There’s a lot more to trading than reading charts and placing orders. Controlling emotions and building confidence are just a few of the other critical components to developing a great trader. If you’re interested in learning more about the characteristics that some of the best traders in the world share, we recommend picking up a good book!

Topstep’s lead performance coaches John Hoagland and Dan Hodgman are here to share some of their favorite reads for creating sustainable habits, not just to improve your trading, but also to improve your everyday life.

Hoag & Dan's Reading List

Why Read About It?

One of the most excellent benefits of personal and professional development through reading is that you have the opportunity to put your newly acquired knowledge to the test without leaning on anyone else for help. The more you can understand a subject unescorted, the more you will begin to trust in your own interpretation of what you’re reading when you put it into action. Sometimes trial-and-error can be the single greatest teacher, and you won’t break the bank paying a guru to teach you a lesson that can only be learned through personal experience.

Inspiration can come in any form. Simply expanding on what you already know of a particular subject by just a little bit can be all the motivation you need to begin making significant changes to the way you’re translating the content. Remember, big changes start with small changes.

Some of Our Favorites

Aside from the books that John and Dan mention in the video above, we also provide a small list of books for our team members to read when they are first onboarded to a position at Topstep. This list is hand-picked by our risk managers to help educate new team members who may be unfamiliar with the financial markets. We like to think of these books as a springboard for building a well-rounded education of the business, which benefits both the company and our users.

• CBOT Handbook of Futures and Options
• Enhancing Trader Performance (Psychology)
• Reminiscences of a Stock Operator (Story)
• Technical Analysis Plain and Simple (Chart Patterns)

Conclusion

It’s no secret that the more you learn, the better you are likely to do, and the better you do, the hungrier you will become to learn even more. So don’t get discouraged if you’re stuck in a rut; there’s most likely a book out there with all the answers you need.

Trade Well!