Rating: 
Summary: History repeats itself
Review: This book is the fictionalized biography of Larry Livingston, a speculator from the late 1800s' through the 1900s'. We read about his trading mastery in the "bucket shops", and eventual migration to Wall Street where he becomes a major player, making and losing millions many times over. You'll find a lot of similarities between the current market conditions and its behaviour during Livingston's time. Its amazing how traders used "tips" those days, not very different from how most "individual investors" trade today. Livingston uses various experiences to explain his speculation strategies, which should help everyone somehow. This book is about the psychology of a professional trader, and that aspect doesn't seem to change with time.
Rating:
Summary: This is my "bible" of investing
Review: I have a library of nearly 100 books about the markets. Reminiscences was the third book I ever read and it remains my "bible" more than a decade later. You might wonder how an 80-year old book about the stock market could still be relevant. Well, that is because financial markets are determined by human nature as much as anything else, and human nature acts today as it did a century ago. Greed, fear, herd thinking, impatience - those are the same influences that drive markets today and haunt traders and investors who are striving to make the right decisions. Many of the lessons that dictate my investment philosophy ("Cut your losses, let your winners run", "if you don't like the odds, don't bet") were taught to me by the protagonist, who is the fictional characterization of the legendary Jesse Livermore. That he tells his stories with such color and suspense makes the book completely entertaining beyond its invaluable trading lessons. BUY THIS BOOK FOR YOURSELF. BUY ANOTHER ONE FOR A FRIEND (I've given 4 copies). You'll not only improve your own investing results, but your gift will impress as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining
Review: It is amazing that with all the advancement in technology during this era, the basics of trading remain the same: fear and greed, supply and demand. I found this book enlightening in that it sheds light to human behavior and psychology of trading. If you're looking to find a mechanical system that tells you when and what to buy, go elsewhere. This book though, is a must read for anyone who wants to start trading stocks. I enjoyed it a lot.
Rating:
Summary: History repeats itself
Review: This book is the fictionalized biography of Larry Livingston, a speculator from the late 1800s' through the 1900s'. We read about his trading mastery in the "bucket shops", and eventual migration to Wall Street where he becomes a major player, making and losing millions many times over. You'll find a lot of similarities between the current market conditions and its behaviour during Livingston's time. Its amazing how traders used "tips" those days, not very different from how most "individual investors" trade today. Livingston uses various experiences to explain his speculation strategies, which should help everyone somehow. This book is about the psychology of a professional trader, and that aspect doesn't seem to change with time.
Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting but not particularly useful...
Review: I have read this book several times and always find it entertaining. The psychology of the markets is, I guess, always fairly similar; however, this book will not make you a dime. Do not buy this book if you think that you will learn valuable money making insights by reading it. The worth in this book is in the entertainment value. Experienced traders will relate to certain events and conditions mentioned in this book (at least I do). Really, this book is a just a novel for traders that transcends generations in terms of relevance. Victor Niederhoffer heavily borrowed from this book when he wrote "Education of a Speculator." In that book, he basically said that he would not give up his trading secrets for the price of a book. What came about was a biography on the basics of how he developed his mind of a successful trader. That is the essence of "Reminiscences of a Stock Operator:" how Edwin LeFevre developed his trading mind. Will a neophite leap frog elemental educational experience in the financial markets by instead reading this book? I think not. The neophite will also not learn of a succesful money making strategy by reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: I bought this book after it was mentioned on the book Market Wizards. After I finished reading it, I found myself going back to it over and over again. This is a must read book for anyone that is really interesting in how the trading markets work in real life. It's brilliant, funny... Great!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Dated Yet Insightful
Review: This book's contribution to the literature of the financial markets is incontrovertible. For an investing public starved of trading wisdom in a pre-Markowitz era when stock traders relied more or less on rules of thumb, "Reminiscences" stood out as a true gem. It should be read both as a source of profound insight into the workings of financial markets past and present, and as a critique of speculative activity in the years prior to the bursting of the stock market bubble in 1929. One of the most important lessons mentioned in the book is that a trader does not have to be invested in the market all the time. It sounds hackneyed today, but this tenet is actually difficult to follow in practice, given the propensity of traders and investors to ride out losing positions. It is important to remember that, having been written during a massive bull run and prior to the systemic failure of the stock market in 1929, during which the market's 'boundless hope and optimism', as described in Galbraith's "The Great Crash 1929", run roughshod over sentiments that the markets were overheating, "Reminiscences" should be read with an eye towards portfolio preservation, not injudicious speculation.
Rating:
Summary: Hardcover Marketplace Book version worth the price ?
Review: Wonderful book.
However I wanted a version printed on good paper so it would last a long time.
I bought a very costly hardcover Marketplace copy, just to discover that it was printed on weak paper.
It probably is just the paperback version with a hardcover, for which a 4.5 times the paperback price tag is quite rich.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read if you are interested in the market
Review: This book is a definite must-read for anyone who owns anything in the market. I am reading it the second time, and this is just one month after I finished the first. I use it as a reminder of what's really happening out there, instead of being distracted by the noise. The author writes in a very easy-to-read style which is not common of his time. Through a very direct approach, the reader can easily identify with the emotions of the character. It truly is a book worth owning, and reading again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: Less Than You Expect
Review: The first 50 pages are gripping. The next 50 - 100 pages are okay. After that you start to wonder why you are reading this book. It becomes repetitive. It is about a guy that makes and loses money on the stock market. That is entertaining only to a point. I am sorry but that is my opinion. I read the preview pages on Amazon.com (part of the first 50 pages) and was excited to get the book. But the book just fades away as you read it. I never got beyond about page 200 or so. In retrospect I would not have bought the book. My humble opinion - highly overrated - only 3 stars.. Jack in Toronto
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