If you’re serious about becoming a successful trader, the best investment you can make is in your trading education, and that starts with reading the best trading books of all time.
Whether you’re into systematic trading, technical analysis, fundamental investing, or trading psychology, there’s a curated selection of books that can help you accelerate your progress, avoid costly mistakes, and build long-term profitability.
But here’s the problem: with thousands of trading books on Amazon and bookstore shelves, how do you know which ones are worth your time?
I have read over 150 books on trading and skimmed many, many more than that…Just like in trading results, 5-10 of those 150 books added the most value by far. Many more than that were total rubbish or even deceptive!
It is generally possible to find a few good nuggets of information or ideas you can use in most books on trading, but there are a few standout texts that should be included on EVERY trader’s bookshelf.
When you are looking for your trading books Amazon is the most logical place to go. We have provided links to some of the best trading books Amazon has to offer below.
The best trading books make a world of difference…are your bookshelves filled with trading books like these?
There are thousands of trading books on the market, but many are filled with recycled ideas or vague concepts. The books listed below are different. They are well-written, thought-provoking, and filled with practical, original insights.
On our bookshelves, these have been read and re-read, marked up, highlighted and are referenced regularly for inspiration and direction on our trading journey. In fact, some of these are so useful that they remain permanently on the desk rather than in the library because they are used so often.
Great trading books motivate, inspire and give hope to new and experienced traders alike.
The best trading books should be the primary focus of your self-education efforts. The insights you will gain from these books is far more comprehensive than you could ever hope to gain from a $5000 seminar. If you are like us, you will read these again and again as your understanding of the markets, trading systems and trading system development grows.
Must-Read Trading Books (Core Reading)
These are widely regarded as the best trading books ever written. If you want to be a successful trader, you should start your journey here. These books have stood the test of time and helped thousands succeed, no matter the trading strategy.
Author: Jack D. Schwager
Why It’s Valuable: Timeless insights from legendary traders like Paul Tudor Jones and Ed Seykota. Full of practical lessons on risk, mindset, and strategy.
Best For: All traders who want to understand how real professionals approach markets.
Author: Jack D. Schwager
Why It’s Valuable: Interviews with a new wave of top traders. Offers sharp insight into trading psychology and decision-making under pressure.
Best For: Traders seeking inspiration and mental models from elite professionals.
Author: Jack D. Schwager
Why It’s Valuable: Focuses specifically on stock traders. Breaks down their strategies and unique approaches to market analysis.
Best For: Equity traders and anyone focused on stock market performance.
Author: Jack D. Schwager
Why It’s Valuable: Showcases the mindset, discipline, and unconventional thinking behind successful hedge fund managers.
Best For: Advanced traders interested in hedge fund-level thinking.
Author: Jack D. Schwager
Why It’s Valuable: Proves that you don’t need to be famous to outperform. Highlights everyday traders with exceptional returns.
Best For: Aspiring full-time traders seeking relatable, real-world examples.
Author: Van K. Tharp
Why It’s Valuable: Teaches how to build a system tailored to your personality, with powerful lessons on risk and position sizing.
Best For: Beginners and intermediate traders developing their trading edge.
Author: Michael Covel
Why It’s Valuable: Explains long-term trend following with examples from top CTAs and hedge funds. Great stats and theory.
Best For: Systematic traders and those interested in data-driven strategies.
Author: Dr. Alexander Elder
Why It’s Valuable: Combines practical trading tactics with trading psychology and money management—an all-in-one manual.
Best For: New and intermediate traders seeking a holistic trading approach.
Author: Christopher Tate
Why It’s Valuable: Offers practical tools for trading sideways or volatile markets, often overlooked in trend-focused literature.
Best For: Traders struggling with unpredictable or range-bound markets.
Author: Christopher Tate
Why It’s Valuable: Covers a wide range of trading concepts including strategy, risk, psychology, and discipline with clarity.
Best For: Traders in Australia or anyone wanting a comprehensive guide in plain language.
Author: Mark Douglas
Why It’s Valuable: One of the first books to tackle trading psychology. Explores how beliefs and emotions affect your results.
Best For: Traders who want to master their mindset and emotional discipline.
Think and Trade Like a Champion: The Secrets, Rules & Blunt Truths of a Stock Market Wizard
Author: Mark Minervini
Why It’s Valuable: A no-nonsense guide to high-performance trading. Shares Minervini’s rules and the mental game behind elite trading.
Best For: Ambitious traders aiming to go from average to elite.
Systematic Trading Books
Systematic trading is all about creating objective, repeatable rules that take the guesswork out of decision-making. These books focus on mechanical strategies, algorithmic systems, and rule-based approaches that help traders stay consistent, reduce emotional bias, and scale effectively over time.
Author: Robert Carver
Why It’s Valuable: Breaks down the process of creating systematic strategies using logic and probability. No hype, just math.
Best For: Traders building data-driven systems with minimal discretion.
Author: Art Collins
Why It’s Valuable: A rare blend of strategy breakdowns and real interviews with traders who tested them.
Best For: Traders who want practical, tested systems with commentary.
Author: Lars Kestner
Why It’s Valuable: Focuses on building quantitative trading systems with real-world examples and statistical rigor.
Best For: Intermediate to advanced traders developing systematic strategies.
Author: Thomas Stridsman
Why It’s Valuable: Focuses on testing and improving trading systems using performance metrics that matter.
Best For: System traders looking to optimize results through sound evaluation methods.
Author: Richard L. Weissman
Why It’s Valuable: Bridges systematic strategy with trader mindset—perfect for those who struggle to stick to a plan.
Best For: Systematic traders who want to combine structure with emotional discipline.
Author: Robert Pardo
Why It’s Valuable: A deep-dive into backtesting, optimization, and validation techniques for system development.
Best For: Traders serious about statistical validation and robust system design.
Author: Larry R. Williams
Why It’s Valuable: A classic text blending short-term trading logic with rules-based strategy. Highly practical.
Best For: Short-term and swing traders looking for structured methods.
Author: Martin J. Pring
Why It’s Valuable: Walks readers through the black-box world of trading systems using examples and clear logic.
Best For: Traders who want to move from intuition to automation.
Author: Curtis M. Faith
Why It’s Valuable: The true story and trading rules behind one of the most famous trading experiments in history.
Best For: Beginners and intermediates learning trend-following and system design.
Author: Richard L. Weissman
Why It’s Valuable: Emphasizes thinking like the house—focusing on edge, expectancy, and probability.
Best For: Traders wanting to internalize the principles behind consistently profitable systems.
Technical Analysis Trading Books
Mastering charts, indicators, and price behaviour can give you a strong edge. These books help you understand how to read and act on market signals.
Author: Alexander Elder
Why It’s Valuable: Combines technical analysis with trading psychology and system development in one comprehensive guide.
Best For: Beginners and intermediate traders who want a 360° view of trading.
Author: Thomas Stridsman
Why It’s Valuable: Teaches how to develop robust trading systems and integrate effective money management principles.
Best For: Systematic traders who want to build or refine mechanical strategies.
Author: Tushar Chande
Why It’s Valuable: Offers practical tools to build and test trading systems using technical indicators.
Best For: Traders transitioning from discretionary to rule-based strategies.
Author: David Aronson
Why It’s Valuable: Uses the scientific method to test and validate technical trading signals.
Best For: Quantitative traders and data-driven thinkers.
Author: Andreas F. Clenow
Why It’s Valuable: Shows how professional trend-followers structure and backtest diversified futures strategies.
Best For: Systematic traders and trend followers.
Author: Martin J. Pring
Why It’s Valuable: Covers momentum-based indicators with clarity and real-world relevance.
Best For: Technical traders focused on timing and trend confirmation.
Author: Thomas K. Carr
Why It’s Valuable: Combines charting techniques and money management to help traders capitalize on major trends.
Best For: Swing and trend traders seeking consistency.
Historical / Classic Trading Books
These timeless classics offer powerful insights into market behaviour and human psychology. A must-read foundation for every trader.
Author: Philip A. Fisher
Why It’s Valuable: Introduced qualitative analysis in stock picking, influencing Warren Buffett himself.
Best For: Investors interested in long-term, fundamental-driven trading.
Author: George Samuel Clason
Why It’s Valuable: Timeless personal finance lessons that apply to trading discipline and wealth building.
Best For: Beginners learning how to manage money before entering the markets.
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
Author: Charles Mackay
Why It’s Valuable: Chronicles the psychology behind financial manias, panics, and bubbles.
Best For: Traders who want to understand crowd behavior and sentiment.
Author: Edwin Lefèvre
Why It’s Valuable: A semi-fictionalized biography of Jesse Livermore, filled with timeless trading wisdom.
Best For: All traders—it’s practically a rite of passage.
Psychology Trading Books
Your mindset is the most powerful trading tool. These books show how to overcome fear, greed, and self-sabotage to build emotional discipline.
Author: Mark Douglas
Why It’s Valuable: One of the first books to tackle trading psychology. Explores how beliefs and emotions affect your results.
Best For: Traders who want to master their mindset and emotional discipline.
Author: Van K. Tharp
Why It’s Valuable: A full roadmap for transforming yourself into a successful trader, mentally and financially.
Best For: Intermediate traders ready to level up.
Author: Van K. Tharp
Why It’s Valuable: Breaks down one of the most critical elements of trading success, that is position sizing, with practical techniques and models.
Best For: All traders serious about controlling risk and optimizing returns.
Author: Van K. Tharp
Why It’s Valuable: Connects trading success with deep psychological and emotional awareness.
Best For: Traders exploring the connection between personal development and market success.
Author: Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Why It’s Valuable: Introduces the concept of rare, high-impact events and how to build robustness into your strategy.
Best For: Risk managers and traders in volatile markets.
Author: Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Why It’s Valuable: Challenges the illusion of skill in randomness-heavy professions like trading.
Best For: Traders seeking mental clarity and probabilistic thinking.
Author: Brett N. Steenbarger
Why It’s Valuable: Blends performance coaching with trading psychology for measurable improvement.
Best For: Active traders who want to perform at elite levels.
Trading in the Zone: Master the Market with Confidence, Discipline, and a Winning Attitude
Author: Mark Douglas
Why It’s Valuable: A modern classic that breaks down the mental habits that sabotage most traders. Douglas explains why consistency has more to do with psychology than strategy and offers a clear path toward developing a professional trader’s mindset.
Best For: All traders looking to overcome emotional bias and build true mental discipline in the markets.
AmiBroker & Quantitative Trading Books
These books are perfect for systematic traders and developers using AmiBroker or building algorithmic strategies.
Author: Howard B. Bandy
Why It’s Valuable: Ideal for newcomers looking to chart, backtest, and build systems using AmiBroker.
Best For: Beginners to AmiBroker and quantitative trading.
Author: Howard B. Bandy
Why It’s Valuable: Teaches how to design, test, and validate quantitative strategies with real code examples.
Best For: Intermediate quant/systematic traders.
Author: Howard B. Bandy
Why It’s Valuable: Focuses on using Monte Carlo simulation and performance analytics to evaluate trading systems.
Best For: System developers looking for robust strategy validation.
Author: Howard B. Bandy
Why It’s Valuable: Provides a full methodology for building and testing mean-reversion models.
Best For: Swing traders and quantitative analysts.
Author: Ajan K K
Why It’s Valuable: A hands-on guide for writing formulas and automating analysis in AmiBroker.
Best For: Beginners to AFL and technical coding.
Author: George Pruitt
Why It’s Valuable: Offers modular, customizable strategies with real examples for coding and execution.
Best For: Developers building advanced algo trading systems.
Author: Howard B. Bandy
Why It’s Valuable: Covers data science, logic, and scientific rigor in trading system development.
Best For: Advanced systematic traders.
Author: J.B. Marwood
Why It’s Valuable: Includes 20 ready-to-test strategies with step-by-step instructions.
Best For: DIY system traders looking for practical inspiration.
Fundamental Investing Trading Books
When technical indicators and trading signals are not enough, traders are able to understand market movements by going deeper. These titles focus on analyzing company fundamentals, economic indicators, and long-term value. Ideal for both investors and swing traders.
Author: Art Collins
Why It’s Valuable: Teaches how to combine small trading edges into a high-probability system.
Best For: Futures traders looking for edge-based, data-supported strategies.
Author: Nicolas Darvas
Why It’s Valuable: A classic story of a dancer-turned-trader who created a trend-following strategy using boxes.
Best For: Beginners who enjoy narrative-style learning with practical takeaways.
Author: Peter Lynch
Why It’s Valuable: Shows how everyday knowledge can lead to smart stock picks and outsized returns.
Best For: Retail investors and long-term traders.
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing
Author: Benjamin Graham
Why It’s Valuable:
Considered the bible of value investing, this classic teaches you how to analyze investments based on fundamentals and intrinsic value rather than market hype or emotion. It’s the foundation of long-term strategy used by countless professional investors, including Warren Buffett.
Best For:
Investors and traders looking to develop a disciplined, analytical mindset for picking stocks and managing risk with a systematic, value-based approach.
Top Trading Authors:
There are quite a number of outstanding trading authors. I have listed the ones I consider to be the best below. You can follow the links to check out their books on Amazon. I recommend all of these authors depending on exactly which topic you are looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best trading book for beginners in 2025?
If you’re just starting out, Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom by Van K. Tharp is a strong foundation. It covers strategy design, position sizing, and aligning your trading with your personality which is essential for long-term success. Another beginner-friendly classic is Trading for a Living by Dr. Alexander Elder.
How do you define the core reading list?
Our core reading list is based on decades of hands-on trading. To qualify, a book must offer practical insights, original thinking, and lasting value. These are the books we’ve read, marked up, and referenced again and again. They’ve shaped our understanding of markets, mindset, and trading systems—and they should be on every serious trader’s shelf.
Are Jack Schwager’s Market Wizards books still relevant today?
Absolutely. The Market Wizards series is timeless. The traders interviewed span different markets and styles, and their stories are filled with enduring lessons on mindset, risk control, and discipline. These books help you think like a professional, not just act like one.
How many trading books should I read before starting?
You don’t need to read dozens before you start trading, but you do need to read the right ones. Focus on a handful that cover trading psychology, risk management, and developing a systematic trading approach. It’s more important to apply what you learn than to speed-read your way through a bookshelf.
Which are the best systematic trading books?
The Evaluation and Optimization of Trading Strategies by Robert Pardo is one of the greatest, as it deep dives into backtesting and validation. The Way of the Turtle by Curtis Faith is also amazing. It explores how regular people learned and executed a systematic trend trading system with extraordinary results.
Can trading books help you become profitable?
Yes, but only if you use them correctly. Reading books helps you avoid common trading mistakes, develop an edge, and understand how to think probabilistically. But books alone aren’t enough. Real transformation happens when you build and follow a structured trading strategy with proper backtesting and risk control.
Is there a great trading book that has really helped or influenced you? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Please add Trading in the zone, Momentum masters and Richard wykoff books.
Brilliant suggestions Gaurav – thank you for taking the time to comment!
Perry J. Kaufman
Trading Systems and Methods
Yes I like that one too – I will add it to the list when I do the next update!