky to governor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, yet he lost it all-his fortune, his reputation, and his job-in one fatal attack of excessive economic hubris. In this honest, frank analysis, Paul and Brendan Moynihan revisit the events that led to Paul's disastrous decision and examine the psychological factors behind bad financial practices in several economic sectors. This book-winner of a 2014 Axiom Business Book award gold medal-begins with the unbroken string of successes that helped Paul achieve a jet-setting lifestyle and land a key spot with the…


Book cover of Red-Blooded Risk: The Secret History of Wall Street

Guy Thomas Author Of Free Capital: How 12 private investors made millions in the stock market

From my list on making a fortune in the stock market.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been an independent investor for nearly 25 years. In my previous life as an employee, I was a research actuary for a firm of pension consultants, and then a university lecturer. I left my last academic job at the age of 35 because I had made enough money to survive, and freedom was worth more to me than a salary. FIRE (Financial Independence – Retire Early) is what it’s called these days, but with two differences. First, I’m not retired: I spend most of my time on investing, but entirely on my own terms. Second, and relatedly, I’m an active investor, albeit a cheap one, nearly as cheap as an index fund.

Guy's book list on making a fortune in the stock market

Guy Thomas Why did Guy love this book?

All investing is risk-taking, and this is the best book on risk-taking that I know. Not just risk-taking as mathematics or games (although both of those are important), but risk-taking as a philosophy of life.

I would pick out two main insights. First, risk is intrinsically neither good nor bad, it is just a dial you can turn up or down. Second, your aim should be neither to minimise nor maximise risk, but rather to take the right amount of risk, and so achieve what this book calls “risk ignition”.

One contextual caveat: the value I see here is a deep understanding of risk, not specific recipes.  

By Aaron Brown,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Red-Blooded Risk as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An innovative guide that identifies what distinguishes the best financial risk takers from the rest

From 1987 to 1992, a small group of Wall Street quants invented an entirely new way of managing risk to maximize success: risk management for risk-takers. This is the secret that lets tiny quantitative edges create hedge fund billionaires, and defines the powerful modern global derivatives economy. The same practical techniques are still used today by risk-takers in finance as well as many other fields. Red-Blooded Risk examines this approach and offers valuable advice for the calculated risk-takers who need precise quantitative guidance that will…


Book cover of Trader Vic--Methods of a Wall Street Master

Barbara Rockefeller Author Of Technical Analysis For Dummies

From my list on for traders using technical analysis.

Why am I passionate about this?

Economics isn't really a good starting point for financial market analysis for the simple reason that its models are wildly inaccurate. As behaviorial economists like Daniel Kahneman have been showing, irrationality and the inability to measure risk properly are a very big component of the investment and trading decisions. But statistical risk management is also sloppy when applied to human behavior because people are not objects that reliably behave the same way under similar circumstances. So when you read an economist about markets or an engineer about risk management, you're missing a lot of the story. In the end, technical analysis is fascinating because how and why humans behave is an enduring mystery.

Barbara's book list on for traders using technical analysis

Barbara Rockefeller Why did Barbara love this book?

This book is a classic and the best of the many books written by traders describing trading situations and what they did to conquer the market. Sperandeo delivers concise, specific definitions of how he defines and uses trends with some of the clearest charts you will ever see. I find myself going back to some of the same pages over the years in which he discusses how to tell if a trend is undergoing a correction or is an authentic reversal.

By Victor Sperandeo, T. Sullivan Brown,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Trader Vic--Methods of a Wall Street Master as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Trader Vic -- Methods of a Wall Street Master Investment strategies from the man Barron's calls "The Ultimate Wall Street Pro" "Victor Sperandeo is gifted with one of the finest minds I know. No wonder he's compiled such an amazing record of success as a money manager. Every investor can benefit from the wisdom he offers in his new book. Don't miss it!" --Paul Tudor Jones Tudor Investment Corporation "Here's a simple review in three steps: 1. Buy this book! 2. Read this book! 3. See step 2. For those who can't take a hint, Victor Sperandeo with T. Sullivan…


Book cover of Trading from Your Gut: How to Use Right Brain Instinct & Left Brain Smarts to Become a Master Trader

Alan Northcott Author Of Mastering Technical Analysis: Strategies and Tactics for Trading the Financial Markets

From my list on cracking the trading code.

Why am I passionate about this?

I came from a left-brained family, with my father a bank Forex manager and my mother in the tax office before motherhood. I've always been mathematically minded and went into mechanical engineering before my second career in trading and finance. But saying this sustains the fallacy that you have to have a head for numbers to trade. That is nothing like the truth, and I hope my last book pick shows that I have learnt and come a long way from my initial beliefs. Trading is anything but mathematical, mechanistic, or even natural, you have to study and learn new ways of thinking and doing, and you can only succeed if you are open to this.

Alan's book list on cracking the trading code

Alan Northcott Why did Alan love this book?

Subtitled How to Use Right Brain Instinct & Left Brain Smarts to Become a Master Trader, this book is written by one of the original Turtle Traders and draws on Curtis' experience in developing a whole-brain approach to trading. As such, it is a quantum leap from the run-of-the-mill trading book, and very worthy of some study.

I was privileged to get a review copy which so impressed me that I provided inside and back cover endorsements. I've only done so with a couple of other books, which should show you how greatly I believe in what he is presenting.

By Curtis Faith,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Trading from Your Gut as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"For all those who wonder if the powers of right brain thinking could apply to the trends-and-charts universe of stock and options trading, Curtis Faith has their answer. In Trading from Your Gut, Faith taps brain research, neurological models, and the wisdom of experience to provide a roadmap for decision making in a new era of volatility."

-Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and Drive

"I consider a book to be worth reading if it helps me develop a major paradigm shift. The section in this book about how to train your brain to help you become…


Book cover of Trading in the Zone: Master the Market with Confidence, Discipline, and a Winning Attitude

Bo Yoder Author Of Optimize Your Trading Edge: Increase Profits, Reduce Draw-Downs, and Eliminate Leaks in Your Trading Strategy

From my list on helping you optimize your trading edge.

Why am I passionate about this?

I first fell in love with the markets when in 1995, I made more on 1 stock investment than I did working all winter in the freezing cold as a ski instructor. I see it as the world’s greatest game and it has given me a life of unparalleled freedom that I am eternally grateful for. Trading has allowed me to pursue my interests and go deep into behavioral psychology, economics, neurobiology, and would never have had the breakthroughs I have had like the Bottega method for AI or the Myalolipsis technique for developing effortless, unshakable self-discipline if I hadn’t been an active trader.

Bo's book list on helping you optimize your trading edge

Bo Yoder Why did Bo love this book?

Trading is a mental sport.

I have been teaching and mentoring traders since 1999. In that time I have seen over and over again that success comes from the ability to maintain discipline and withstand emotional discomfort.

Everybody wants to buy a system or strategy “that just works”. Well, as somebody who has developed many great strategies I can tell you this harsh truth… The best system in the world is worthless if you can’t follow its rules.

This is the core reason why over 90% of traders fail, lose money, and quit in disgust.

This book is one of the best I have found on the subject of trading discipline and mindset. If you are at all serious about your success in the market…start here!

By Mark Douglas,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Trading in the Zone as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Douglas uncovers the underlying reasons for lack of consistency and helps traders overcome the ingrained mental habits that cost them money.  He takes on the myths of the market and exposes them one by one teaching traders to look beyond random outcomes, to understand the true realities of risk, and to be comfortable with the "probabilities" of market movement that governs all market speculation.


Book cover of Algorithmic and High-Frequency Trading

Ernest P. Chan Author Of Quantitative Trading: How to Build Your Own Algorithmic Trading Business

From my list on quantitative trading for beginners.

Why am I passionate about this?

A noted quantitative hedge fund manager and quant finance author, Ernie is the founder of QTS Capital Management and Predictnow.ai. Previously he has applied his expertise in machine learning at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center’s Human Language Technologies group, at Morgan Stanley’s Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence Group, and at Credit Suisse’s Horizon Trading Group. Ernie was quoted by Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, and the CIO magazine, and interviewed on CNBC’s Closing Bell program. He is an adjunct faculty at Northwestern University’s Master’s in Data Science program and supervises student theses there. Ernie holds a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Cornell University.

Ernest's book list on quantitative trading for beginners

Ernest P. Chan Why did Ernest love this book?

Finally, for those who are not afraid of math, they should read this book because there is a lot of heavy-duty math. The good news for the rest of us is you can ignore all the math and still get a lot out of it, especially knowledge about market microstructure and how to find the theoretically optimal trading strategies given some assumptions about the price dynamics. Even if you don’t want to or can’t solve those darn stochastic differential equations, you can still implement a numerical approximation. At the minimum, you will learn common trading lingo such as “walking the book” or “the ITCH feed”.

By Alvaro Cartea, Sebastian Jaimungal, Jose Penalva

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Algorithmic and High-Frequency Trading as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The design of trading algorithms requires sophisticated mathematical models backed up by reliable data. In this textbook, the authors develop models for algorithmic trading in contexts such as executing large orders, market making, targeting VWAP and other schedules, trading pairs or collection of assets, and executing in dark pools. These models are grounded on how the exchanges work, whether the algorithm is trading with better informed traders (adverse selection), and the type of information available to market participants at both ultra-high and low frequency. Algorithmic and High-Frequency Trading is the first book that combines sophisticated mathematical modelling, empirical facts and…


Book cover of Devil Take the Hindmost: A History of Financial Speculation

Andrew Chow Author Of Cryptomania: Hype, Hope, and the Fall of Ftx's Billion-Dollar Fintech Empire

From my list on understanding crypto in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Crypto’s rollercoaster journey has given rise to some of the most thrilling real-life tales of the last two decades. These tales teem with personal drama and reveal much larger truths: about our fractured global moment, about the ripple effects of well-intentioned technological systems, and about the massive divide between how we want society to function and how it actually does. 

As much as some people wish it dead, crypto is not going away any time soon. Many of its followers have adopted a religious-like belief that it will transform humanity and bring unlimited wealth to its followers; others simply believe it to be a good investment. Their collective trust in these strange digital currencies means that crypto will continue to shape the world in unpredictable ways. 

Andrew's book list on understanding crypto in 2024

Andrew Chow Why did Andrew love this book?

Capitalism is a saga of booms and busts, and few tell the story with as much vim and rigor as the historian Edward Chancellor. Across centuries of hype cycles, Chancellor shows why entire cultures get sucked into brazen schemes promising riches and utopia.

Some of those schemes help facilitate the rise of genuinely revolutionary technologies, like the steam engine. And others go absolutely nowhere and end up destroying the lives of their many investors. 

By Edward Chancellor,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Devil Take the Hindmost as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of The Master Swing Trader: Tools and Techniques to Profit from Outstanding Short-Term Trading Opportunities

Bo Yoder Author Of Optimize Your Trading Edge: Increase Profits, Reduce Draw-Downs, and Eliminate Leaks in Your Trading Strategy

From my list on helping you optimize your trading edge.

Why am I passionate about this?

I first fell in love with the markets when in 1995, I made more on 1 stock investment than I did working all winter in the freezing cold as a ski instructor. I see it as the world’s greatest game and it has given me a life of unparalleled freedom that I am eternally grateful for. Trading has allowed me to pursue my interests and go deep into behavioral psychology, economics, neurobiology, and would never have had the breakthroughs I have had like the Bottega method for AI or the Myalolipsis technique for developing effortless, unshakable self-discipline if I hadn’t been an active trader.

Bo's book list on helping you optimize your trading edge

Bo Yoder Why did Bo love this book?

Most traders think of the book Technical Analysis Of Stock Trends as the bible of chart reading. I think Alan Farley has surpassed them in this book.  

Alan is a great trader, and you can tell he has executed thousands of trades by how he wrote this book.  

Thick and richly dense with tons of easy-to-understand patterns and styles of analysis, this book will give you all the visual tools and patterns you need to analyze any market. It contains what you need to turn a chart from an incomprehensible bunch of squiggles into a story about the wants, needs, wishes, fears, and hopes of the other market participants. It belongs easily within reach on any serious trader’s bookshelf.

By Alan Farley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Master Swing Trader as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book offers powerful strategies to slip between day traders and long-term investors - and grab hidden trading profits! Located in the gray area between the lightning-fast day trader and the endlessly patient buy-and-hold investor, the modern swing trader executes intermediate positions that offer highly lucrative results with less volatility. "The Master Swing Trader" contains a wealth of practical insights and information for using this powerful trading method to profit from short-term price moves often missed by other market participants.After beginning with a detailed background on Pattern Cycle applications and the trend-range axis, "The Master Swing Trader" presents: dozens of…


Book cover of How to Trade In Stocks

Darius Foroux Author Of The Stoic Path to Wealth: Ancient Wisdom for Enduring Prosperity

From my list on investing for beginner and intermediate investors.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m Darius Foroux (pronounced Dare-eus For-oe), and thanks for exploring my recommendations. As a former mutual funds advisor, I understand the complexity of finance, a lesson driven home when I lost two-thirds of my investment in 2007. Not wanting to repeat my costly mistakes, I earned degrees in business and finance, launched a business, and continuously educated myself on investing. The biggest thing I learned? Investing and wealth-building aren’t logical but emotional. I'm passionate about helping others achieve financial independence and live on their terms. My book empowers you to manage your emotions, build wealth, and enjoy life, regardless of the stock market's ups and downs.

Darius' book list on investing for beginner and intermediate investors

Darius Foroux Why did Darius love this book?

I find the 20th-century legendary trader Jesse Livermore to be very relatable. Livermore made and lost great fortunes during his time as a Wall Street trader in the 1920s. And after reading about the ups and downs of his life, I am inspired by his resilience and ingenuity.

This book drew me in with its great writing style and Livermore’s trading advice. While Livermore was a short-term stock market trader, his insight into managing emotions is important for a good long-term investor. 

By Jesse Livermore,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Trade In Stocks as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Success Secrets of a Stock Market Legend

Jesse Livermore was a loner, an individualist-and the most successful stock trader who ever lived. Written shortly before his death in 1940, How to Trade Stocks offered traders their first account of that famously tight-lipped operator's trading system. Written in Livermore's inimitable, no-nonsense style, it interweaves fascinating autobiographical and historical details with step-by-step guidance on:

Reading market and stock behaviors Analyzing leading sectors Market timing Money management Emotional control

In this new edition of that classic, trader and top Livermore expert Richard Smitten sheds new light on Jesse Livermore's philosophy and methods.…


Book cover of The Three Skills of Top Trading: Behavioral Systems Building, Pattern Recognition, and Mental State Management
Book cover of What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars
Book cover of Red-Blooded Risk: The Secret History of Wall Street

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