Some books I've read lately related to some of the discussions on this BB that I like include:

HOT COMMODITIES by Jim Rogers. An easy-to-read analysis of the current bull market in commodities and why it is set to last another ten years at least. (Not so bullish on gold btw). Looks at some comms in more depth.

WAKE UP - Survive And Prosper In The Coming Economic Turmoil by Jim Mellon and Al Chalabi. Very scaremongery-y, but compelling and practical nonetheless.

THE COMING COLLAPSE OF THE DOLLAR AND HOW TO PROFIT FROM IT - James Turk and John Rubino. Very good guide to investing in PMs. Very simply written. A bit fantastic at the end, perhaps, and it didn't convince my dad. James Turk is also founder of goldmoney. His gold-silver prediction that silver would lead the next move up in PMs a few weeks before silver's meteroric rise has proved v. accurate.

What have you read that's good and (briefly) why?

(I'm interested in anything on Home Trading. Any tips? Elder's stuff any good?)

OK, I'll give this one a go...

Just finished reading 'Collapse' by Jared Diamond.

Good, thoroughly researched and pretty entertaining. Only complaint is that his conclusions are weak, he remains with one foot in the 'we will survive this thing through innovation and hard work' camp and one foot in the 'we are totally screwed' camp.

But he draws some good parrallels between our society today and those which collapsed in the past... in effect the globe today is like a giant easter island, still subject to the same destructive forces which caused the downfall of civilization there 1000 years ago, albeit on a much larger scale.

My favorite self-sufficiency books are John Seymour 'New Complete Self-sufficiency: The Classic Guide for Realists and Dreamers' this book is worth it's weight in gold, I tell you ! Beautifully illustrated, simple and totally comprehensive !

Also 'Self Reliance: A Recipe for the New Millennium' by John Yeoman - some good strategies on unhooking yourself from the consumerist grid and becomming more independant. Some of his ideas are 'outside the box' and make for very interesting reading.

And dont forget 'Square Foot Gardening' by Mel Bartholemew - freaky how much sh*t you can grow in your little yard if you apply these techniques !!! Easily the best gardening book out there.

I too recently read' WAKE UP - Survive And Prosper In The Coming Economic Turmoil by Jim Mellon and Al Chalabi. You can save time by simply subscribing to the Daily Reckoning to get the same message.

I am currently reading Hedge Hogging by Barton Biggs, about the people behind the hedge fund industry and his experience in setting up a fund. Not a how to book, but plenty of investment anecdotes and worthwhile tips on the psychology of market behaviour.



Also have Jim Rogers Adventure Capitalist. Will get there eventually.

Forgot to mention Market Wizards and Market Wizards Two, whatever it's called.

Basically, it's transcriptions of interviews with top traders and investors. Full of great stories, strategies and experience. very readable.

Hey Guys,

I am selling or giving away all my investment books.
Have given away quite a few already.
Many I have left are classics

Here's what is left:

Hard cover
+ Major Works of R.N. Elliott , edited by Robert Prechter,
+ Technical Analysis of Futures Market , John J. Murphy
+ Markets & Market Logic , J. Peter Steidlmayer
+ Seasonal Concepts in Futures Trading , Jacob Benstein,
+ Seasonality, systems strategies & signals , Jake Bernstein
+ The Wall Street Waltz , ...
+ Strategic Market Timing , Robert Bowker
+ Beat The Market , Edward O. Thorp
+ The Tunnel Through the Air , W.D. Gann
+ Mind Over Markets, Power Trading , James F. Dalton etc.
+ Dynamic Stock Option Trading, James T. Stewart
+ Candle Power, advanced Candlestick Patterns , Gregory Morris
+ Electronic Day Traders' Secrets , Marc Friefertig & George West
+ Dynamic Hedging, Managing Vanilla & Exotic Options , Nassir Taleb
+ The Fractal Geometry of Nature , Benoit Mandlebrot
+ The Handbook of Currency & Interest Rate Risk Mgt. , ed. by Robt.Schwartz

Paper back
+ The New Market Wizards , Jack D, Schwager
+ The Misbehaviour of Markets , Benoit Mandlebrot
+ How to Make Profits in Commodities , W.D. Gann
+ The Roaring 2000s , Harry S. Dent, Jr.
+ The World in Depression, 1929- 1939 , Charles Kindleberger
+ The Long Wave in Economic Life , JJ. van Dujin
+ The Cycles of Heaven , Guy Lyon Playfair & Scott Hill
+ Catalog of Cycles, Pt.1 Economics , Louise L. Wilson
+ Cycles: The Science of Prediction , Edward Dewey & Edwin Dakin
+ One Up on Wall Street, Peter Lynch
+ Moneywise, Guide to Tax , Jo Hanks
+ Paying Less Tax 2005/2006 for Dummies , Tony Levene

++ more coming right up ++

If you bought then new, it is probably Pds800- 1,000 worth of books.
I might sell them individually, or as the whole package. But you will ahve to come
and pick them up.

If I get a decent offer here, I would rather sell them thru GEI, and thru Ebay.

Any interest?

The Great Crash 1929 - John Kenneth Galbraith.

Absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in markets and the behaviour of people.

He's also written "A Brief History of Financial Euphoria", very informative, as usual when you mix greed, stupidity,borrowed money and leverage you get very interesting (and predictable) results.

Also just finished reading "When Genius Failed", Roger Lowenstein.
The collapse of LTCM, the hedge fund that had 2 Nobel Laureates on its staff, and blew a $1 trillion hole in the financial markets using derivatives.

Before reading that book you should read Liar's Poker, by Michael Lewis. Easy reading, and it introdueces you to the boys who created LTCM, Meriwether, Hilibrand and co.

"Crashes - why they happen - what to do" by Robert Beckman published by Grafton. He's also published a couple of others - 'The downwave' and 'Into then upwave' which I haven't read.

Nice essays from Tulipomania to the Crash of '87, including along the way: South sea Bubble, Chicago/Florida property crash, the Silver crash, and the crash of the second line banks in the UK during the '70s. Very readable and non-technical so good for the layman like me. I'm lending it to someone at work who I'm trying to dissuade from buying property with a loan from his parents.....

TLM

Beckman has also written a good book on the Elliottwave: "Superwave",
which i owned, and offloaded last weekend

just ordered this thanks for the recommendation

have just finished reading "the coming economic collapse" - a good book about how there is a coming energy crisis and some ideas on what to do about it ; also gives some investment strategies for the coming decade - author basically thinks we are going to get high inflation (so oil, gold, tips(USA) and real estate ).

Hello all. First post, but I've been around a bit on HPC and other fora.

A couple of books at the top of my favourite list will always be:

Common Stocks & Uncommon Profits (Phil Fisher)
One Up on Wall Street (Peter Lynch)


"The Intelligent Investor", while it is a much revered book and forms the framework for value-investing, is about as much fun to read as eating a raw potato.

A couple of other good trading books I've read are Schwager, Alexander Elder, although I must stress that they should only be tackled after you have formed a solid foundation in fundamental analysis.

if you managed to eat the whole potato - you did better than me

I am ready to do something with these books now



If you live in the London area, and are interested, let's talk

Hard cover
+ Major Works of R.N. Elliott , edited by Robert Prechter,
+ Conquer the Crash , Robert Prechter, Jr.
+ Technical Analysis of Futures Market , John J. Murphy
+ Markets & Market Logic , J. Peter Steidlmayer
+ Seasonal Concepts in Futures Trading , Jacob Benstein,
+ Seasonality, systems strategies & signals , Jake Bernstein
+ The Wall Street Waltz , ...
+ Strategic Market Timing , Robert Bowker
+ Beat The Market , Edward O. Thorp
+ The Tunnel Through the Air , W.D. Gann
+ Mind Over Markets, Power Trading , James F. Dalton etc.
+ Dynamic Stock Option Trading, James T. Stewart
+ Candle Power, advanced Candlestick Patterns , Gregory Morris
+ Electronic Day Traders' Secrets , Marc Friefertig & George West
+ Dynamic Hedging, Managing Vanilla & Exotic Options , Nassir Taleb
+ The Fractal Geometry of Nature , Benoit Mandlebrot
+ The Handbook of Currency & Interest Rate Risk Mgt. , ed. by Robt.Schwartz

Paper back
+ The New Market Wizards , Jack D, Schwager
+ The Misbehaviour of Markets , Benoit Mandlebrot
+ How to Make Profits in Commodities , W.D. Gann
+ How to Make Money in Stocks , William O'Neil
+ The Roaring 2000s , Harry S. Dent, Jr.
+ The World in Depression, 1929- 1939 , Charles Kindleberger
+ The Long Wave in Economic Life , JJ. van Dujin
+ The Cycles of Heaven , Guy Lyon Playfair & Scott Hill
+ Catalog of Cycles, Pt.1 Economics , Louise L. Wilson
+ Cycles: The Science of Prediction , Edward Dewey & Edwin Dakin
+ One Up on Wall Street, Peter Lynch
+ Downshift, Restore your work-life to balance, Jonquil Lowe
+ Moneywise, Guide to Tax , Jo Hanks
+ Paying Less Tax 2005/2006 for Dummies , Tony Levene

ROUGH IDEA...
Your choice:
Say £15 for the first book, £12 for the second, with any additional books: £10.
If you buy a hard cover, then your choice of soft covers for £5 each.

(Will cut prices, once some books have been sold. I assume the "best books" will go first)

How much for the lot?


You're not moving to China are you?

How much for the lot?


You're not moving to China are you?

"How To Win Friends, And Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

Not an investment book, but a must read for anyone who has to do business with other people.( That's all of us, isn't it?)
Don't let the Johnny-No-Mates title put you off.

Good guess, Dom.

I would prefer to "share the wealth" of investment ideas with many here. A few people have already PM-ed about certain books. And if it is a regular poster on GEI who wants say 5-10 books and can pick them up, I will happily do a special price

On the subject of books...I just finished reading Fred Harrison, 'Boom & Bust- House Prices, Banking and The Depression of 2010'

Has anyone read this book ? If so, what did you think of it ?

I enjoyed it, and have no qualms with his theory of 18-year cycles in the land market.

Only 2 complaints:

1) He tells us that land value cycles have become globally synchronized after WW2. However the evidence would seem to contradict this assertion. Japanese land values have been falling for quite a while and the German property market seems pretty stagnant lately too, although I think both are likely to see an upswing soon. The only markets which seem to be synchronized are the US, UK and Australia. Some other markets have seen upturns around the same time as these three, but it seems to be a result of British buyers opting for second homes or investment properties in Spain, Bulgaria etc

2) The title is a little sensationalist - he seems like a serious commentator, his predicitions are pretty much panning out nicely but predicting a 'depression' is a little risky. He's quite sketchy as well as to how bad this Depression will be, and why he thinks a Depression is likely and not just a bad recession like we had last time around. Unless of course, a depression and a recession are seen by many as one and the same thing.
I, however see a distinct difference between the two. to quote Ronnie Regan, 'a recession is when your neighbour loses his job, a depression is when YOU lose your own'.


Have just begun reading Harold K Shipler ' The Working Poor' - 25 pages in and it is excellent, I hope it remains so throughout the duration.

I've just started reading Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins. So far, quite good. You can listen to his Financial Sense Interview here.

http://www.financialsense.com/Experts/2005/Perkins.html

I read the review of that in the guardian a little while back, interesting. Im obviously way behind you guys...starting out essentially, so anything I say here will only be of interest to fellow newbs. Economics by Sloman is an essentiall book which covers all the basics of economic dynamics and market behavior, a nice 'foundation' if you like. The next book was trading for dummies **waits for laughing to die down** which despite the name, gives the novice a sound introduction to technical and fundemental analysis, trading platforms, terminology and balanced opinion of strategy etc etc. Im now reading 'conquer the crash' by Prechter, and 'contrarian investing strategies' by Dreman. Its too early to give any meaningful opinion on these.

Just done Freakonomics.

Interesting, readable, compelling, but it won't change your life.

Nothing wrong with that for Dummies book. As good an introduction as anything and the Dummies series are quite good in general as an intro.

The Dreman book - The Contrarian Investor - fundamentally changed my stockpicking behaviour and marks the point where I stopped losing money in shares.

thnx, Guest - whoever you are.
And exactly what do you do differently?

My current favourite the "The Dollar Crisis", by Richard Duncan.

Probably th best analysis I have read to-date regarding the structural flaws in the Dollar, and what is likely to trigger the slide. The scary part about this book is that it's starting to happen now!

The author posts some austere warnings and possible solutions, but ultimately it looks like America is going to have to go through an ugly recession before the population will have the will to fix the problems.

History doesn't repeat, but it sure rhymes...

Just done The Barefoot Investor.

Wouldn't bother. It's so basic. Basically it tells students to save rather than spend.

But it was surprisingly bearish on housing in the UK.

Has anyone read "Dying of Money" by Jens O Parsson? And how did you get hold of a copy?

(It's not available on Amazon at the moment and there are no used copies available).

'Money, Bank Credit and Economic Cycles' by Jesús Huerta de Soto

Jim Puplava was gushing about this in last Saturday's Financial Sense. I've never heard him quite so gushing. I have a lot to get through before I get to this, but nevertheless I will get there.

http://www.mises.org/store/Money-Bank-Cred...les-P290C0.aspx

(Dr B, It might be worth pinning this thread).

"To Have or To Be?" by Erich Fromm.

Definitely not an investment book, but an interesting study of our descent into blind, miserable hedonism, or, the failure of the Christian message in The West, as you will. Fromm was a Marxist (in the "pure" sense). Still, I found this to be one of the more important books I have ever read in helping to understand the vague instinct I have had for years that our way of living is fundamentally wrong, and doomed.

"The Acquisitive Society" by Tawney. This was actually written in the 1920s, but is valid today. A study of the perversion of "pure" capitalism by greed and the dissociated investor/speculator class. That is, the Feudal-Commercial elite who profit from the industrial enterprise system without being at all involved or making any commitment to it.

"Parsons", by the Newcastle Museum of Science and Technology. This is actually a museum glossy rather than a full length book, but it gives you the life of a true capitalist. Sir Charles Parsons was a technical genius who invented the steam turbine. Most of the world's electricity to this day is still generated by steam turbines. There is no other way of generating a million horse-power in a single unit. Parsons was born an aristocrat, so he had the money to design and build his own steam yacht, the "Turbinia", which is on display in Newcastle. He is a hero of mine, for he represents the highest tradition of capitalist inventive viguor. The true capitalist is interested in more than money, indeed, money is the means, not the end. The end is the realisation of a dream.

My private belief is that The West will decline because it lost the plot - capitalism was once the eneretic striving of the most inventive, determined, forceful people of their time, who hands-on founded all the great engineering and energy industries that support our standard of living, but now "capitalism" has settled into mere effete speculation. The disease of Edwardian aristocracy has spread across the world.

Reminices of a stock operator : Edwin Leferve
Art of War : Sun Tzu


rest of the books Ive read have been pretty cr$p compared to them

I am currently re-reading John Piper's The Way To Trade, which I picked up cheap in a charity shop a few years ago (well, it costs about £40 new and it has just been re-released). This weekend one email had a review of the book which I decided to post as it paints an accurate picture of what I have read so far.

The Way to Trade by John Piper

Reviewed by Zak Mir of Zaks-TA.com

It has been my view for some years that the financial markets are like a virus that keeps mutating. This means that even if you crack the code, it does not mean that the code will continue to remain cracked. I was reminded of this in the run up to futures and options expiry on Friday for both the US and UK stock markets. This was perhaps the last thing volatility haters were looking for given the roller coaster ride that shares and indices have provided over the past month or so. But I suppose if your trading method stacks up these should be great conditions.

I was reminded of the subject of trading methods and psychology by the reprinting of The Way To Trade by John Piper, real ale drinker and for want of a better description, technical trader. The main problem I have with most books on the subject is that 1. They are boring, 2. Too complicated, 3. Too simple, or 4. That the ideas in them do not work. Finally there is 5. I do not read them. This normally cuts out a large proportion of reading material, but I have to say that with The Way To Trade, I have managed to avoid these five pitfalls as far as reviewing the book is concerned.

The subtitle of The Way To Trade is Discover Your Successful Trading Personality, something that sounds rather American and perhaps superficial, but this is far from being the case. It is my opinion that the difference between a successful trader and an unsuccessful one is attitude, and in Piper’s book this is what you are helped to find. The point that is made is that you are not expected to be given a trading formula that will make you money, it is within you, all you have to do is access it. To this end we are introduced to the Trading Pyramid, the 55 Steps, and even Bill Williams’ Brain Model. The is also an explanation of why we often fail at trading.

But useful as it this is, for me it is the practical guide that The Way To Trade provides which is the most useful part. For instance, how to apply money management techniques, position size and how to trade selectively. All this leads into developing your own methodology, with an interview with an institutional trader underlining the best approach in this respect. The area of the book where I really had to concentrate given my academically averse background was the chapter on Market Techniques. I am supposed to build a market profile before I trade, and to this end Piper discusses minus development and time price opportunities. I do not know whether I could be cool enough or rational enough before trading to apply such an approach to my trading, but I know that I should be.

This is perhaps the best reason for buying John Piper’s book – you know that even if you are already a good trader, it will help you improve your “game.” He has a unique approach to the markets, and he is a leader in trading set ups and how to maximise one’s gains. If you are an individual trader, whether a novice or experienced, you will benefit from reading this book because it is not a book like 99% of books on trading which sets out a rigid set of rules on how you should behave. It recognises that such formulaic codes just don't work. As a pro trader and writer on trading for more than 2 decades, John is not a "can't do turned celeb teacher" he is a proven winner at the trading game. His philosophy is based around the idea that each of us should adopt a marginally different trading strategy based upon our own personality and so understanding our own personality is critical to trading success. Understand yourself and John believes that you can make money in both up and down markets. An you can do so consistently.

This book does set out a number of proven methodologies, giving you a head start in selecting the one which will work for you. But the key point is that it goes a lot further. John Piper wrote this book because he had never come across a book which deals with the whole issue of trading. There are many books which deal with market analysis, and technical analysis techniques. There are many books which deal with psychology. There are books which deal with money management and all manner of other subjects, some even cover a range of topics. But no other book covers it all, from a successful philosophy of trading, through all the psychology, into the methodologies, the operation thereof, and the end result. It is rare to find a book which appreciates that it is no good doing it "how I say." We each have to find our own route to success. This book spells out why that is, and how to do it.

John Piper argues that trading is a life experience, it is not like any other business. As you become a better trader, you become a better person. But as you evolve it is difficult to look back at where you were. I believe this is why there are no other books which cover all the ground. Those traders who do make it often "forget" how they got there, not surprisingly, as a lot of the skills become subconscious. However, John has always combined his trading with writing about markets. This has given him a fairly unique insight and forced him to express personal matters which other traders just assume. It has also forced him to more carefully examine the precise process involved in becoming a successful trader. It is solely through this process that John Piper "discovered" the Trading Pyramid.

This is the first attempt to create a model for trading success and traders will find it immensely useful. So not only does this book take the trader right through from the beginning to the end result (trading profits, lots of them!) it also provides a framework against which to work. There are no right or wrong ways to trade. The only thing that counts is the result. This book sets out a range of parameters within which to build the system that suits you. The beauty of trading is that it becomes an expression of your own personality. Good traders don't do, they simply are. But to become a good trader you have got to find the approach which will work for you. This book will help you do just that.

But to get there you must follow your own path. It is no good following the trades other people do. Certainly you need help to learn this business, which is what this book is all about. You need a mentor, but you do not need gurus who tell you how to trade. You will only win by trading your way. Indeed Frank Sinatra's big hit "My Way" is an excellent anthem for any trader.

He based his predictions on the next 10 years on the 70's when property did well. Difference is that this time we are STARTING from a high where affordability is already strained. At the start of the 70's properties were 2.5 x annual salary (for my parents anyway).

can anyone recommend a good book about k cycles

not one as heavy going as the intelligent investor or as easy going as the property clock

thanks

I've just finished Prechter's Conquer The Crash, kindly donated by Dr Bubb. Very readable. He devotes a chapter to K cycles.

Interesting that he, unlike most doom-and-gloomers, sees deflationary depression rather than inflation coming our way. Hasn't happened yet though.

What are people's thoughts on Prechter and his predictions?

RP is a serious student of the market, and his work has contributed to the understand of Elliottwave Principles, while helping to popularise it.

I have to say that some of his predicions have been wide of the mark- most notably on Gold. Other E-wave forecasters seem to do a better job at applying this difficult theory. But I still enjoy reading his stuff. And the socionomics work deserves a wider audience.

Websites:
http://www.Elliottwave.com
http://www.Socionomics.org

What is Socionomics?

Socionomics is a new theory of social causality that offers fresh insights into collective human behavior. Over twenty years of empirical research demonstrates that social actions are not causal to changes in social mood, but rather changes in social mood motivate changes in social action. Socionomics supports this research with the hypothesis that humans’ unconscious impulses to herd lead to the emergence of social mood trends, which in turn shape the tone and character of social action. This perspective applies across all realms of social activity, including economic, financial, political and cultural.

To read more about the differences between socionomic and conventional theories, click here.

. .
Socionomics challenges the rational choice model of human social behavior that underlies the standard social science model. Instead, it postulates a model of endogenous generation of social mood trends, which in turn motivate social actions, producing events that make history.

Socionomics holds immense promise for social scientists and delivers more useful predictions than conventional theories in fields such as economics, sociology and political science.

If you measure the US stockmarkets since Prechter wrote this book in 2002 in gold rather than in dollars, then you could argue that, although nothing like Prechter's predicted bust has happened, we have been in a deflationary cycle.

I am starting to see Ewaves when I look at charts, but they do soom a little arbitrary. To use them as our prime forecasting tool, I suggest, is a little too unreliable. As a secondary one, maybe.

I've just finished "The Next Big Investment Boom" by Mark Shipman, and I recommend it.

The Next Big Investment Boom

He argues that the next bull market will be in commodities and related stocks. I found his section on trend following particularly enlightening.

Maybe not a person you may expect, but "The Time of My Life" by Denis Healey (1989) has some excellent chapters on economics and the problems of economic policy.

Although written in 1989, it contains many of the arguments that I hear on this site. Healey is also honest and intelligent enough to admit his mistakes (unlike 99.9% of politicians).

Quotes from the chapter "Economic Disorder in the West":

"Most of these new activities spawned by the financial revolution, such as leveraged buy-outs, assume that all trees grow to the sky - that where will never be another recession. If the United States does have a recession, even one as modest as in the Carter years, its whole financial system could collapse like a pack of cards".

"At present [1989] the most dangerous problem threatening its breakdown is the gross inbalance in world trade caused by excessive borrowing in the United States. The problem is largely the product of President Reagan's eight years in office."

In "The Political Animal", Jeremy Paxman describes the book as "rather good" so it must be alright!

Ordered Shipman's 'Next Big Investment Boom'.

Big fan of Paxman's Political Animal (and The English), so may take the Healy Road.

Currently reading Puplava's bible, The Intelligent Investor. Hardish work but worth it.

Just finishing one of Bubb's - Cycles; The Science Of Prediction by Dewey and Dakin. Fascinating, particularly the 54 year cycle in commodities - see thread . - but a little dated.

The Week recommended the following for the summer -

Tomorrow's Gold - Marc Faber
Taming The Lion - Richard Farleigh
Freakonomics
The Investor's Guide To Charting - Alistair Blair
The Bumper Book Of Government Waste - Elliott and Rotherham

Anyone read any of them?

I've mentioned Freakonomics earlier in the thread.

Democracy and Corruption in Europe edited by Della Porta.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1855673...ay&v=glance

This is a very eye-opening read, (from back in 1997). The chapter by Andrew Adonis on British corruption is very interesting as he argues (in 1997) that cosiness between government and business in delivering services is recipe for corruption. As you may be aware, Lord Adonis is now a major advocate of Trust Schools and PFI/PPP.

There is also a useful chapter on the economics of corruption at the end.

This was on my reading list at Oxford five years ago.

Let me know what you think!

I've very much enjoyed a book called "Taming the Lion: 100 Secret Strategies for Investin" by Richard Farleigh (now on the TV program Dragon's Den). There is some good stuff on trend following, market timing etc. Also enjoyed "The House of Money" which is a series of interview on hedge funds rather in the style of New Market Wizards.

Yep, Farleigh's on my reading list.

Billy, as for Shipman's "Next Big Boom' I liked it very much. It wasn't an eye opener but it was full of good, simple, level-headed advice. It was interesting to note that, although he didn't go as far as to say there's going to be a crash, he sold out of property in 2003 and noted that all the signs of the last, hysterical phase of a bull market are there.

On the downside, he recommends spread betting as the best way of playing this boom. I just don't like spreadbetting, particularly for sizable sums. It makes me too nervous and, consequently, I make too many mistakes.

If you've not read it already, get a copy of FIASCO by Frank Partnoy. To be read in conjunction with Options, Futures and Derivatives by John Hull in order to remind you that in real life there's no such thing as a risk free rate.

The Little Book That Beats The Market - Joel Greenblatt.

Absolutely great. Only problem: it's written for Americans. If only there were a magic formula website for UK stocks.

Now on Reminiscences Of A Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre. Utterly compelling. What a man Livermore was. And a reminder that we are dealing in something that has no mercy.

I've read this and agree, it is a pity that there isn't site specifically for UK stocks. I started the thread below a while back about "magic formula investing".

http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index.php?showtopic=479

Reminiscences Of A Stock Operator - Edwin Lefevre.

I think anyone who is considering trading or who actually trades should read this book. I would say it is the single-most important book I have read on this subject. If only it was written in 1935 and not 1923 so that we have his perspective on 1929.

A Century Of War
Anglo-American Oil Politics And the New World Order
By William Engdahl

First heard of this when he was interviewed on FSN.

It is heavy going in places, but boy is it worth reading. It has given me a whole new perspective and understanding of what is going on in the world today, particularly in the Middle East.

I like Mark Douglas' Trading in the Zone for an account of how you have to beat your own psychology, rather than the market, to be a successful trader.

The UK Stock Market Almanac 2007 is available soon. Has anyone bought previous years?

Here are some details from a review of the 2006 edition.

If you want to know:

* Which sectors perform best in the first quarter of the year?
* Which is the strongest week for the market in the year?
* Why September is the worst month for the market?
* In which months mid-caps outperform large caps?
* How the markets react to the MPC interest rate announcements?
* The probability of the market rising 4 months consecutively?
* What happens to stocks that are ejected from the FTSE 100 Index?
* Whether investors should buy FTSE 350 Dog Stocks?
* The biggest market anomaly of them all - does the six-month phenomenon still exist?

http://www.cashncarrion.co.uk/products/4454/0/

http://www.harriman-house.com/almanac/

US Almanac 2007

http://www.amazon.com/Stock-Traders-Almana...7/dp/0471783773

Now doing The Bumper Book Of Government Waste.

Unbe-effing - lievable.

They wouldn't be spunking money on these colossal levels if it was (1) gold (2) their own.

Anarchy In The UK is what we need.