The Art of the Trade: What I Learned (and Lost) Trading the Chicago Futures Markets (Hardcover)

by Jason Alan Jankovsky (Author)
Key Phrases: technical analysis, trading police, shabby guy, The Trading Police, The Day, Bought the Low (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Art of the Trade is a searing portrait of the futures and options industry as seen through the eyes of someone who has participated in this arena for more than twenty years. On one level, its a brutally honest, no-punches-pulled look at the individuals and institutions that comprise this unique community. On another level, The Art of the Trade is a personal story of the challenges author Alan Jankovsky faced as he battled the markets, the brokerage industry, and his own early penchant for self-destruction.

From the Inside Flap
Trading is an intensely personal and subjective endeavor—one that is more an art than a science. And like all forms of art, the results are clearly visible, but the struggles of the artist involved are rarely ever seen.

Over the course of his career, author Jason Alan Jankovsky has experienced both the best and the worst that trading has to offer, and now, in The Art of the Trade, he puts this discipline in perspective by taking you on a personal journey that reveals the harsh dynamics of this world.

The Art of the Trade is a searing portrait of the futures and options industry as seen through the eyes of someone who has participated in this arena for more than twenty years. On one level, it's a brutally honest, no-punches-pulled look at the individuals and institutions that comprise this unique community. Page by page, Jankovsky deftly describes the pseudo-professional brokerage offices that spring up like weeds in Chicago's financial district, only to suddenly disappear months later, and lays bare an industry where drug use, financial irresponsibility, and personal vendettas are commonplace—and where the customer is often the victim.

On another level, The Art of the Trade is a personal story of the challenges faced by Jankovsky as he battles the markets, the brokerage industry, and his own early penchant for self-destruction. With each chapter, Jankovsky takes you through his journey of self-discovery and discusses what it takes to succeed on your own terms. He skillfully shares his hard-won experiences—from realizing that markets have a reality all their own to unlearning things we might consider essential to trading success—and shows you how these insights can put you in a better position to make it as a true trader.

Both entertaining and informative, The Art of the Trade will help you come to grips with the realities of trading today's markets and deal with the constant state of adversity that is so much a part of them. With the lessons found throughout this book, you'll be prepared to survive and thrive in an environment that is far from stable.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (October 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470138998
• ISBN-13: 978-0470138991
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #153,742 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book is just as the title says it is, October 4, 2008

By	Haritasha "haritasha" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

I have to give this 5 stars because the book is just as the title says it is. It is about what Jason learned and lost trading the Chicago Futures Markets, so no one should be surprised or disappointed.

"The Art of the Trade" part of the title should really be "The Art of Jason's Trade", but that is ok. One thing about Jason is he has no lack of ego. If ego were energy, this guy's ego could power the entire city of Chicago, but that actually makes this book a little more interesting. To see and feel his ego boldly and unashamedly served up and spatula-spanked point blank right into your face is kind of entertaining.

He has had an interesting career with brokers and he shares not only the experiences he has had, but his thoughts and feeling towards those experiences and how it affected him personally and emotionally. Anyone that has traded for any length of time can relate to many of the emotional turmoils that this business can manifest.

Don't buy this book expecting a "how to" book on trading. He does have some verbiage alluding to some trading theory, but again, like his other book, he doesn't really give you anything you can use. For example, he tells the reader to figure out where the loser is in any given trade situation, but doesn't really tell us how to do that - which is actually the most important part. It's like telling us the secret to trading is to buy low and sell high, but if he doesn't tell us how to do that, then it is really a worthless statement.

So if you are interested in reading about the career and personal thoughts of a trader, and would like a little insight into how bizarre the world of brokers can be, and how it has affected this trader through good times and bad times, then this book is for you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will change the way you look at trading forever and for the better!, November 3, 2008

By	X. Li - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is monumental and it will lead to a paradigm shift in the way you look at trading and conduct technical analysis. As the author stated in this book "trading becomes effortless and a way of life (borrowing his words "meaning of life")."

It's just an incredible transformation process you will go through as you study this book and finally get his points. During this transformation you will look at market and price movements more objectively, subsequently, to exploit market volatility.

The author is brutally honest and straight forward in telling his story, which I appreciate immensely. There're sections of the book you may find irrelavant to what you are seeking, please (PLEASE) don't let it or the author's sarcasm distract your search for gems in this book. He knows what he is talking about, he has the "secret", and he is the master of this trade. Respect it, appreciate it, and read, re-read, and study this book until you understand and grasp his point of view - they are priceless!

I am eternally grateful to the author for sharing his journey of life in this book. Trading is not about techniques or price, it's a MIND thing! Trading is not hard, it's US - who we are - that makes it hard!

Thank you, Jason!!!

PS. You can also google and read his interviews, columns, and broadcasts on the web. I find them helpful.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great info, iffy presentation, March 16, 2009

By	Lucas Trengove "Tarigal" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This book has some really great things about it, and some really iffy things about it. If you do not know, then this is a reprint of the book "Dancing with Lions" written by the same author. I have never read that book, but I was drawn to read this book when I heard some people I know mention it, as well as after I read this guy's other book: 28 rules that work (something like that). Here is the break down:

PROS:

-This book has it; it has the key to trading, and it is right in front of your face. If you pick this book up and throw it down in disgust, you missed something very important. One of the leading causes of trading woes is when people do not understand the true nature of the market. After reading this book, pick up some Mark Douglas, or Rem. of a Stock Operator, or any other book you know that is packed with trading wisdom. You will start to see points from this book in those. Once you understand truly the nature of the markets, then right action becomes self evident, and to not make money in the market, you have to TRY to not make it. Once understanding comes, you will flow with the market and all the riches you imagined can be yours. But do you understand its true nature yet?

-I liked the way this guy told stories, and although some of them were pretty outrageous, without speaking to their validity, they were entertaining. I also think his stories got the points across.

-Some really great lines in this book that point to deep truths about both the markets, and reality. "There are only two realities, yours, and the right one." Also, when talking about the fact that when two people trade, they both believe totally opposite things, he says (I am paraphrasing): "That little thing that makes you believe your trade is right, that is why you lose." These sayings have some really deep truths to them, but you have to truly understand reality, as well as the market for these truths to set you free. This book has these truths, and discusses them in a way that can give you an understanding if you are open to it.

CONS

-This book, while probably better edited than the earlier version (from what I have heard), still is filled with quite a few mistakes. Mostly harmless things, like forgetting to put a space or two after sentences, or some small spelling errors. Still, it is not up to this publisher's standards and the errors in this book should be redone.

-This guy is a pretty sarcastic dude at times. It is actually a bit mind-boggling because at times, he seems very wise, and at others, he is like a closed off Neanderthal. A lot of his stories seem like bragging, but then he acknowledges this and this can be confusing about his intentions.

-It can seriously get annoying with how many times this author says "I wont go into that, but you know," "I wont say the name of this, but you know," or something to that effect. This happens once or twice, its not a big deal. But this guy does it quite a bit, and you start to wonder why he has to do this in the first place, what is he trying to hide? The cloak and dagger stuff he does is the exact opposite to the confident trader that he is trying to portray. Plus the book isn't that long, what is another few pages describing things you mention? This can be all very confusing, and sometimes exasperating, almost like a wise man who every once and awhile turns into a child. But I do not know this guy, nor the circumstances under which he wrote the book, so whatever floats his boat is fine.

Conclusion:

I would say, no matter the downfalls of this book (like mentioning 100% winning traders; seriously? I mean even if you know one, why mention it, its entirely unbelievable), it does have wisdom in it, and it has the type of wisdom in it that you CAN come back to. At its price, it is a no-brain buy because I know for a fact, you can come back to this book and its message will fit what you are currently experiencing. Like all great wisdom, a lot of people will not see it on the first, or even the second run through. That is fine, just keep it on your book shelf and know its there, and one day, you may decide to pick it up and it will speak to you.

That great line "You will Know the Truth, and it will set you free" really is the essence of this book. If you are struggling trading, the truth is right in front of your face, and it has been waiting for a long time to set you free if you open yourself to it. I know I have had to get smacked with a loss bat numerous times to open my eyes. If you are at the point where you are totally exasperated with your performance, your are angry with yourself and your emotions, pick this book up and KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.