The Options Advantage: Gaining a Trading Edge Over the Markets

This book is as good or better than any book you will purchase on options. Options can get as technical as you want it to be, or as simple. This book combine simplicity and technical jargon in a language you can understand and apply. Between the charts and the Appendix of every options play you can think of, this is a must in your library.

This book is almost as good as Natenberg, and much better than McMillan, Schaffers, and Fontanills. Although it is about options on futures, most of the strategies discussed are applicable to stock options as well.

A good choice for stock option investors despite it mentioning commmodities. This book will overwhelm a beginner, who should start with Charles Caes' great "Tools of the Bear" (which works for bull and bear markets). Far superior to George Fontanills. Caplan is creative, he writes well and gives the studious reader many important tips. I made two pages of notes from this book. With even a little experience, an options investor will truly ascend to a higher level of knowledge and trading mastery with this book.

I don't receive his newsletter, I haven't been to any of his seminars and I don't trade with his brokerage. That being said, this book is outstanding in teaching non-complicated option strategies to traders who want to receive an "Edge" in trading. I have been trading futures for 7 years now, and have recently implemented options into my toolbag of strategies. So far, I've made at least 20 times what I paid for this book. You do though, must understand the futures market first. Trying to read this book, before understanding futures in general, will leave you in a daze. In contrast, there are many books who over-do option strategies by trying to explain how they came up with different strategies by using complex mathematical solutions and explaining how these solutions can make you money. If you think your confused reading this book, wait till you read one of those kinds of books! Good Luck everyone

David Caplan doesn't pull any punches with this book. What you see is what you get. If you want straight forward trading ideas, buy this book. If you want detailed and esoteric volatility analytical tools, buy Natenberg or some of the other PhD's works. What really is great about Caplan is that he is a speculator, he seems to enjoy risk, heck doesn't every options trader. Unfortunately, for most readers, the majority of books on the markets are written for people who despise risk. Caplan exposes a number of techniques that will eliminate a fair amount of the risk that goes with buying outright. However, the best techniques in the book are about selling options. Ask your broker if he agrees and he will probably say no, but I would bet that Caplan has gotten rich on this technique. Sell premium and get rich; buy premium and die broke...