Book Review: The Greatest Trade Ever

The Greatest Trade Ever: How One Man Bet against the Markets and made $20 Billion is authored by Gregory Zuckerman. The book is about John Paulson, a hedge-fund manager who made nearly $20 billion in a single year from a single trading idea. John Paulson's trade was in 2008 (when the financial market bubble burst and there was a period of global recession). The book details his decision to bet against subprime mortgages at the end of 2007 and the success that followed throughout 2008. Due to John Paulson's trading decisions in that period, John made one of the biggest fortunes in Wall Street history.

Below is my review of The Greatest Trade Ever...


It's inspiring

As with all biographies about successful traders, this book is very inspiring. It details the story of John Paulson's trade and the return on his speculative activities. From the book we read 'Paulson's winnings were so enormous they seemed unreal, even cartoonish. Paulson's personal cut was nearly $4 billion, or more than $10 million a day. That was more than the earnings of J, K. Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, and Tiger Woods put together. His trades made him one of the richest people in the world, wealthier than Steven Spielberg, Mark Zuckerberg and David Rockefeller Sr'.

It's well-written and entertaining

The book is very well-written and is an easy read. The author has created an entertaining and interesting read. There is very little financial terminology, I feel that even someone with very little knowledge about the trading industry would understand the book.

It provides opportunity to learn

Very little information is given about price, price charts and technical analysis but there is so much to learn from The Greatest Trade Ever. Insights into financial institutions, financial derivatives and the operations of those that work in the financial market industry are shared. The book provides a professional look into the hedge fund industry.

Summary

I highly recommend The Greatest Trade Ever. It has earned a well deserved place on my Top 10 Trading Books list.

If you would like to purchase this book, please use this link if you are in the UK or this link if you are in the US.