Rating: 
Summary: The book is too simplistic.
Review: I believe that Amazon has the highest profit margin on this book, and they push it. it is too simplistic and lacks reality. As an example, in its childish description of sigma, it incorrectly refers to it as Beta in a vain attempt to attract beer guzzling frat house brothers.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent start to learning about option trading
Review: I recommend this book to investors who are considering adding options to their investment strategy. The examples of option trades in this book are key to undertanding how options work. The author makes it clear that there is no magic in trading options, and that options can be speculative or very conservative, depending on how they are used. I found the Wade Cook series to be full of motivational babling, while this book is simple and informative. This book can be read in an evening or two, and will provide a no-nonsense introduction to option concepts.
Rating:
Summary: an excellent starting point for understanding options!
Review: This book is ideal for the novice interested in understanding and trading options. With examples and scenarios given throughout it clears up any questions one might have regarding what was just read. I wish that all options books were as easy to understand as this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Just what I was looking for
Review: The best book for beginners that I've found. Did a great job of explaining things except for one point. He uses the term "selling" (options) to explain both selling a previously bought option to close a position, and for "writing" an option. Using different terms would make things more clear.
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: After reading this book I felt it was a waste of my time. It reads like a book that is writen by a book writer that has not much experience with the subject. It takes the basics and makes it a struggle to read. Impersonal and dry.
Rating:
Summary: Basics of option strategy and trading
Review: I would not dare to call this book the most profound one on the market. It gives great foundation for any person who is a novice in the derivitives field. The author seems to ramble at some points, but it is for the benefit of a learner. He is fond of repetition-is-the-mother of-learning strategy and drives his point home quite successfully.
Rating: 
Summary: Options -- not just a high-risk idea
Review: Options can be risky, OR they can be used for very conservative strategies, some of which could be highly profitable and even fit within a restricted investing plan.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Gentle Introduction the Needs Editing
Review: Thomsett presents a good introduction for those who know nothing about options. Some of the terms he uses ("striking price" instead of "strike price" for example) are not standard in the industry. I suspect this has been repaired in later editions.
The graphs do not convey as much information as they could. For example, instead of a two-dimensional graph of underlying share price vs. option value, Thomsett simply offers a simplistic one-dimensional `profit'/`limited-loss'/`loss' diagram. By overly simplifying concepts, Thomsett has weakened his work. Anyone with a modicum of mathematical skills will feel frustrated using this book.
Rating:
Summary: welcome to the 3rd edition
Review: Thank you for your interest in the 3rd edition of my book. And thanks to those who took the time to share their opinions and to review the book. The idea here was to provide basic, basic information about a rather complex field. This is achieved by providing definitions in the margin where applicable ideas are first introduced; the use of many examples; checklists; charts and graphs; and comparisons. Please also check out the other Wiley books inm the "Getting Started" series.
Rating:
Summary: Good for beginners - moves a little too slowly
Review: An informative book, which stays away from some of the more complex concepts of options analysis and trading. Lots and lots of examples using all types of options trades and basic spreads. A little more economic theory regarding the pricing of options would be helpful.
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