Customer Reviews

Charlie D.: The Story of the Legendary Bond Trader

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When this book first came out, I was a bit skeptical. It is not often that a man that you have never met decides to honor your own father, but chooses not to speak to you about him. I grew up with Charles DiFrancesca. He was my father, my best friend, and a true mentor. The stories in this book, however lavish they might seem, are true, but I cannot begin to express how much was left unsaid.

Charlie D was clearly a great guy. Reading of his struggle with cancer and how he dealt with it was the most inspiring part. Also the testimonial from his former girlfriend was enjoyable. Unfortunately, the writer was very jumpy and didn't consistently tell the story. The parts on trading were particularly boring and not helpful. I did enjoy the book based on the personality of Charlie D which comes thru along with the anecdotal stories. Be prepared to skim the slow parts.

I think the this book has been totally misunderstood by most people, because while it is about trading, it is not a trading book like Borcillino's book or "pit bull." It is a beautiful story about a man who overcame great odds...it just so happens to take place on the trading floor, which makes for great drama for finance and non-finance types alike

Charlie D is a wonderful biography that I could not stop reading. It helps put things into perspective. Investing and making money is one thing, but you have to live life as well otherwise you won't be able to appreciate your work and money. This book will give some motivation and help your psychological frame of mind, but will not directly help your stock picking and trading like the other books.

Charlie D was clearly a great guy. Reading of his struggle with cancer and how he dealt with it was the most inspiring part. Also the testimonial from his former girlfriend was enjoyable. Unfortunately, the writer was very jumpy and didn't consistently tell the story. The parts on trading were particularly boring and not helpful.

I did enjoy the book based on the personality of Charlie D which comes thru along with the anecdotal stories. Be prepared to skim the slow parts.

I read this book very quickly and thought it did a fairly good job of telling the reader about Charlie D's life. My main complaints are that I felt there had to be more people that could provide information on Charlie D then just the few mentioned. I would also like to know what happend to the surviving family members?

The meat is in Charlie D's lecture, a little foreplay before, nothing later on. The rest of the book looks like it is written for the Sports Illustrated book of the month club.

"The principles of trading are the same if you're trading 10,20,50 or 100 contracts at a time, or if you're simply trading one. But it takes less time to make more money when you're a larger trader."

When Charlie figured out trading calendar spreads was the most consistent way to make money he mastered the concept and started trading 50-lots at a time instead of always living in fear of losing money trading 1-lots.

He took little blips out (of the market) with enormous size.

Everybody's trading price relationships, you have to have a position on to earn a living. The bigger the position the less time it takes and the more you earn. Always challenge yourself to do it bigger and better and with more size.

"The longer time you serve ... with a position on, the more you know about yourself and the more you know about trading."

"One of the most important things you learn with positions on is how to get out of a trade. You have to take losses today so that you can come back tomorrow."

"The time you know you've become a good trader is that first day you were able to win by holding and adding to a winning position."

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We all know that Charlie D was a legendary spreader. However, this is the most drab, dull, boring biography that I have read with the possible exception of Lewis Borsellino's new book which is just as pathetic. You will not learn anything about strategy or money managment. Read "Pit Bull" or "Education of a Speculator" or "Soros on Soros" if you want good reads. Some book sellers are marketing Fallon's book as full of great trading nuggets and so forth. Do not be misled, this is one boring book with almost nothing to offer except for a very cursory look at life on the trading floor.

For ANY trader...this book is a total winner. In an age electronic finance, where "trading" is so far removed from the "relational" nature of the act itself, I thought this book was a DELISH exploration of the culture of floor trading (a dying art) and a cool nod to the roller-coaster high stakes game of finance that is played on the floors of Chicago's futures exchanges. Quick read version: check out the "god doesn't trade bonds" chapter.. you won't find a better description of "market making"

Charlie D is a wonderful biography that I could not stop reading. It helps put things into perspective. Investing and making money is one thing, but you have to live life as well otherwise you won't be able to appreciate your work and money. This book will give some motivation and help your psychological frame of mind, but will not directly help your stock picking and trading like the other books.