byu71 or fmcoug
 

What books would you suggest reading about in regards to futures and options trading. I would like to learn more about how those markets work and the techniques that people use

I wish I could help, I really don't know of any
 

I would make one bet though. After you have read the best books on the subject, 2 years later you will have lost your shirt following their advice.

IMO, Joe Blow has no business messing with derivatives trading and even if they have a professional handling their finances, they should limit his use of them.

"McMillan on Options" by Lawrence G. McMillan is a pretty good primer.

I have also found the Options Industry Council site to have some pretty good stuff. There are tons of "Get Rich Quick" hucksters out there but this seems to be pretty good infor without a lot of hype.

http://www.888options.com/default.jsp

As others have said, tread VERY carefully. I do some options trading, but it's fairly conservative and I have spent a lot of time educating myself.

I guess a simpleton like myself could never understand how the market works. Its best I leave it to the big kids like yourself

this is the approach I would like to take. If I am gonna make it rich it will be by starting my own business. This really would be something I am interested in to learn about.

Umm.... I don't do any derivatives trading, but I'm familiar enough with them and various case studies about them to know they are not a good choice on the risk/reward scale for the VAST MAJORITY of individual investors.

I wasn't saying you couldn't get rich
 

doing it, the point I was making was I don't know of any individuals that get rich trading options and commodities. I am sure there are some, but they probably haven't written a book. Whatever edge they have in that speculative market they wouldn't want to give up.

If you had figured out a way to predict where a housing boom was going to occur every 6 months, would you write a book so everyone could figure it out?

Did Colonel Sanders hand out 3x5 cards with his secret blend of herbs and spices? I don't think so.

Well somebody has to be getting rich doing it. Otherwise why even have the market?