Binge Trading

by Seth Freedman

What is it like to make millions before you turn 20? What drives City traders to excess in their quest for extreme wealth? And what happens when they lose it all overnight? This is the first account of life in today's Square Mile, laying bare the tricks, lifestyles and minds of the men who gamble with millions and influence all our lives. It's a thrilling insider story, full of anecdotes and personalities in the style of Liar's Poker and Kitchen Confidential.

Genres: Nonfiction, Economics, Finance

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

Reviews

[Neko · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll fully admitt I purchased this book when I saw it in a 'online bargin bin' and that's where it should of stayed!!

This book to me is unfinishable because his style of writing is so stodgy. I don't know who edited this book but they did a rather poor job.

I usually give books more of a chance incase I formed the wrong opinion, so I flipped through some chapters and still saw the boring writing style and thought to myself, 'Instead of trying to read through all 300 pages I'm just going to quit while I'm ahead.'

Bit of a shame really but there are better books for me to be spending my time with!

[Cass · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few interesting ideas, points & facts here & there but otherwise I found this book difficult to read regardless of interest and poorly edited

[Matthew Eyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unpleasant book about unpleasant people. The result of Thatcher's enthusiastic invitation to the greedy to be, well, greedy was never going to end well. So while all these odious people are lauded, the country has suffered ever since. Even Metallica's "Sad but true" quote seems woefully inadequate for these wretched individuals. Even our prime minister made his fortune in this brutal trade. Small wonder he is quite content to vote down pay rises for nurses and free meals for children. Charles Dickens, thou should be living at this hour!

[Tiru Arasu · Rating 1 out of 5]

more abt cocaine than stock trading.he has spilled some beans about insider trading and trading techniques for the common man.

[Simon Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't see the point of this book. It's divided into chapters but none of them have a distinct theme. The book simply seems to consist of numerous interchangeable interviews with deeply unpleasant, highly aggressive men who work in the City of London.

The subtitle - The Real Inside Story of Cash, Cocaine and Corruption in the City - is misleading too. I'm sure any area in which lots of young people work together - holiday reps, for instance - has high levels of cocaine usage. It's not central to the text at all, although it makes the book sound more interesting than it actually is. There's very little about corruption either. There's a lot about money, but then you'd expect that for a book about the City of London. But insight or clarity? Forget it.

Only slightly more interesting than those BUY THIS STOCK NOW spam emails that I receive from time to time.

[Joseph Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at the Perth Airport prior to leaving for Heathrow via Abu Dhabi. I bought it because it is written specifically about the hidden lives of stock brokers in London.
This autobiographical account of Seth Freedman begins with his brokering at the peak of the internet boom period. This book provides an answer to the psychological questions behind what drives and ignites the big-game traders. It is interesting, though very concerning, just how similar the trading market and brokers are to Casinos and their dealers.
This book highlights just how powerful and dangerous money can easily become.

[Fiona Pearse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting look into the hyperactive, manic lifestyle of traders and the lack of rules they thrive under. Freedman possibly more interesting than the book reveals.