Books on Options

Paul Madison on

My friend and well known investing teacher/presenter Saul Seinberg
sent along the following list books on options for your consideration.
If Saul is recommending them, I am sure they are good.

There were a couple of recent postings in the Cool Tool discussion
group about books on options. Here is a list of books that I often use
as a helpful set of references. Feel free to send the list to others.
Let me know if you would like my rating for each book and keep in mind
that a McMillan book would be best for an intermediate or higher level
option trader while it would be a poor choice for a beginner. Both of
the Cohen books are good.

1. Options Made Easy, Guy Cohen (2nd edition)

2. The Bible of Option Strategies, Guy Cohen

3. New Insights On Covered Call Writing, Richard Lehman & Lawrence McMillan

4. McMillan on Options, Lawrence McMillan (2nd edition)

5. Options As A Strategic Investment, Lawrence McMillan (4th edition)

6. Getting Started In Options, Michael Thomsett

7. Options Trading For The Conservative Investor, Michael Thomsett

8. Selling Covered Calls, Charles Caes

9. Options: The Investor's Complete Toolkit, Robert Kolb

10. How I Trade Options, Jon Najarian

One final note on Najarian's book. It is more a description of his
career and floor option trading than it is a set of specific how-to
trading rules, strategies and tactics, but it's an interesting read
anyway or was for me. The book is more than 10 years old and the tools
and advice mentioned are somewhat outdated, but a library copy will
make for an enjoyable rainy weekend read. I really enjoy listening to
Jon (and his twin brother Pete) when they are on CNBC's Fast money
segment.

Saul...

Elliott, Ron on

Just wanted to mention that Mary Ann Davis (InvestEd instructor and the lady who introduced me to covered options) has recommended the following books for beginners (both are by Paul D. Kadavy):

        Put Option Writing Demystified
        Covered Call Writing Demystified

These are fairly inexpensive, spiral-bound books that are pretty informal and almost conversational in their approach. I will say that, if you've been following Paul's excellent presentations to the Cool Club, and continue to do so in the months ahead, you'll likely pick up most everything that's covered in these two books (and then some). But sometimes it helps to have material in a book format or to hear things from a slightly different perspective.

  --Ron

-----Original Message-----
From: cool_club@bivio.com [mailto:cool_club@bivio.com] On Behalf Of Paul Madison
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 7:34 AM
To: cool_club@bivio.com
Subject: [cool_club] Books on Options

My friend and well known investing teacher/presenter Saul Seinberg sent along the following list books on options for your consideration.
If Saul is recommending them, I am sure they are good.

There were a couple of recent postings in the Cool Tool discussion group about books on options. Here is a list of books that I often use as a helpful set of references. Feel free to send the list to others.
Let me know if you would like my rating for each book and keep in mind that a McMillan book would be best for an intermediate or higher level option trader while it would be a poor choice for a beginner. Both of the Cohen books are good.

1. Options Made Easy, Guy Cohen (2nd edition)

2. The Bible of Option Strategies, Guy Cohen

3. New Insights On Covered Call Writing, Richard Lehman & Lawrence McMillan

4. McMillan on Options, Lawrence McMillan (2nd edition)

5. Options As A Strategic Investment, Lawrence McMillan (4th edition)

6. Getting Started In Options, Michael Thomsett

7. Options Trading For The Conservative Investor, Michael Thomsett

8. Selling Covered Calls, Charles Caes

9. Options: The Investor's Complete Toolkit, Robert Kolb

10. How I Trade Options, Jon Najarian

One final note on Najarian's book. It is more a description of his career and floor option trading than it is a set of specific how-to trading rules, strategies and tactics, but it's an interesting read anyway or was for me. The book is more than 10 years old and the tools and advice mentioned are somewhat outdated, but a library copy will make for an enjoyable rainy weekend read. I really enjoy listening to Jon (and his twin brother Pete) when they are on CNBC's Fast money segment.

Saul...

Saul Seinberg on

Ron,

I have two more books on options written by Kadavy in addition to the two you cited. Kadavy also wrote a couple more books I see listed at Amazon that I have not read. One benefit of an Amazon presence is that you can see portions of each book online and thus make a more informed decision about purchasing a book.

The additional Kadavy books I have are similar or even redundant in some respects to each other and the two books cited in your email because of the use of common material, evidently for purposes of making each book a stand-alone volume. If anyone is interested in the Kadavy books, you should try to examine them to see if the duplicated material is a potential issue. Both these books might be of subject matter interest because of the most recent topic covered in the Cool Club.

The other two books I have are:

Covered Call Writing With Qs and DIAMONDS
Covered Call Writing With Exchange Traded funds (ETFs)

The Qs and DIAMONDS book has a fair amount of technical analysis material including modest sections on Bollinger Bands and Support and Resistance levels. The ETF book barely mentions technical analysis. For better or worse, neither book includes any strategies based on technical analysis.

I know that Mary Ann likes the Kadavy books since she recommends them. We even briefly discussed their merits a few years ago at an InvestEd event. I'm lukewarm on them at best for several reasons. I like the Cohen book Options Made Easy a lot better. However, it's different strokes for different folks and it would be prudent for any Cool Club participant to take a look at all the recommended option books, either in their local library if possible or on Amazon before making any purchases.

It was good of you to bring up the Kadavy books.

Saul...

On Sep 20, 2012, at 10:27 AM, "Elliott, Ron" <ron.elliott@okstate.edu> wrote:

> Just wanted to mention that Mary Ann Davis (InvestEd instructor and the lady who introduced me to covered options) has recommended the following books for beginners (both are by Paul D. Kadavy):
>
> Put Option Writing Demystified
> Covered Call Writing Demystified
>
> These are fairly inexpensive, spiral-bound books that are pretty informal and almost conversational in their approach. I will say that, if you've been following Paul's excellent presentations to the Cool Club, and continue to do so in the months ahead, you'll likely pick up most everything that's covered in these two books (and then some). But sometimes it helps to have material in a book format or to hear things from a slightly different perspective.
>
> --Ron
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cool_club@bivio.com [mailto:cool_club@bivio.com] On Behalf Of Paul Madison
> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 7:34 AM
> To: cool_club@bivio.com
> Subject: [cool_club] Books on Options
>
> My friend and well known investing teacher/presenter Saul Seinberg sent along the following list books on options for your consideration.
> If Saul is recommending them, I am sure they are good.
>
>
> There were a couple of recent postings in the Cool Tool discussion group about books on options. Here is a list of books that I often use as a helpful set of references. Feel free to send the list to others.
> Let me know if you would like my rating for each book and keep in mind that a McMillan book would be best for an intermediate or higher level option trader while it would be a poor choice for a beginner. Both of the Cohen books are good.
>
> 1. Options Made Easy, Guy Cohen (2nd edition)
>
> 2. The Bible of Option Strategies, Guy Cohen
>
> 3. New Insights On Covered Call Writing, Richard Lehman & Lawrence McMillan
>
> 4. McMillan on Options, Lawrence McMillan (2nd edition)
>
> 5. Options As A Strategic Investment, Lawrence McMillan (4th edition)
>
> 6. Getting Started In Options, Michael Thomsett
>
> 7. Options Trading For The Conservative Investor, Michael Thomsett
>
> 8. Selling Covered Calls, Charles Caes
>
> 9. Options: The Investor's Complete Toolkit, Robert Kolb
>
> 10. How I Trade Options, Jon Najarian
>
> One final note on Najarian's book. It is more a description of his career and floor option trading than it is a set of specific how-to trading rules, strategies and tactics, but it's an interesting read anyway or was for me. The book is more than 10 years old and the tools and advice mentioned are somewhat outdated, but a library copy will make for an enjoyable rainy weekend read. I really enjoy listening to Jon (and his twin brother Pete) when they are on CNBC's Fast money segment.
>
> Saul...

Ira Haas on

Just to put out one more title. The book that got me started on options is
"Get Rich with Options" by Lee Lowell.
Ira Haas

-----Original Message-----
From: cool_club@bivio.com [mailto:cool_club@bivio.com] On Behalf Of Saul
Seinberg
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 1:04 PM
To: cool_club@bivio.com
Subject: Re: [cool_club] Books on Options

Ron,

I have two more books on options written by Kadavy in addition to the two
you cited. Kadavy also wrote a couple more books I see listed at Amazon that
I have not read. One benefit of an Amazon presence is that you can see
portions of each book online and thus make a more informed decision about
purchasing a book.

The additional Kadavy books I have are similar or even redundant in some
respects to each other and the two books cited in your email because of the
use of common material, evidently for purposes of making each book a
stand-alone volume. If anyone is interested in the Kadavy books, you should
try to examine them to see if the duplicated material is a potential issue.
Both these books might be of subject matter interest because of the most
recent topic covered in the Cool Club.

The other two books I have are:

Covered Call Writing With Qs and DIAMONDS Covered Call Writing With Exchange
Traded funds (ETFs)

The Qs and DIAMONDS book has a fair amount of technical analysis material
including modest sections on Bollinger Bands and Support and Resistance
levels. The ETF book barely mentions technical analysis. For better or
worse, neither book includes any strategies based on technical analysis.

I know that Mary Ann likes the Kadavy books since she recommends them. We
even briefly discussed their merits a few years ago at an InvestEd event.
I'm lukewarm on them at best for several reasons. I like the Cohen book
Options Made Easy a lot better. However, it's different strokes for
different folks and it would be prudent for any Cool Club participant to
take a look at all the recommended option books, either in their local
library if possible or on Amazon before making any purchases.

It was good of you to bring up the Kadavy books.

Saul...

On Sep 20, 2012, at 10:27 AM, "Elliott, Ron" <ron.elliott@okstate.edu>
wrote:

> Just wanted to mention that Mary Ann Davis (InvestEd instructor and the
lady who introduced me to covered options) has recommended the following
books for beginners (both are by Paul D. Kadavy):
>
> Put Option Writing Demystified
> Covered Call Writing Demystified
>
> These are fairly inexpensive, spiral-bound books that are pretty informal
and almost conversational in their approach. I will say that, if you've
been following Paul's excellent presentations to the Cool Club, and continue
to do so in the months ahead, you'll likely pick up most everything that's
covered in these two books (and then some). But sometimes it helps to have
material in a book format or to hear things from a slightly different
perspective.
>
> --Ron
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>

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