Understand Derivatives in a Day

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The best place to start - Rated
I guess this is a summary of other reviews but it's very simple - if you want to ba able to understand the topic very easily from the basics onwards, this is the book. Other books seek to confuse and wear their learning on their sleeves, but this is deliberately simple. Any student/financial professional in an ancillary market, or any interested person will love it - you can read it in two hours!

Not a bad introduction, a bit lightweight - Rated
It's a good little introduction ... inspite of the errors and inaccuracies another reviewer mentioned.
The book focuses more on explaining what some of the jargon and terms mean rather than explanations of how a derivative is structured and traded.

I'd say the book will let you understand what people say about derivatives, and how they fit into the bigger picture, as oppose to understanding derivatives themselves. I don't suppose there is a catchy title in there though!

A helpful read for a newcomer, but leaves one wanting more. I don't feel ready to tackle one of those weighty tomes explaining derivatives in full ... we need someone to recommend an intermediate book!

Derivatives Dont Have To Do Your Head In! - Rated
'Understand Derivatives In A Day' is a rarity among such titles. For those who are on the first rung of their involvement with derivatives, or indeed the financial markets as a whole, this book starts right from the beginning and is thankfully free of the fearsome jargon which litters most of the books written supposedly for such people and frightens many people away.

The fundamentals- what a trader does, how the markets work and the key instruments- get first dibs in this book, explained in a clutter-free and almost conversational manner which immediately puts the reader at ease. Hypothetical examples are used throughout, and the charts and graphs only come in when a good grounding has been established, so you don't get ahead of yourself and feel overwhelmed at any point.

'Understand Derivatives in a Day' is a gem, a welcome antidote to the shelves of dusty financial encylopaedias that never quite manage to understand the notion of a beginner in financial markets (but everyone has to start somewhere!). Even my mum could grasp the makings of a call option if she read this!

An excellent clearly written guide for everybody? - Rated
The book seeks to lay out the basics of financial derivatives in layman's terms. Various types of traded options are discussed with worked examples that are presented clearly and without unnecessary complexity. The book genuinely does not require prior knowledge, a pre-requisite with many similarly titled publications. Understanding is enhanced by a section of the book titled "when it all goes wrong", which provides real life examples of individuals and organisations who have got it wrong! By no means is this a reference text on the subject and many types of financial derivatices are not covered within the text. But the book is highly recommended to anybody interested in the subject

Derivatives now Deciphered ? - Rated
Well, they are not really even close to being understood in their full context, but the fact of the matter is (if any financial wizzard was honest with himself) that nobody in the world fully understands these complex instruments. Thus we still get these talked up 'systemic risk' shudders once in a while and regulation becomes the forefront of the debate. Perhaps it should be suggested that lack of understanding is the real problem. Though this book does not give anything like the full comprehension of derivatives, it gives a superb 'bluff your way in derivatives' understanding. So that should you find yourself locked into a conversation about these instruments, either in a trendy City wine bar or at a high society party where the host and his other guests hold large portfolios of derivatives, you will definitely not be lost in the discussoin. Indeed, even if you do not frequent these kinds of social events, the book is incredibly intersting in its own right, very coherent and is relevant to every human being who has a bank account, mortgage or pension. (Thats everbody is'nt it ?). I would therefore strongly suggest that you buy this fantastic litlle book and educate yourself immediately. Where it drops a crown is in some of the glaring errors that are riddled about the book. These are not just spelling mistakes, but some other fundamental writing errors. Nevertheless, this is a book not to be missed by ANYBODY.