Been trading for a while now but mostly just winging it with YouTube videos and random articles online.
Figuring it’s time to actually read some proper books about options trading. Want something that covers the basics without being too complicated.
What books helped you guys when you were starting out?
Books are fine, but options concepts click way better when you see them in action. I learned more from actually trading than reading theory for months.
That said, “Option Volatility and Pricing” by Sheldon Natenberg is solid once you get the basics down. Don’t jump into complex strategies right away - just focus on calls, puts, and how time decay actually hits your positions.
This video breaks down the fundamentals in a way that makes sense:
Paper trade everything before using real money. Books teach you the rules, but the market teaches you how to actually play.
YouTube almost killed my first trading account - I figured I could skip learning the basics.
McMillan’s Options as a Strategic Investment saved my account from total blowup. It’s tough to get through but worth it.
I got burned for $800 on a covered call because I didn’t understand assignment risk. That book would’ve saved me from that stupid mistake.
Mobile trading taught me you need the basics down before jumping into complex strategies.
McMillan’s Options Made Simple beats his bigger book - it covers fundamentals without drowning you in advanced theory.
Learn time decay and how it hits your positions daily. I lost money because I didn’t understand how fast options lose value.
Start with basic calls and puts, then move to spreads once you’re comfortable.
Natenberg’s tough without solid math skills. Try these first:
• Options Made Simple - McMillan
• Getting Started in Options - Thomsett
• Then tackle Option Volatility and Pricing
Learn the Greeks before jumping into strategies. Math beats YouTube every time.
Trading Options Greeks by Dan Passarelli helped me understand delta and theta properly.