general

This book is a good starting point for those unfamiliar with "The Way of the Warrior". Although it is for the "warrior-trader", the principles McCall writes about are applicable for everyone. If you apply the methods described in this book, you will definitely see an improvement in your life and also your trading.

As a martial arts instructor, McCall of course knows a lot about the principles he writes about. However, his comparative lack of knowledge of trading shows and the book is weakest in the parts where he attempts to describe how to apply those principles to trading.

The beginning chapters are better written than the last few chapters. The author prefaces everything with "The Way of Warrior..." and uses "warrior this" and "warrior that" over and over again which gets rather tiresome. It should be understood that when reading a book entitled "The Way of the Warrior-Trader", the principles contained within are those of "the Way of the Warrior". Zen meditation, the central concept of this book is well described and easily understandable and applicable for those who have never meditated before. However, deeper understanding of the techniques of Zen meditation should be obtained by reading other books such as "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind".

Still, you should definitely read this book to understand the importance of self-discipline and self-mastery not only in successful trading, but in all aspects of life. Other books to read that further explore this subject are:

Trading in the Zone- Mark Douglas (for more specifically applicable trading psychology)
Art of War- Sun Tzu and The Book of Five Rings- Miyamoto Musashi (for more on warrior principles and tactics)
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind- (for more on zen meditation).

I've read several books on the market related to trading psychology and found "The Way of the Warrior Trader" to be the best for me.

Subsequent to reading this book I developed an interest in Zen and Taoism which I continue to research. This book, however, is still superior from a trader's point of view.

The lessons imparted in this book have been particularly valuable in helping to "Pull the trigger" and maintain a balanced mental state while trading. This book also serves to offer many valuable insights which inspire the trader to continually improve.

The format for each chapter of this book has 3 parts. Part one is an introduction by way of Samurai legend. Part 2 offers the main teaching lesson. Part 3 involves how the lessons of this chapter have helped improve the performance of a particular trader.

Due to this format and the author's writing style this book has not only been the most helpful for me, but the easiest to read and most entertaining.

Any serious trader, I believe, should continually try to improve his/her performance. I also believe that a trader should read more than one book related to trading psychology, but if I had to choose one this would be it. For me, a few chapters of this book were worth much more than the price of this book.

Trade Hard!

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is also one of the most useful books I have ever read. I have traded futures for a couple years now and in the past 3 months I have decided to try to pick up my game. I have read Reminiscenses of a Stock Operator, Market Wizards, the New Market Wizards, High Probability Trading, and a few others. I am nearly finished reading Trading in the Zone by Douglas (a great book). I bought all of these from Amazon.com based on the reviews I have read here. I have learned much from all of these books and recommend all of them without reservation.

"The Way of the Warrior-Trader", however, is definitely unique. And I don't mean that it is simply an interesting novelty, it is much, much deeper than that. This book transcends trading and yet, at the same time, I think it is a more pertinent book for most traders than all of the above (in my opinion Trading in the Zone is equal to this book for traders, but it has a narrower focus). The other books tell you how others succeeded, but this book prepares YOU to enter the fray with the proper motivation and battlefield psychology.

PLEASE don't think this is just another mushy self-help, positive thinking book. Far from it, this is a reality-based, purpose-driven book that prepares you for the dangers and potential rewards that lie ahead. He eschews the typical shallow and covetous motivational approach, and takes a much deeper and much more effective "way". One that will not sound like every other "Retire rich in 3 years!!" book that you will forget 30 seconds after you finish the book.

This book is about more than trading, it is about risk-taking in general, be it financial, personal, physical, emotional, etc. If you have a dangerous or challenging job or are facing a challenging situation in life, I would not hesitate for a second to recommend this book. It is really that good. Just the "A" in "A.CT.I.O.N." alone has changed my entire approach and outlook to trading and others issues in my life. Very similar to Trading in the Zone, but from another angle.

This book does not appeal to your longing for riches or "lottery ticket" dreams, rather, it appeals to human issues that are much deeper and more enduring. You will find yourself motivated on a different and higher level, and this new motivation will be of a more permanent nature. I am what many of you would call a fundamentalist, right-wing, Bible-thumping Christian, yet, I was able to pass by some of McCall's Eastern religious views because I was moved by his message and his encouraging approach. Very much the approach of a kind and attentive instructor gently leading his pupils to a new way. Irrespective of my ultimate success or failure as a trader, I have gained much from this book that I can use in many other areas of my life. I highly recommend it.