I’m usually pretty open to reviewing books. Sometimes I get books that I can’t do justice to in reviewing. The following two books may be examples of that:
Option Spread Strategies: Trading Up, Down, and Sideways Markets
Option Strategies for Directionless Markets: Trading with Butterflies, Iron Butterflies, and Condors
I’m not an options trader. Do I understand the math? Largely, yes. Do I understand how they can benefit investors? Also yes. I occasionally use options to enhance income, but for the most part, I avoid using them for personality reasons. I fear that I would make bad decisions while working at a higher level of leverage. I don’t trust myself.
As for the books, they are clear and well-written, giving both the common view of options, and the view using the “greeks” a la Black-Scholes. The chapters explain, and then offer tests at the end to see how well you have understood. These could be textbooks in a business school.
The books explain how you can make money in any environment if your view of the world is correct. That’s the catch, though. Few of us get it right within the length of time before an option expires. Be wary of the correctness of your opinions.
Now, my opinion is not of the highest value here. Better to consult Adam Warner or Bill Luby, who have far more practical experience on a retail level. My experience is largely institutional with respect to options.
PS — Remember, I don’t have a tip jar, but I do do book reviews. If you enter Amazon through a link on my site and buy things from them, I get a small commission, and you don’t pay anything extra. If you wanted to get it anyway, it is good for both of us…
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I recently reviewed Option Strategies for Directionless Markets at:
http://www.condoroptions.com/index.php/options-education/option-strategies-for-directionless-markets-review/
Jared, that’s a good review. I recommend that my readers read it. Thanks; not being a practitioner on the retail level, I wasn’t sure what to say at every point.