This book is a mixed bag. It is a good FIRST book for understanding the basics of trading, as long as you can avoid getting over-confident in the end. Also, ignore the marketing stuff, and realize that it will take many more books and learning to become a successful trader. The assertion of it being a complete guide is simply misleading.

Also, there are some very good lessons in the success stories though they are all success stories. By far, most stories in the real world are not success stories. Each of these stories is by a person who markets some service or product. Some of these services and products are questionable.

The book does give due warnings and somewhat of a realistic view of trading realities in the beginning but in the end, it leaves one with a sense that this book is enough and you are now ready. That's the dangerous part. Do read more before putting your capital at risk.

Use this book to learn the basic terms and concepts. Move to a more earnest and higher level book thereafter. It will take several books and several years to become an expert trader.

This is an excellent choice for anyone that is looking for a book to start out with and learn the basics of trading. The author does an excellent job touching on every topic you will need in trading, some of these are: how greed and fear factor into the markets, how the markets operate, the differences between swing traders, position traders and day traders, the different kinds of orders that can be placed, market or limit, stop order or limit stop order, trading using fundamental analysis vs. technical analysis, and the importance of money management in trading, along with the importance of building a trading system that fits your personality and gives you an edge over the markets.
While experienced traders will get very little out of this book, it is a nice refresher on the psychology of trading and the importance of following your own stock trading system and following your own rules. I rank this book as 5 stars and a must have for traders just starting out, it is a great stepping stone to more advanced books from Alexander Elder and William O'Neal.

When people first think of trading as a profession, they typically focus on two key elements - self employment and lots of money, and probably not in that order. But The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading sheds light on the reality of trading - that it's hard work and, if managed the right way, can be quite rewording.

The book opens with a review of the many emotions involved in trading and how there needs to be a balance to have a successful career in trading. It also offers a detailed look at various types of markets (Broad, Stock, Bond, Futures, Options, Forex and Commodity), the types of traders associated with each (Day, Swing and Position), and an overview of order placements.

In detailed description, the book educates readers considering a career in trading about the ins and outs of the trading profession. With its step-by-step instruction, this book is a terrific business tool for anyone with a desire to participate in the world of trading. It offers fundamental information including a glossary for novices and more advanced information for traders already working in the field.

This is one comprehensive book for anyone considering a career as a trader.

For the serious investor, all the information you need to know and do before you make a trade is in this book. It becomes clear that Northcott wants you to become comfortable with the idea of trading and identifies the many challenges that new traders face. He doesn't send the unrealistic approach that you can win every time, but instead explains that you can trade without risking everything if you follow the guidelines in his book. You begin to discover what category you fit into with the different type of traders that are presented in the book and what might work for you using a variety of trading topics and interviews from those who work in the business everyday. Each chapter ends with a summary and a list of important terms filled with tips to become a natural in investing.

Even if you don't invest, you can understand how investing affects everyone and what it takes to become a part-time or full-time trader. Northcott warns the reader to watch out for greed and fear and lets you know what to expect in the industry. Most of what you need to know about brokers, placing your orders, and how to establish a business plan to make your dreams into realistic goals are in this book. Precise information on the different markets and stock exchanges allows the reader to understand more on market makers and market pricing. The chapter on how to view charts is very helpful in deciding on future investments or to understand current investments and analyze stock trends.

Northcott says there needs to be a balance between being safe and taking risks. I'm a frugal person and not one to take a chance, but I might give it a try now. Although some of the information in this book can be presented clearer at times, this book is easier to understand than other investing books. It gives you the tools to make the decisions you will need to make in this profession that will help you to succeed and recognize an opportunity over a downfall.

This is a book that lacks any substance. There are no real nitty gritty strategies in this book. I thought that it was a poor purchase.

This is the first book I've ever ordered that had me searching for the return policy. The book reads like it's written by someone who cobbled together things that he read about the subject on the internet. The author rarely goes into the details of a topic, and when he does, he has absolutely no gift for explaining it. He also refers the reader to some shady, spammy websites. At the same time I ordered this book, I ordered The Market Guy's Five Points for Trading Success (Monte and Swope). It's a much better read and much more informative than "Short Term Trading".

I have read many books on trading and have never written a review before since I found most of them adequate and worth the price and most already had positive reviews. This book, "The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading" is so inadequate that I feel compelled to write a review as I am just amazed at how awful it really is. I can not even guess why it has so many positive reviews. This book is merely a compilation of the most very basic trading terms and tactics. The author does not present any material which can not be found FREE on ANY trading website under such headings as "Trading 101". Honestly, I feel the only person who can possibly benefit financially from the purchase of this book is Alan Northcott, the author.

I've read quite a few books on investing stocks and bonds and this is the first one that addresses the motive behind it all; Emotions. I particularly liked the "Success Stories," a brief yet in depth look at those who have prospered from using this book. As the chapters proceed, stock market buzz words and other important terms are explained in easy to understand, layman's terms. This book provides an entertaining and practical read.

This book is absolutely horrible, just got it out of the mail, within 20 seconds of skimming through it, I considered discarding it. It's that bad, all the basics covered in the book can be obtained free off the internet. Hell, the internet can educate an aspiring trader better than this book. Nothing but shallow basics, lack of depth and substance; anybody who intends to arm themselves with soley these basics should not consider partaking in the war against Wall Street. You can't win with this book, I could've wrote the book.

I purchased this book based on the positive reviews. However, the title and the content are misleading. The information in the book is very general and can be found on the internet. In fact, spending some time at the[...] free Chart School website will give you more information than this book. Don't waste your money.

The Complete Guide to Investing In Short Term Trading by Alan Northcott is a great tool for the novice and seasoned trader alike. It gives real life examples of how traders have won big, lost their shirt and everything in between. The author is much like a personal business consultant. He shows you how to get started and build your business into a long-term, profitable entity. The strategies in this book are priceless. Industry experts convey the same information at seminars and workshops for enormous sums of money.

So whether you are trying to decide if trading is for you or you're reaching for the stars. The Complete Guide to Investing In Short Term Trading is sure to launch you to new levels of success.

This book is a full-on crash course in short term trading. Although it's designed to educate beginners there's a ton of advanced material in here. Luckily, Alan Northcott breaks down this dense subject matter into clearly-defined subsections and tackles each piece individually. It made me feel like I had a good understanding of concepts that I previously had no knowledge of, like how to place different types of orders and buying stocks on margin. Before I picked up this book my eyes would just glaze over when I looked at a price chart, but by the time I got through the chapter "Caught on the Technicalities" I was actually excited to watch CNBC!

Throughout the text there are short "Success Stories" that are enjoyable to read and that help put the high volume of technical information into a more personal context. Overall, it's a well-presented introduction to an intimidating subject. Of course, there were several sections I had to read a few times (as well as others that were much quicker to read through). I found it very useful that bullet points and lists of key words to know are provided at the end of each chapter. The glossary in the back of the book is also great for quick reference.

I really appreciated Northcott's blunt approach and constant cautions not to get carried away. While I've read other books on investing that emphasize how much can be gained from the markets, Northcott rarely goes a few pages without reminding the reader that thrilling highs can easily turn into devastating lows. (This point hits home especially hard when he discusses the current state of the economy.)

This is easily one of the most useful books I've read in a long time and one I'll return to when making potentially expensive decisions. Hands down, any book that could help me feel confident about tracking indicators and questioning an analyst deserves a full five stars.

Just reading through the table of contents may seem daunting for this incredibly detailed and well broken-down text. But don't put it back on the shelves simply because of information overload! This book claims to be a complete guide to investing, and it takes that claim seriously. The strength of this book, in my opinion, is its variety of voice. Technically, it has one author. But between the covers are numerous interviews and personal stories on success and failure of stock market trades- not fictional scenarios, but real anecdotes from real (and often well known) `expert' traders. There is also the layman's approach to it all, with a glossary of terms and handy information `bullets' in the back of each chapter (in case the words were making your head spin). The author also does not cushion us readers with false hope or any sugar-coated lies about ease and success- which, as a beginning stock trader, I greatly appreciate. So, although it may take you weeks to fully comprehend the mass of information here, stick with it. Because, as we all know, playing the market is based on education, not luck, and so if you're a beginner in short term trading you should do your best to educate yourself fully. And this book should be a part of that education.

I wish I had read this book years ago -- I may have been able to react more appropriately (ie: I wouldn't have tuned out, or my eyes wouldn't have crossed) when my husband raved about a stock that he had just sold at a profit, or another one that he was watching as CNBC pundits argued in the background. I'd go into the "huh? zone" because I didn't understand what he was talking about when he referred to futures, options, puts and calls. All I vaguely knew was that a stock going up in price was a good thing, and you buy low and sell high. So, while I'm not planning to do any short term trading, this book gave me a better understanding of trading in terms that I could understand.

I sailed through the first several chapters in which Northcott went over the basics: supply and demand, global influences, the mindset of a trader, the differences between the markets and exchanges, placing orders, the types of traders, economic indicators and the tools that are needed to be a trader. Northcott's cheat sheet at the end of each chapter offers a quick look at the chapter in the form of "success bullets" and "words to know" that I found helpful and invaluable to someone using this as a reference book. I did start to get into the "huh? zone" around Chapter 8 when Northcott went into the nitty-gritty world of charting, and I found my reading slowing down as I stumbled over candlestick charts and support, resistance and continuation patterns. His lesson on indicators (ie. Moving Average Convergence/Divergence indicator and the Stochastic Oscillator) go into a detail that should make this book required reading for the beginning trader.

The next several chapters aren't a quick read - in fact, they'll take several re-readings and a highlighter. But they're basic tools for anyone wanting to research and trade on the markets.

I closed the book with new knowledge and a better understanding of just how risky and exhilarating short term trading can be. This book doesn't offer a get-rich-quick plan, but it does provide a look at the basics of what it takes to do this kind of trading. Throughout the book, Northcott stresses that short term trading is a business, so the novice needs to think of it that way. Don't let emotions like greed and fear get in your way. Come up with a business plan and stick with it: do research to get in or out of the markets, and know the point when you've got to fold and get out.

I'd give this book five stars and recommend it as a required reference book on the shelf of anyone who dabbles in buying or selling on the markets to those who want to make it a career.

The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading is a good, basic book on short term trading. This is no "get rich quick" scheme. Northcott is blunt and to the point about the advantages and drawbacks of short-term trading. He gives a detailed analysis of the stock market - its history as well as the basics of how it works. His style is easy-to-read and straightforward, so you absorb the complex information fairly easily.

This book does assume you have some knowledge of business. It's not going to teach you how to handle taxes from your trading profits, for instance. What it does and does well, is guide you through the different types of trading, giving you the advantages and disadvantages of each. Each chapter gives a bulleted review of the information you should have absorbed from the material as well as a vocabulary list of concepts you will have encountered. The book contains an excellent glossary so that you can review terms easily. He explains how to read charts and trends,

Because Northcott does not encourage taking foolish risks, and is realistic about how one will do in the short-term trading world, he makes suggestions about how to practice what you've learned before you risk any of your own money. Being a realistic author, he also dips into lifestyle, discussing the stress and demands of being a short-term trader.

It was refreshing to read a book on short-term trading that did not seem like a get-rich quick scheme, but a solid analysis of how to succeed in such a demanding field.

It's no secret that short term stock market trading can lead to big profits... that is, if you know what you're doing. The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading, by Alan Northcott, teaches you exactly how to safely earn a high rate of return by short trading in the stock market. Short term trading means buying and selling certain stocks over a short period of time, earning the investor fast profits. This comprehensive book covers everything from getting started in short term trading to reading charts, picking the right stocks, and even how to handle fees and taxes. It leads the reader to maximize profits while avoiding the common pitfalls of short term trading. Readers will also learn the "lingo" of a short term trader, how to recognize profitable trading signals, and information on options, bonds, currencies, futures, and more. Alan Northcott's trading methodology is laid out seamlessly in this easy-to-understand, well-written, and very readable book. His trading strategy makes sense to this seasoned investor and I am excited about the possibilities this book offers. I believe the information in The Complete Guide to Investing in Short Term Trading is a valuable asset for beginning traders or for stock market pros.