The 11 Best Swing Trading Books for Traders
A list of the best swing trading books on swing trading
Swing trading can be incredibly complex, and that means it takes some advanced knowledge as well as subject matter understanding for swing traders to be successful. Finding good, reliable, and accurate sources of information becomes essential if you're trying to learn more about swing trading.
What is Swing Trading?
Swing trading is a trading practice that involves making short-term asset transactions on financial markets in an attempt to profit on those transactions. Swing trading differs from traditional investment, which is characterized by "buy-and-hold" asset purchases that last years or even decades as a way to increase value in those investments; in the case of swing trading, an asset is purchased and then sold just a few days or weeks later when market volatility creates a temporary valuation increase that provides profit.
Understanding how and when to make swing trading transactions is so much more than just buying low and selling high. To be truly successful you need to understand how markets work as well as how to forecast their fluctuations in advance. This requires deep knowledge of not just basic economics but also technical analysis and market indicators.
While swing trading approaches do evolve over time, published books and guides are some of the best sources of information on how to become an effective swing trader. These books are typically written by experts with decades of experience in swing trading, and these authors are adept at helping you understand the complex topics they discuss in ways that are easy to comprehend.
The Best Swing Trading Books
Below we've gathered nearly a dozen of what we feel are some of the best swing trading books available today. We've chosen books that are written well, explain their subjects thoroughly and in ways that can be understood easily, and are relevant for the 2023 markets.
Books on swing trading can be a fantastic resource - especially because with a field as dynamic as swing trading, the learning should never stop. Here are 11 of the best swing trading books for traders in 2023.
Written by Brian Pezim, this book is considered well-written, easy to understand, and offers not just a good, solid overview but also delves into topics of some complexity as well. We feel it's an ideal place to start for beginners due to how well it sets down the fundamentals of swing trading. At the same time, even a more advanced swing trader could find this book useful as well because of the vast breadth of subjects it covers.
5 Secrets To Highly Profitable Swing Trading
Written by Ivaylo Ivanov, this book is well-known for getting straight to the point with no fluff. The direct approach means that you don't spend time reading things that aren't going to be useful in becoming a successful swing trader. The guidance is specific and systematic, allowing you to set up your own swing trading by following these simple, straightforward steps. In our view, this makes the book a great choice if you're looking for a no-nonsense approach to the mechanics of swing trading. This book also does an excellent job of explaining the basics around technical analysis.
Written by Fernando Oliveira, this book is unique in that it's a collection of interviews with modern traders that focus on each of their different techniques and approaches. This means the book offers a wide range of input from active and successful traders, making it a treasure trove of both theoretical knowledge and practical application. We feel that, based on the content, this book is best suited for intermediate to advanced swing traders looking to broaden their approaches to trading. Given its relatively advanced nature, feel free to get to this book only once you have understood the basics.
Written by the folks at Alpha Bull Traders, this book is true to its name in that it's a solid guide for absolute beginners looking to get into swing trading for the first time. It's full of advice that's highly applicable for anyone with little to no knowledge of swing trading, and it spends plenty of time debunking myths and revealing the truth all in an easy-to-follow, accessible format. We feel this is an excellent book for anyone just starting out, but it shouldn't be the only book in your library!
Written by Omar Bassal, this is another example of how even a basic book clearly geared towards beginners can be an excellent resource for anyone. The "For Dummies" series of books has a strong reputation for providing strong foundations for the subject they're on, and this book is no different. In our opinion, it's an excellent overview of swing trading that also offers practical advice on how to get started and the core philosophies that go into swing trading.
Mastering the Trade: Proven Techniques for Profiting from Intraday and Swing Trading Setups
Now in its 3rd edition, this book is written by one of the most successful swing traders in modern times and it shows. A combination of insightful market overview with trading concepts and strategies, the book is fantastic for taking a basic knowledge and understanding of swing trading and taking it to the next level. For this, we feel that this book is an excellent choice for beginners ready to make the jump to intermediate trading.
Swing Trading as a Part Time Job
This book, written by Brett Brown, is fantastic in expanding an existing knowledge set with solid and effective techniques. Much of the book delves into how to apply technical analysis more effectively to swing trading, with the rest offering solid advice and guidance on how to avoid some of the most common pitfalls that swing traders run into, like making trading decisions emotionally instead of logically. In our opinion, this book is a great choice for intermediate to advanced traders looking to deepen their skillsets.
This classic guide has been updated for modern audiences, resulting in a highly timely approach to swing trading that stresses knowledge, focus, discipline, and systematic approaches. This newest edition incorporates many cutting-edge techniques to swing trading. We feel that this new, revised edition is a must-have for both new and experienced swing traders looking for one of the most solid and no-nonsense guides around. The revised version also incorporates updates in technical analysis methods, especially as more pricing and volatility data has become available to investors now.
Another well-known book by Alexander Elder, this one is a natural companion to the previous entry on our list, as it expands past those topics and delves into even more detail. Instead of focusing extensively on technical analysis, this book focuses, in great detail, on time, money, and strategy management, all of which are crucial skills for a swing trader. In our opinion, this is a must-have for your library if you're a fan of Elder's other books; while it can be read independently, it's most useful if you have some of his others.
Swing Trading for Beginners & Swing Trading Strategies
Both titles in this bundle, written by Matthew Swing, are ideal for anyone looking for what amounts to a full course in trading that focuses on proven and practical methods for success as a swing trader. The first volume focuses on the basics of swing trading and the tools necessary to be successful, such as technical analysis. The second volume is a collection of practical guides with proven approaches, with each analyzed in detail. We feel that this bundle is perfect for the beginner trader, one who's brand-new to swing trading, based on its comprehensive and step-by-step approach.
Swing Trading: Power Strategies to Cut Risk and Boost Profits
Written by John Markman, this book offers insight into several different swing trading strategies, how they work, and how to incorporate them into your own trading activity. The book profiles different traders that adopt each of these approaches, with a chapter devoted to a single strategy. In our opinion, this isn't a great book for beginners as it assumes you already know the ins and outs of swing trading. Instead, it's a good resource for experienced traders looking to broaden their horizons.
Swing traders need more than just a solid foundation in the concepts behind this type of trading - they need additional tools to actually make trades. Online trading platforms like Composer are essential to this process, as not only do they provide access to markets that assets can be bought and sold but also provide invaluable tools like data visualization for technical analysis. Composer stands out thanks to its advanced "no code" automation tools as well as its friendly and informative user community that's always willing to help lend a hand.
Swing trading's complexity means you'll need solid knowledge of how it works and which strategies are most likely to be successful when implemented properly. The books on this list are an excellent place to start. Check out Composer if you want to get started on your own swing trading journey.
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