Investor's Library

Review of
No-Hype Options Trading: Myths, Realities, & Strategies that Really Work

By Kerry W. Given, Ph.D.

Reviewed by Karris Golden, President and COO, Wasendorf & Associates Inc.
(Traders Press Inc.®, W&A Publishing, SFO magazine)

It's hard to separate options education from hype. Exaggeration, unreasonable expectations and crazy promises seem inextricably linked to the idea of trading options.

As a result, readers who have been burned by the many get-ridiculously-rich-unbelievably-fast promises that too often accompany options books may read this title and believe it to be a clever marketing ploy: No-Hype Options Trading. The author is just trying to suck you in to another slick "How would you like to make 300% in three weeks" scam, right?

Not Kerry "Dr. Duke" Given -- not ever. He has a stellar reputation as a straight-talker and is the only options coach and educator who publishes his trading results live as they occur.

From the outset, Dr. Duke's No-Hype Options Trading addresses the difficult question: Why another options book? Why now?

Dr. Duke explored all the available options literature and realized something was missing: "The existing options trading books fall broadly into two categories: (1) How to become financially independent in two weeks, and (2) How I made a fortune trading on the exchange floor."

Dr. Duke makes this point for hyperbolic effect, admitting the exaggeration glosses over "several excellent options trading books". However, the generalization serves a valid purpose in that it illustrates the difficulty of determining which options trading books deliver sound information.

It's clear that No-Hype is about adding something valuable and necessary to options education. That's essential at a time when trading options is hotter than ever. As the author notes, options education is "infamous for outrageous marketing claims and sales pitches".

The book is called No-Hype Options Trading because there isn't any -- hype, I mean. There's no confusion, either. Dr. Duke begins with laying the foundation, which allows you to determine your style and approach. Practice exercises are dispersed throughout the book, reinforcing the skills learned at each level. (Don't worry; the answers are at the end of the book.)

As you progress through No-Hype, you're introduced to general strategies before you have to delve into increasingly more difficult concepts.  

Dr. Duke writes well and should continue to write often. He's an excellent teacher, whether his audience is readers his monthly Stocks, Futures, Options column, "Ask Dr. Duke", or those who attend his regular webinars. He has a genuine ability for explaining things, which makes No-Hype Options Trading a real gem.

More information and full details on this book are available at:
http://www.traderspress.com/detail.php?PKey=906