What did we all get for xmas?

virtuos0

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I always like to have a few surprises, so each year I like to ask some relatives/friends to just pick any old random trading book. This normally turns up some weird and wonderful choices, and this year was no exception.

"Inside the Mind of the Turtles" by Curtis Faith greeted me this year. I cried a little inside as I unwrapped this book, I wouldn't touch this with a bargepole if I saw it in a bookshop. In fact I would probably not even handle it without gloves in case it made me dumber by osmosis.

But anyway, I decided to put aside my prejudices and give it an honest read. It met my expectations and so much more! This was quite literally the worst book I have ever read. Everything about Mr Faith screams 'lucky fool'.

I don't think I've ever read a book where it is so blatant that it's simply an attempt to write a book out of 'nothing'. Curtis has nothing to say. All we get here is a glimpse of the vacuum that fills the space between his ears.

The way you can tell he is fake is that he barely writes about trading in this book. Its paltry 210pages is crammed with examples of risk and uncertainty in just about every arena other than trading. If you want to learn about how to set up and run a software company, or how to act in the operating theatre of a hospital, or how to safely rescue someone from a capsized boat, this is the book for you!

Luckily I also chose for myself a number of books, so far I have got through "FIASCO" by Frank Partnoy and "Inside the House of Money" by Steven Drobny, both of which are written by real traders who have experience and understanding of how it all really works. I thoroughly recommend both.
 
A gift pack of various foreign beers and sh1tloads of Mrs Bridges sweets.

Bollokcs to trading books ...who needs them ?
 
An electronic picture frame, a bottle of brandy and an IQ test for my dog. So I've ordered a Marc Rivalland book from amazon as a gift-to-self, should be here mid-week and looking forward to it.
 
I got a pony, some WKD and a bracelet.
Also; a card i got had a strange message in it ' Time to come out, and tell us all ' ... But i just ignored it and watched High School Musical 3 in blu-ray.
 
I got a pony, some WKD and a bracelet.
Also; a card i got had a strange message in it ' Time to come out, and tell us all ' ... But i just ignored it and watched High School Musical 3 in blu-ray.

A pony... WKD... a bracelet... High School Musical? I thought you were a bloke for some reason.
 
An electronic picture frame, a bottle of brandy and an IQ test for my dog. So I've ordered a Marc Rivalland book from amazon as a gift-to-self, should be here mid-week and looking forward to it.
I hate to poop on your christmas, but that book you ordered is garbage.
 
A pony... WKD... a bracelet... High School Musical? I thought you were a bloke for some reason.
I thought I wouldn't enjoy high school musical until I watched some and realised it's packed to the rafters with gyrating teenage girls.
 
I thought I wouldn't enjoy high school musical until I watched some and realised it's packed to the rafters with gyrating teenage girls.

Buy High School Musical! Great Love Story! Catchy Tunes! Gyrating Teenage Girls!
 
A gift pack of various foreign beers and sh1tloads of Mrs Bridges sweets.

Bollokcs to trading books ...who needs them ?

You I would imagine

Each to his own - some find some use, others not.

increase_the_peace_tshirt-p235519806381047554q6wh_400.jpg
 
I hate to poop on your christmas, but that book you ordered is garbage.

hhmmm. Well until it gets here and I've read it, I can't agree or disagree, hey...*grins, wipes the cr*p off Christmas, and goes back to IQ testing my dog, seeing as it's snowing and I can't take her a walk*
 
How would you know if you have never read a trading book?

That is an exceedingly good point.

I have just never felt the need to read anything which I would imagine to be incredibly boring.

After all, actual trading is very boring in itself so I suppose reading about it would be even more tedious.

Anyhow, as you say, each to his own.

Talking about books, I also received Edward Rutherfurd's "New York" from Santa.
 
That is an exceedingly good point.

I have just never felt the need to read anything which I would imagine to be incredibly boring.

After all, actual trading is very boring in itself so I suppose reading about it would be even more tedious.

Yes, it is boring but if it made you a better trader? Of course, no guarantees but if you haven't tried something related that could help you how would you know. And just because someone approves of it or says it's rubbish, should you really take their word for it? :D
 
2 x Wallander books
1 x Clive James book
1 x Don Quixote
1 x book on wine
Battleships (the game)
Homebrew kit
Socks

Quite looking forward to attempting to brew my own rocket fuel. Glad I got some socks too.
 
2 x Wallander books
1 x Clive James book
1 x Don Quixote
1 x book on wine
Battleships (the game)
Homebrew kit
Socks

Quite looking forward to attempting to brew my own rocket fuel. Glad I got some socks too.

Why does everyone get socks on Christmas? What happened to your previous socks? Why don't you just buy new socks when you need them instead of wearing your sweaty ones all through 'til Christmas? :smart:
 
2 x Wallander books
1 x Clive James book
1 x Don Quixote
1 x book on wine
Battleships (the game)
Homebrew kit
Socks

Quite looking forward to attempting to brew my own rocket fuel. Glad I got some socks too.

I too enjoy socks, although sadly it seems that the irrational prejudice against those articles in gift form has infected those I hold most dear. This year I received none.
 
Why does everyone get socks on Christmas? What happened to your previous socks? Why don't you just buy new socks when you need them instead of wearing your sweaty ones all through 'til Christmas? :smart:

Scientists have proven that the average lifetime of a pair of socks is 363 days.

Also me and my Mrs don't discriminate on sock ownership and pairing of socks so they get lost generally and die twice as fast. It's either that or my kids make a lot of sock puppets when I'm not around.

I also think there is an old chinese proverb that says something along the lines of if you have 2 pennies to spend, spend one on bread and the other on socks.
 
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