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Super Trader, Expanded Edition: Make Consistent Profits in Good and Bad Markets
Think like a trader. Act like a trader. Become a Super Trader."Let your profits run!" It's the golden rule by which all Super Traders live. With the help of investing guru Dr. Van K. Tharp, you can join the ranks of full-time traders who consistently master the market.
Super Trader provides a time-tested strategy for creating the conditions that allow you to reach levels of trading success you never thought possible. Providing expert insight into both trading practices and psychology, Tharp teaches you how to steadily cut losses short and meet your investment goals through the use of position sizing strategies--the keys to steady profitability. Tharp offers concepts and tactics designed to help
CREATE AND MEET YOUR SPECIFICUNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURECONQUER COUNTERPRODUCTIVE THINKINGMASTER THE ART OF POSITION SIZING STRATEGIESWith Tharp's proven methods, you can live the dream of enjoying above-average profits under various market conditions--up, down, and sideways. Tharp's wisdom, perspective, and tactical expertise are legendary in the world of trading. Follow the master down the path to trading excellence with Super Trader.
How do you transform yourself from a mild-mannered investor into a proactive trader who outperforms the market day-in and day-out. Think clearly. Plan accordingly. Commit completely. In other words, become a trader. No one is better suited to help you make the transformation than legendary trading educator Dr. Van K. Tharp.
Combining the sharp insight and technical brilliance that have drawn legions of investors to his books and seminars, Tharp provides a holistic approach for becoming a successful full-time trader. His system--a meld of investing psychology and sound trading practice--is the secret to achieving optimum conditions that produce results in both bull and bear markets.
Using the lessons of Super Trader, you will approach trading as you would a small business--realistically, systematically, and enthusiastically. Drawing on his decades of experience, Tharp has created a simple plan designed to help anyone successfully navigate the market that includes the
Mastering the psychology of tradingCrafting a "business plan"--a working document to guide your tradingDeveloping a trading system tailored to your personal needs and skillsCreating position sizing strategies to meet your objectivesMonitoring yourself constantly to minimize mistakes You can put this plan to use immediately.Throughout the book, Tharp raises the pertinent questions you must ask yourself about becoming a trader, being a trader, and succeeding as a trader.
The rewards that come with being a Super Trader--both financial and personal--make you feel as if you can leap small buildings in a single bound. Whatever your skill level, Tharp provides the formula for succeeding in a field where most people fail.
Super Trader provides a time-tested strategy for creating the conditions that allow you to reach levels of trading success you never thought possible. Providing expert insight into both trading practices and psychology, Tharp teaches you how to steadily cut losses short and meet your investment goals through the use of position sizing strategies--the keys to steady profitability. Tharp offers concepts and tactics designed to help
CREATE AND MEET YOUR SPECIFICUNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURECONQUER COUNTERPRODUCTIVE THINKINGMASTER THE ART OF POSITION SIZING STRATEGIESWith Tharp's proven methods, you can live the dream of enjoying above-average profits under various market conditions--up, down, and sideways. Tharp's wisdom, perspective, and tactical expertise are legendary in the world of trading. Follow the master down the path to trading excellence with Super Trader.
How do you transform yourself from a mild-mannered investor into a proactive trader who outperforms the market day-in and day-out. Think clearly. Plan accordingly. Commit completely. In other words, become a trader. No one is better suited to help you make the transformation than legendary trading educator Dr. Van K. Tharp.
Combining the sharp insight and technical brilliance that have drawn legions of investors to his books and seminars, Tharp provides a holistic approach for becoming a successful full-time trader. His system--a meld of investing psychology and sound trading practice--is the secret to achieving optimum conditions that produce results in both bull and bear markets.
Using the lessons of Super Trader, you will approach trading as you would a small business--realistically, systematically, and enthusiastically. Drawing on his decades of experience, Tharp has created a simple plan designed to help anyone successfully navigate the market that includes the
Mastering the psychology of tradingCrafting a "business plan"--a working document to guide your tradingDeveloping a trading system tailored to your personal needs and skillsCreating position sizing strategies to meet your objectivesMonitoring yourself constantly to minimize mistakes You can put this plan to use immediately.Throughout the book, Tharp raises the pertinent questions you must ask yourself about becoming a trader, being a trader, and succeeding as a trader.
The rewards that come with being a Super Trader--both financial and personal--make you feel as if you can leap small buildings in a single bound. Whatever your skill level, Tharp provides the formula for succeeding in a field where most people fail.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2009
170 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 29, 2016
Really, really good book. Definitely in my top 10. Some books are read and then forgotten but not this one. Even fewer are reread and then referred to again and again. This is one of those books. I've followed Dr. Van K. Tharp ever since I read his interview in "Market Wizards" by Jack Schwager back in the mid-1990s. He has helped more traders get out of their own way and taken them from struggling to achieving peak performance in one of the most high-stakes competitive arenas in the world - trading the markets. Even greater, he has helped many go from failure to success in a breathtaking short amount of time. The book is broken up into 5 main sections that serve as the foundation of trading success and peak performance. Dr. Tharp's philosophy on the subject is that you don't trade the markets but you trade your beliefs. As such, the quality of your thoughts on trading will translate directly into your bottom line. Expanding on that, he goes into great detail on the several concepts that he pioneered that give you a framework on how to construct a winning trading system and business plan as well as a guide on discovering limiting thoughts and self-sabotage. I took his Peak Performance home study course 12 years ago and this book captured the main points on the course as well as expanded on the new concepts that he hadn't quite articulated at that time. Now, I plan on going back to retake the course again. Taking it the first time was a profound experience and I found myself making new progress as I read this book. So much, that it has inspired me to go back and dig around some more to make even greater progress with his new concepts. I highly recommend this book even if you don't trade. Trading is just a metaphor that he uses to help you become more successful by modeling successful people while uncovering self-limiting behaviors and beliefs that keep you from your desired outcome. Excellent book.
January 14, 2022
This is a great trading book for intermediate to amateur market participants. The first part of the book about psychology is superb as always. The author is in my opinion, one of the better authors in the business about trading. Like his other more notable books, Tharp adopts a no BS approach in this book and details many actionable plans and tips about adopting and having the right mindset for becoming the "Super Trader". He is also a huge advocate in treating trading as a business and thereby having a business plan is one of the key towards becoming a consistent trader.
The need for a worst case scenario contingency plan - "The market usually will find something that you are not prepared for and give you a great test of your fortitude. When this happens and you are not prepared, you become stressed and your brain shuts down."
The latter parts of the book he talked about the importance of position sizing and asset allocations. He also emphasised the concept of thinking in risk/reward and always calculating your risk per trade before each trade. The examples and elaborations about these topics were not spectacular in my opinion and they were rather futile to me. Trading systems and position sizing are not one size fits all matters and they are more of an art than science. Therefore, one has got to find their own style and come up with their own rules and objectives. Which inadvertently coincide with the core message from the book - treat trading like a business and come up with your own business.
"Most people don't treat trading like a business. And most businesses fail because people don't have a business plan."
"Working on oneself is a lifelong task, and when you get through one area, another one usually appears."
Overall, still a great book for all traders, for the first two sections about working on yourself and developing a business plan are simply golden rules about trading. Solid 4/5.
The need for a worst case scenario contingency plan - "The market usually will find something that you are not prepared for and give you a great test of your fortitude. When this happens and you are not prepared, you become stressed and your brain shuts down."
The latter parts of the book he talked about the importance of position sizing and asset allocations. He also emphasised the concept of thinking in risk/reward and always calculating your risk per trade before each trade. The examples and elaborations about these topics were not spectacular in my opinion and they were rather futile to me. Trading systems and position sizing are not one size fits all matters and they are more of an art than science. Therefore, one has got to find their own style and come up with their own rules and objectives. Which inadvertently coincide with the core message from the book - treat trading like a business and come up with your own business.
"Most people don't treat trading like a business. And most businesses fail because people don't have a business plan."
"Working on oneself is a lifelong task, and when you get through one area, another one usually appears."
Overall, still a great book for all traders, for the first two sections about working on yourself and developing a business plan are simply golden rules about trading. Solid 4/5.
October 14, 2015
My favourite author in Stock Investing/Trading. Van Tharp's writing is easy to read and simple to understand yet crucial for any stock trader. Instead of focusing techniques and methods, he emphasizes importance of psychology, position sizing and self maintenence (self development, metal state).
Author also goes into importance of development, learning and even a spiritual aspect of trading. Great read from my biggest mentor in stock trading.
Author also goes into importance of development, learning and even a spiritual aspect of trading. Great read from my biggest mentor in stock trading.
February 15, 2016
make a trading plan. keep a journal too
February 28, 2025
I think this is an excellent book that provides a structure and administrative control that traders can apply to themselves, it doesn't teach any specific method of trading i.e. technical analysis or fundamental analysis. It essentially teaches the assurances and checks that, if are in place, can take any trader to their destination, through five activities:
1) Working on yourself
2) Developing a working business plan
3) Developing trading system/s with tailored position sizing strategy/ies for their corresponding objectives
4) Reducing mistakes to maximise efficiency
The text also references two other texts by the author which I think might help readers to be able to extract values from this text even more, the references are:
1) Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom
2) The Definitive Guide to Position Sizing
Which I intend to also read.
1) Working on yourself
2) Developing a working business plan
3) Developing trading system/s with tailored position sizing strategy/ies for their corresponding objectives
4) Reducing mistakes to maximise efficiency
The text also references two other texts by the author which I think might help readers to be able to extract values from this text even more, the references are:
1) Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom
2) The Definitive Guide to Position Sizing
Which I intend to also read.
April 23, 2022
เอาจริง เล่มนี้เหมาะกับคนเริ่ทต้นมากกกก หรือเริ่มต้นมาแล้วยังจับทางไม่ถูก ไม่รู้ทำไมเมืองไทยสมัยก่อน สำนักพิมพ์หุ้นดังๆ ไม่ยอมแปลหนังสือพวกนี้ มีแต่ไปเขียนกันเอง มีแต่น้ำ หนังสือของ tharp ก็ออกหลายเล่มละ งงจริ้ง สงสัย มาอ่านแล้วเอาไปเปิดคอร์สกันหมด ไม่ยอมเอาไปแปล หนัฃสือต่างประเทศดีๆเยอะแยะ ขอบ่นสำนักพิมพ์หุ้นดังๆ สักหน่อย555
ธีมคือ ให้เราหา วิธีที่ถูกจริตกับเรา เหมือนหาเสื้อผ้าใส่ เหมาะกับสไตล์จริต จิตใจ
ถึงแม้เราจะไปหา holy grail / system ดีขนาดไหนมาใช้ แต่เราก็จะทนมันไม่ได้ถ้ามันไม่เหมาะกับเรา
เล่มนี้จะพามาสำรวจตัวเรา ความคิด วิธีการ จะมีคำถามให้กลับไปคิดกับระบบที่เราใช้อยู่ แนะนำมากๆ
ธีมคือ ให้เราหา วิธีที่ถูกจริตกับเรา เหมือนหาเสื้อผ้าใส่ เหมาะกับสไตล์จริต จิตใจ
ถึงแม้เราจะไปหา holy grail / system ดีขนาดไหนมาใช้ แต่เราก็จะทนมันไม่ได้ถ้ามันไม่เหมาะกับเรา
เล่มนี้จะพามาสำรวจตัวเรา ความคิด วิธีการ จะมีคำถามให้กลับไปคิดกับระบบที่เราใช้อยู่ แนะนำมากๆ
September 21, 2020
Position sizing is the key
I love this book. It forces you to look at yourself 1st and foremost then this book shows you how important position sizing is. Learning what your R multiple is will be vital to becoming a succesful trader. This is a must have book. This book will get multiple reads for sure
I love this book. It forces you to look at yourself 1st and foremost then this book shows you how important position sizing is. Learning what your R multiple is will be vital to becoming a succesful trader. This is a must have book. This book will get multiple reads for sure
November 20, 2019
Another great book by Dr. Van Tharp. While he can be very detailed and heady at times (at least for me) he brings excellent insight for anyone wanting to learn the discipline of trading, form novice to expert.
August 21, 2020
It is a must read for all traders.
More than knowledge, it's discipline that matters.
And to be a successful trader, one should trade like a machine (rule based and zero emotions). Risk management and psychology matters more than knowledge.
More than knowledge, it's discipline that matters.
And to be a successful trader, one should trade like a machine (rule based and zero emotions). Risk management and psychology matters more than knowledge.
August 19, 2021
I ran into this book on a journey of finding a formula to succeed in the market. The content was not what I aimed to find at first. But down the road of reading, I found myself there and something that I need for my journey. Will read again.
February 18, 2022
One of the key things in this book is basically managing your money. don't stress entry points as much, its when you get out that matters. So its all about limiting your losses and letting your profit run.
May 9, 2017
Some good points in this book.
May 14, 2017
A book that discuss about Psychology of trading.
May 3, 2018
If you want to be a consistently profitable trader, read this book and do the required work.
November 18, 2018
I love Dr. Van Tharps work. This is another great book that every trader MUST read!
May 28, 2019
Comprehensive and excellent
September 22, 2019
Good book to read when getting ready for a trade and creating a trading system.
Read
November 11, 2019Great book to manage your trading activity, however confusing on position sizing chapter.
April 28, 2020
A must read for a trader or a like to be trader
October 14, 2021
A good book to increase the efficiency of a trader. Works on various parameters and helps a person to become a good trader, you will know about the system, position size and yourself.
March 4, 2022
A must have for all traders. Go through it honestly and you will improve your trading. It focuses on the psychology of trader and trading.
March 1, 2023
This book is all about your Beliefs in Stock Market....Its change the way you Trade...Rules and disciplined for Successful Trader.
July 20, 2023
Awesome book
Essential for every trader .. after 15years of trading I’m finding this book adding lots of inspirations discipline tips to me
Essential for every trader .. after 15years of trading I’m finding this book adding lots of inspirations discipline tips to me
April 17, 2024
The worst book on trading ever to have been published! This is garbage level bad!
July 14, 2024
The book provides insights into developing a robust trading system, mastering the psychology of trading, and managing risk effectively..
April 2, 2025
One of the excellent book for the daily Day trader.
It teaches how to become very much Day Trader and steps to follow.
It teaches how to become very much Day Trader and steps to follow.
July 26, 2020
Super Trader is a great book for any beginner trader.
It has two main lessons:
-Even the most perfect trading system can't survive without money management rules (position sizing and risk sizing).
-A trading system may at maximum account for 1/3 of the performance of a trader, with the other 2/3s being the trader's psychology and its money management system.
Then the book has many lessons on how to improve the trader's psychology and how to improve the money management system.
It has two main lessons:
-Even the most perfect trading system can't survive without money management rules (position sizing and risk sizing).
-A trading system may at maximum account for 1/3 of the performance of a trader, with the other 2/3s being the trader's psychology and its money management system.
Then the book has many lessons on how to improve the trader's psychology and how to improve the money management system.
October 25, 2010
A fresh look at using your personal psychology to succeed in the market
Most people who want to make a killing in stocks and bonds think all they need is an account and some cash, but really what they should start with are formal business plans and basic trading know-how. Traders mistakenly believe they’ll score big if they can predict the markets, but smart trading has nothing to do with guessing the future. Would-be investors should first take the time to understand themselves and their motivations, so they can avoid emotionally sabotaging their investments. Considering all this, buying lottery tickets might sound like an easier road to riches. But don’t fret; help is at hand. “Super trader” Van K. Tharp explains what you need to know about yourself and about trading to make money. He invites you to use his proven techniques, savvy suggestions and expert advice to cruise successfully in both bull and bear markets. While you may need some analytical trading expertise and more than a little patience to follow Tharp’s sometimes meandering, stream-of-consciousness views, getAbstract appreciates his idea that investors should know how they think, how they feel and what they’re doing before putting their skin in the game.
To learn more about this book, check out the following link: https://www.getabstract.com/summary/1...
Most people who want to make a killing in stocks and bonds think all they need is an account and some cash, but really what they should start with are formal business plans and basic trading know-how. Traders mistakenly believe they’ll score big if they can predict the markets, but smart trading has nothing to do with guessing the future. Would-be investors should first take the time to understand themselves and their motivations, so they can avoid emotionally sabotaging their investments. Considering all this, buying lottery tickets might sound like an easier road to riches. But don’t fret; help is at hand. “Super trader” Van K. Tharp explains what you need to know about yourself and about trading to make money. He invites you to use his proven techniques, savvy suggestions and expert advice to cruise successfully in both bull and bear markets. While you may need some analytical trading expertise and more than a little patience to follow Tharp’s sometimes meandering, stream-of-consciousness views, getAbstract appreciates his idea that investors should know how they think, how they feel and what they’re doing before putting their skin in the game.
To learn more about this book, check out the following link: https://www.getabstract.com/summary/1...
May 1, 2021
Great book. Take your own time to read this book. Its a gem. I havent seen many books deal with Position sizing as well this book does.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews