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I have read many books on trading, 7 out of 10 ordinary books are written by people who are good at writing textbooks. They are good at talking theory, but when it comes to combat in the trading battlefield, they come short and leaves you unsatisfied.
Jesse walks you through important trading principles which he learned through mistakes himself. He walks you through the emotions, the struggles, the mistakes, together with the success. This is no textbook, but you will learn important principles from a man who has been through the trenches himself.
THis book is not for ordinary investors, but for traders with a bit of experience. For those who are full time traders, this book is a must read. It leaves the ordinary trading textbooks in the dust.
The only draw back is Richard Smitten bought the copyright to the original book (from what I know), and he removed 3 chapters at the end of the original book, and he replaced it with his own materials. I went through great troubles to get hold of the orignal book with the final 3 chapters intact(the juicy stuff).
Overall, a must read for traders. If you can find the original edition, buy it and forget the new edition by Smitten.
When the market loses some of it's momentum and leading stocks begin to go back and forth out of trading ranges, and there are less false breakouts, this book may be helpful.
But currently, using this method would put you in laggard stocks and/or sell during short-term corrections.
Aside from the Livermore Key, I found the book enjoyable and there were some good rules and points made that are still applicable today.
Using his system, I picked up Puma Technology (PUMA) last year at $10 in September 1999. By early March 2000, it went to $205 before it split 2:1. Again, using the same method, I picked up Digital Lightwave (DIGL) at $11 in October 1999. By early March 2000, it went to $150. I agree it was not a normal year last year but again using his method this year I selected FuelCell (FCEL) at $80 in August 2000. It went to $188 or so by September 2000 before it split 2:1.
I reread his book every few months so that I don't forget the important points. Jesse Livermore went from $25,000 to $150,000 in three weeks! and his method works even today.
He lost all of his fortune and declared himself bankrupt by 1934. I think he lost his fortune because of his personal life and not because of his trading. The other book on Jesse Livermore called 'Amazing Life of Jesse Livermore' by Richard Smitten that was published in September 1999 describes his life in great detail and also is an excellent read.
People that say that this book is not as useful in today's markets, I think, basically do not know how to interpret Jesse Livermore's guidance and trading methods. He says to buy a stock early, right before it starts in an uptrend and in the right sector, and hold on to it as long as it behaves normally. He said to get rid of it as soon as it started behaving abnormally. FCEL peaked at a volume of almost 7 million shares on September 12, 2000, which was the time to get rid of it the next day. As he said in the book, the last 48 hours of a stock's move is the most profitable and also the most dangerous.
In order to do full justice to his methods, you have to read all three of his books: Reminescences of a Stock Operator - by Edwin Lefevre, How to Trade in Stocks - by Jesse Livermore, and Amazing Life of Jesse Livermore - by Richard Smitten
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In the last chapters of the book Smitten just re-writes the book and trys to explain in "now a-day" terms what Jesse use to do years ago. And I would of preferred to just hear Jesse's own words of then, because everything he has done applies now.
Get the book because the original is no where to be found any more, but be very deserning of what you read after the 7th Chapter.
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I highly recommend Reminiscences of a Stock Operator. That one was hard to put down. Skip this book unless you must absolutely must know a few obscure details of Livermore's life and don't mind fluffy embellishment.
This book is a worthy companion to Edwin Lefevre's barely-fictional biographical novel REMINISCENCES OF A STOCK OPERATOR. The first 180 pages or so of this one closely mirror the story in REMINISCENCES, giving real-life names to people and places, and disgorging more details on Livermore's non-trading life. It goes on from there to discuss his staggering 100-million dollar win during the Great Crash of 1929 (when so many other investors and traders opted for suicide to curtail their losses) and the steady, tragic disintegration of his family life and trading instincts that followed thereafter.
Smitten has produced an entertaining, briskly-moving account of the great trader's life that doesn't require any prior knowledge of the stock market or investing ("speculating" is a better word, as Livermore would put it). Also included are a few chapters on Livermore's trading theories culled from his 1940 book HOW TO TRADE IN STOCKS.
This is a classic that belongs on any traders shelf, I have written three books on futures investing and this book stays right next to me.
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First off the pictures are magnificent as far as seeing about Jessie's life. Jessie took many millions of dollars out of Wall Street but he played for the game. He was up and down so often, and so high, that there was nothing left after the thrill was gone.
The antidotes on Jesse's life are very entertaining but not much use to refining a traders technique. If he had died a few years sooner he would have been a hero. As it is people confuse this personal life with that of a great trader who just got tired.
The included "Livermore Secret Market Key," reprint contains a wealth of information from Livermore's own hand. If I did not already have it, Smitten's book might have been useful.
Cycles!
Jesse mentions market swings from 5 to 20 points that take from a week to a month. It seems like Jesse is talking about what we now call cycles when he refers to the time element. Trading into the future.
Trends!
He talks about this idea that the best trades are those that show a profit right from the start. Therefore, by definition if a trade dips into a loss and violates your definition of what a trailing trend is, Speculators lose no sleep jettising it off right away.
Never permit speculative ventures to turn into investments. Involuntary Investors ... make a bet, stay with it, and if it goes wrong, they lose it all, "they buy a stock that goes down, and they refuse to sell and take their loss."
Trends work automatically, and consistently along certain lines. If you recognize a trend and wait to get in at the precise time, drawdowns should be at a minimum. The drawdown itself should flash a danger signal.
Pyramiding!
When your security is acting right you can safely add to your line from then forward.
One of the unique ideas that I may have overlooked in Reminiscences is that entering a trade a little late is a bit of added insurance.
There is a psychological value in drawing money out of your winnings. Something I just love to do.
Pivot Point!
There is allot in here about his Pivotal Point entry. However, unless you can get it out of the "Livermore Secret Market Key," reprint contained in the book you will not find it in the "Smitten," part.
Anyone can see where pivot points were, the psychological entry point can be determined when groups of other securities confirm the change in trend.
Double bottoms!
Jessie gets into what we now call a double bottom. The first bottom is the primary pivotal point the second bottom (or top) is what he calls the "Continuation Pivotal Point."
CPR's!
Jesse did early work on what we now call CPR's. Closing Price Reversals. CPR's often occur at the Pivotal Point.
He teaches us to only trade on pivot points. But then goes on to explain the benefits of Box-break outs, trading on new highs and new lows.
Livermore's system of Sister Stocks is clearly explained and is a welcomed addition to Reminiscences. I wonder why Smitten did not show these as a spread?
Money Management!
Your position is defined as the percentage of your portfolio you will invest in any single situation.
Find your Pivotal Points and trade in the direction of the momentum. It is the big swing that makes the big money for you.
Jessie suggests averaging up, "within the pivot point range," without defining what a "pivot point range," is. It may be the center reaction in the W of a double bottom.
The final time to pyramid is a break out (of the pivot point range?) on heavy volume. It is riskier to enter a pyramiding action when the stock is far from the base.
My take on this is that Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefèvre is more helpful to a trader than "how to trade in Stocks."
The bottom line on Livermore's money management still remains something I learned from Stanley Kroll. To Quote Jessie Livermore in "How to Trade in Stocks."
Shoot the Works!
"The only area I may have differed from most speculators, was when I felt I was truly right, dead right, for-damn-sure right-then I would go all the way, shoot the works."
It is interesting to see at Amazon.de that there actually exists a German translation of a book in which the also famous Richard Wyckoff interviews Jesse Livermore.
Why not publish the English original also ???
Note: as most will know, Reminiscences of a stockoperator is also based on interviews with Jesse Livermore, first published in Saturday Evening Post of 1922-1923.
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