Mastering the Trade, Third Edition: Proven Techniques for Profiting from Intraday and Swing Trading Setups 3rd Edition

I recently finished (in less than 2 weeks) reading Mastering the Trade (3rd Edition) by John Carter, and I have to say, this book is a game-changer for anyone serious about trading (whether by day, swing or long term). I’m giving it 5 stars without hesitation.John Carter does an excellent job of breaking down complex trading concepts into actionable strategies, but what truly sets this book apart is how much time he dedicates to the psychology of trading. Despite being extraordinarily successful, Carter’s writing makes it clear that he’s been through the grind—the ups and downs, the blown-up trading accounts, the hard conversations explaining a bad trading day to a loved one. It’s raw and real, and it resonated with me deeply.Carter’s honesty about the emotional rollercoaster of trading—dealing with overconfidence after a streak of wins, the crushing self-doubt after big losses—makes this book relatable. He doesn’t just teach strategies; he teaches survival. The psychology aspect is so gigantic in trading, and Carter provides incredible tips to help manage emotions, avoid costly mistakes, and maintain focus under pressure.One of the biggest practical takeaways for me was the TTM Squeeze indicator, which I’ve fully embraced as a core part of my strategy. Carter explains it clearly, providing step-by-step guidance on how to use it to time entries and exits, especially in volatile markets. Since incorporating it into my trading, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my results.Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned trader, this book has something valuable for everyone. Beginners will appreciate the approachable explanations, while experienced traders can refine their strategies and gain new insights. If you’re serious about trading, Mastering the Trade isn’t just a book—it’s a survival guide for navigating the markets and thriving in them.

I'm giving this book 5 stars even though I'm only on page 26 because if the remainder of the book is like the first section, it's going to earn my praise. If it doesn't, I'll come back and revise the stars awarded. I stopped here to offer this review because of something very personal included in his book: a letter from his wife explaining what she had to go through during the 15 years she had to endure on John's journey. It's something every trader's partner should read. I've never encountered this before, but I feel it shows the transparency John is affording his reader about his life as a trader. I've traded stocks for a decade and just began trading options and wanted to quickly get beyond the beginner level. Risk management is key and believe me when I say you can become poor very quickly trading options. John does a good job explaining risk management. Ignore this and you'll die very, very quickly. No cash...game over. Just because you're a good stock picker doesn't necessarily translate to options. This should not be the book if you don't know the difference between a call or put, but I can already feel this is one of the most important books I'll ever read on the necessary mind set needed to become a full-time trader. If you're not serious, you won't spend the money on this book. But I can tell you it'll be money well spent, just to hear John's wife tell you that success can be yours if you're willing to devote 10 years to the process. No joke. It's taken 10 years to become a good stock picker, and I guess it'll take another 10 years to master option trading. Oh well, I have no where I have to be. :-)

My 20 year old grandson requested this book for Christmas and he LOVES IT! He said he’s learning so much from it. This kid is brilliant and the fact that has had this book on his wishlist proves that. I have to admit this is a topic I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT, I’m not even sure what all that “trading” stuff is about. Or what it means. Even the title is confusing to me. 🤯What I CAN SAY as a lover of books, is that it was a great price, it arrived in perfect condition, it is beautifully bound and well made, and the pages are printed on wonderful paper. If I wanted to appear uber intelligent and interesting, I would happily display it on my coffee table. My grandson loves this book, therefore I LOVE this book. Very happy!

This is a very thorough book on effective trading using Carter's proprietary indicators as well as indicators available on most platforms. I was disappointed that he barely scratches the surface on effective hedging although some options have some built in hedge like long diagonals and debit spreads. Hence the 4 star rating, otherwise deserving of 5 stars. Other topics are thoroughly discussed and usually have an abundance of examples. Pitfalls and downsides of trading are well covered as is trading psychology and common trader errors. You will not see trading through rose tinted glasses here. All in all, a good value and it will definitely boost your trading acumen.

Good mix of the trader's psychology, with some moderately entertaining biographical elements, and real trading strategies. There are lots of actual examples of each strategy (not fake ones) that were useful for me to get the exact idea right. Very helpful. The psychology is very accurately described as well. I feel like some people in this field publish books only as marketing material to get you to buy their service, but this is not at all one of those books.That said, I traded with his group for a while and they are a great group and run a no-nonsense business. They share their full thoughts, exact trades in and out, and are unusually nice people! There is more promotion of every new seminar, etc for sale than I prefer, but I also understand that is their business. Anyway, the book is a pleasant read and very useful.Good online supplementary videos as well.However, I disagree with his suggestion that it's ok to trade options without knowing much about them. They are complex, highly leveraged trading instruments that can move fast due to factors you should understand.