Customer Reviews

A Maniac Commodity Trader's Guide to Making a Fortune: A Not-So Crazy Roadmap to Riches (Your Coach in a Box)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I see Kevin on TV all the time, and I've read a lot of his stuff, so I was very excited to get my hands on this book. To be honest, it wasn't what I was expecting. But that's actually a good thing.

Instead of the trip into Kevin's head I was hoping for, this is more of a beginner's guide to commodities. Kevin patiently explains the basics, using examples and recalling actual situations to bring the text to life. And it's all presented in the "down home" style that makes him seem like the genuine article.

But aside from some tantalizing looks into Kevin's career, this isn't a book for his diehard fans. It's designed for a wide audience -- people who want to start trading commodities but don't know where to start. Given the knowledge Kevin shares, I think he could easily earn many new fans. And now that he's gotten the basics out of the way (and assuming this book does well), I expect a follow-up book with some really meaty tips for us commodity vets.

This was a great intro to the "scary, hidden" world of commodities trading for someone who hasn't strayed from your usual stocks and funds. I've read so much about the commodity boom that I wanted a way to get involved in more directly than resource stocks. Kevin's book has helped me understand the commodity fundamentals while giving me some confidence to take some steps toward possibly playing the commodities themselves...

I have read many investment books and this is by far the worse. Gets into the basics that one can find searching online. You need rules for trading and accepting losses to cut them short. This book mentions the need for rules but that about it. It leaves the reader to find his own rules.

I purchased this book looking for some insight from a long time success in the commodities markets; what I got was some boilerplate list of "do's and dont's" - - a few anecdotes (entertaining mostly) - - - and not much else.

This Kevin Kerr is one smart guy - - he just should have put a lot more meat on the bones in the whole effort.

While I've been trading for a few years now, I'm still very inexperienced when it comes to commodities. I always wanted to get involved but just never knew how - I was afriad I'd rack up some serious losses just trying to figure things out. I purchased this book becuase I thought I'd gain some insight into the commodities markets and I wasn't disappointed. Kevin provided me with all the tools I needed to feel comfortable with my first trade: essential strategies, insight into reading charts, the statistics I needed to know in order to figure out a company's worth. This is a fantastic book - I highly recommend it.

He explains all the basics in the book, which seem to make me think it's for the newbie. But he doesn't get into details about cutting loses / risk management. He just says that we should and leaves it up to us to figure out how. And this book is too basic for the intermediate or advanced trader.

This is an excellent book to begin with if you are thinking of dipping your toes into the commodities arena. The broad range of topics discussed will open the beginner's eyes to commodities trading.

However, I will recommend Jim Roger's 'Hot Commodities' for a more in-depth discussion on fundamentals and Jack Schwager's 'Market Wizard' series on trading psychology. Good luck!

Okay, true confession time - I know Kevin very well. In fact, I reviewed this book before it was published. But I don't recommend books based on friendship. After all, if I convince you to buy a book you won't like, you'll write a bad review.

If you're smart, and you want to know about the commodity markets, buy this book. I trade commodities and even I learned some things. You get insight into how Kevin approaches trading, and his instincts are razor-sharp. Plus, his personal story is a fascinating one. This book is a GREAT read.

Someone I respect once told me that no one reads beyond the third paragraph of a book review, so I'll end it here. If you are interested in commodities, if you want to know more about trading them, if you want the personal insights of a very shrewd trader, and you want to be entertained along the way, you'll want to read this book.

First I need to disclose that Kevin Kerr has made me money via his recommendations while he was with Agora Financial. I currently do not belong to his independent newsletter.

Prior to reading his book I had a basic understanding of commodities and options. I didn't read the book to specifically learn more about options. I read Mr. Kerr's book because he is very successful at what he does and I like to read books written by successful people in their relative field.

Mr. Kerr's book is best used as a basic concept book to understand trading options. The book is written well and is a page turner, unlike other investment books I have read.

Mr. Kerr describes everything through his experience- which is unique. He ascended from a philosophy graduate to a runner to a successful trader. Not taking anything away from Mr. Kerr, his book indirectly teaches a valuable life lesson: It is more "who" you know than "what" you know to open doors.

Once Mr. Kerr got his foot in the door he then kicked it open with his smarts and hard work.

I would rate this books as a good "primer" book. It is knowledgable, insightful, entertaining and covers the basics to options.

I would like to reiterate advice Mr. Kerr gave regarding a broker, which is find a good one and never mind the fee. That extra advice over a do-it-yourself approach (to which I prefer) can save you big bucks. (I know my commodities and option broker has saved me- and made me- money that I would have lost if I was on my own).

I have read about fifty books on investing and this one is weak on substance. I am sure Kevin is a good trader and I read his articles online, but this foray into book writing is weak. I would only recommend it for the true novice.