Super Trader, Expanded Edition: Make Consistent Profits in Good and Bad Markets

Great book. It is actually one of the great books talking about trading, but it does so without too uch of the charts. But it is a most fun to read.

Van Tharp's latest book, "Super Trader", is one of the few (of hundreds I've read) trading books I highly recommend that traders buy and read at least twice. It's just that good. What I like best about this book is Dr. Van Tharp's extremely useful R-distribution/position sizing technique, in the last section of the book. He also focuses carefully on the trading psychology that's needed for success, including having a business plan and specific strategies that traders can use to avoid making common trading mistakes. I spent the last 3 days reading this during evenings, and it was thoroughly useful. As a successful trader myself, I'm glad to have found so much of value in Van Tharp's book, especially similarities that his approach has to mine, in using a much more math-focused/risk management R type approach to mechanically scaling in and out of trades, and using expected distributions based on different scaling and risk parameters. I'm an expert on momentum breakout day trading, and focus on tape reading and specific chart patterns, having trained thousands in these techniques. What I've found that's also essential to success, that Van Tharp so correctly details in his Super Trader book, is the addition of position sizing, the 'whole trader' psychology and approach to success on a mental/nlp anchoring and success focus, and the mechanics of the math behind the trades, which he's correct in having traders focus on. While chart patterns are an important 'leg of the tripod' to successful trading, especially for volatility scanning, the mental and math sides of the equation are equally important, in fact more so. This is a remarkably useful book. The most useful part of the book to me was the later chapters detailing R-distribution and position sizing techniques. The earlier chapters on the mental edge are absolutely spot-on as well, and all traders would benefit from reading this. Well done, Van Tharp - this is an excellent book I encourage traders of all kinds (forex, equities, day/swing/position) to read and benefit from. Bravo! A++ To trading success, Ken Calhoun, Pres. Daytrading University

I've read most of Dr. Tharp's books but this one really inspired me to continue my quest to find a "Holy Grail" trading system. I have followed all the suggestions in the book and through self examination have improved my trading to a level I once thought could only be a dream. This book will convince anyone that the real key to developing a safe dependable trading system is self! The "Holy Grail" is you! In the past I had always asked myself: "Why would a person be writing books and teaching others if they could really make the kind of money they claim in the market"? I have discovered that this "Belief" was one of many beliefs that were holding me back from really making good profits. I now understand that Dr. Tharp has found his Holy Grail a long time ago and that, now, helping others learn this is part of his quest! Thanks to Dr. Tharp, I have found the Holy Grail!

I am pleased to be the first one to review this book. I am also thankful for discovering Van Tharps' as someone that changed my approach and understanding of trading. He really helped me to destroy all strongholds that was making my trade a blind fly. I read first Trading your way to financial freedom which is a really break through on what it takes to be a successful trade. After reading it I realized how obvious it is and how people just don't see it. So I am happy that I was blind now I can see. If you haven't read any of Van Tharp as yet I would not recommend starting with Super Trader because it doesn't spend much time to discuss new concepts and I believe the book assumes some prior knowledge. For me that am already familiar with his concepts I cruised reading Super Trader and it helped me to reinforce all principles that I already grasped from previous books and articles I read. Also his does an excellent job bringing it all together. I then suggest to read first "Trade Your way..." and then "Super Trader" will be much more valuable and easy to understand because it doesn't go as deep as "Trade your Way..." does in some key concepts such as R multiple, Risk Management and Positioning Size. The book is very well structured and it is organized in an order of priority in what it takes to be a successful trader. The book spend a fair bit of pages on the topic of psychology and working on yourself. This is crucial and Van emphasises its importance even further. I reckon that's the best part of this book. Also it provides good frameworks to how to work on yourself and your business plan to get into trading successfully. I also love his approach totally opposing to on size fits all. What is important is what fits your beliefs. That's fantastic. Very pragmatic, structured and concise. This book I also consider a quick reference book to always go back and remember what is important in trading and I intend to always go back and revisit it from time to time to check if I am doing everything "by the book".