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Before getting to the technical stuff, read some of the classic trading books: "Liar's Poker" (1989) by Michael Lewis; "The Big Short" (2010) by Michael Lewis; "Flash Boys" (2014) by (surprise) Michael Lewis. These will give you a good overview of the industry, the different players involved, how they interact, and how the industry's changed over the last half century. "Market Wizards" (1989) by Jack Schwager is also a decent read: basically a series of interviews with traders and portfolio managers about their respective experiences and styles. A second edition - "The New Market Wizards" - was published in 2008. For when you get onto the technical side of markets, the bible is "Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives" by John C. Hull is the go to textbook. Be warned, however: it's very expensive. If I can think of any other obvious starting points, I'll post another comment.

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I would read BondArb's guide to trading. About a decade old, but will always be relevant. It's the post that was transformative for me in so many ways. I grew up very modestly, initially could not afford a PA, so I followed his advice while paper trading before opening a live account a year later... still learn't a ton, it's what you make of it.

I would add one point to that post.

Read a ton. I read 75+ markets/trading books freshman year of college alone and then stopped counting. That was a bit absurd, I'd say read at least 5 good books related to a market/ trading style of your choice. Then proceed to read sellside research to cultivate a framework for markets and how to spot patterns in consensus. Closely follow the FT, WSJ etc as well. Anything that you read, think deeply about the implications. This brief interview by a macro PM (and fmr right hand man of a macro legend) sums it up: https://soundcloud.com/ucptl/tips-for-entering-hedge-fund-industry

Oh and please don't read Liar's Poker. Such an antiquated and lame book. Read Reminiscence of a Stock Operator instead. Far more relevant today...

 

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