Review
"...a lively and absorbing account of a trading legend..." (Lloyd's List, 23 November 2001-12-03)

"...another rich vein of fascinating wit and wisdom..." (The Independent, 8 December 2001)

Business Book of the Week (Money Week, 7 December 2001)

"...really enjoyed reading..." (Amply Interactive Investor, 13 December 2001)

"...if you want a good read about a compelling story which gives much perspective on Wall Street in the first half of the twentieth century, this is recommended reading..." (erivativesreview.com December 2001)

"...accessible biography...detailed and intimate account..." (Moneywise, January 2002)

"Smitten has contributed more, extending Livermore's account and making his market smarts newly accessible." (BusinessWeek, February 11, 2002)

"...very difficult to put down once you've begun..." (Gulf Business, June 2002)


Review
"...a lively and absorbing account of a trading legend..." (Lloyd's List, 23 November 2001-12-03)

"...another rich vein of fascinating wit and wisdom..." (The Independent, 8 December 2001)

Business Book of the Week (Money Week, 7 December 2001)

"...really enjoyed reading..." (Amply Interactive Investor, 13 December 2001)

"...if you want a good read about a compelling story which gives much perspective on Wall Street in the first half of the twentieth century, this is recommended reading..." (erivativesreview.com December 2001)

"...accessible biography...detailed and intimate account..." (Moneywise, January 2002)

"Smitten has contributed more, extending Livermore's account and making his market smarts newly accessible." (BusinessWeek, February 11, 2002)

"...very difficult to put down once you've begun..." (Gulf Business, June 2002)


Money Week, 7 December 2001
Business Book of the Week


Amply Interactive Investor, 13 December 2001
"...really enjoyed reading..."


erivativesreview.com December 2001
"...if you want a good read about a compelling story which gives much perspective on Wall Street in the first half of the twentieth century, this is recommended reading..."


Moneywise, January 2002
"...accessible biography...detailed and intimate account..."


BusinessWeek, February 11, 2002
"Smitten has contributed more, extending Livermore's account and making his market smarts newly accessible."


Gulf Business, June 2002
"...very difficult to put down once you've begun..."


Book Description
"An excellent read."-Ace Greenberg, Chairman, Bear Stearns

Richard Smitten's Jesse Livermore is the first full biography of the legendary trader profiled in the bestselling Reminiscences of a Stock Operator (Wiley: 0-471-05970-6). Although he died more than half a century ago, Livermore is considered by today's top traders as the greatest trader who ever lived. An enigmatic loner, misanthrope, and notorious miser, Livermore revolutionized the profession with his innovative timing techniques, money management strategies, and high-momentum approach to trading stocks. Smitten provides a vivid portrait of Livermore and the times in which he lived and operated. He deftly combines eyewitness accounts of those who knew Livermore with fascinating stories of sensational love affairs, shootings, and suicides, and a detailed exploration of the trading strategies that made Livermore several fortunes in his lifetime.
Richard Smitten (Key West, FL) is the author of several books, including The Godmother, the critically acclaimed story of a famous woman criminal.


From the Inside Flap
"Wall Street never changes, the pockets change, the suckers change, the stocks change, but Wall Street never changes, because human nature never changes."–Jesse Livermore Immortalized in the fictionalized bestselling investment classic Reminiscences of a Stock Operator as "Larry Livingstone," Jesse Livermore is considered by many to be the best trader in history. Now, for the first time, the complete true-life story of one of Wall Street’s most intriguing and successful figures comes to life in Jesse Livermore: World’s Greatest Stock Trader. Take a revealing and intimate look into the life, mind, and financial prowess of this legendary trader through family interviews, professional triumphs, and the revolutionary trading techniques he developed. Detailing Livermore’s personal life story, author Richard Smitten vividly depicts the never-before-revealed private side of this enigmatic man, while educating you on the trading principles, timing techniques, and money management strategies that made Livermore several fortunes over his lifetime–when he adhered to them. Livermore ran away from home in 1891 at the age of fourteen, with five dollars in his pocket. He started his stock market career as a chalkboard boy in the Boston offices of PaineWebber. A year later he was trading full time. He accumulated so much money by the time he was twenty that he was banned from all the "Bucket Shops" of New York and Boston. With his radical trading methods and an unlimited amount of patience, Livermore cornered the cotton market and made a killing in the stock market crash of 1907, amassing more than $3 million in one day. J. P. Morgan personally asked him to stop shorting the market. With friends like financier Bernard Baruch, Walter Chrysler, Charlie Chaplin, and Alfred Sloan of General Motors, Livermore walked among giants and learned many lessons along the way. He sold the market short in 1929 and entered the depression with $100 million in cash. Livermore eventually discovered that social status and money could not help battle depression or repair disintegrating marriages and distant relationships with his sons. In the only extensive biography of Jesse Livermore, you will stand at the center of his fascinating universe and watch him evolve. Experience the man, myth, and legend as you trace his progress from different wives to different trading strategies, Long Island estates to Palm Beach resorts, yachts, and private railway cars. Capture, for the first time, the full story both personally and professionally of the most successful trader of all time in a nonstop story of trading, triumph, and tragedy.


Back Cover Copy
The True Life Story and Time-Tested Strategies of the World’s Greatest Trader "Excellent read! Captures the spirit and times of Jesse Livermore, legendary trader. The book tracks two major market crashes, love affairs, the shooting of Jesse Jr. by his mother, and two family suicides. . . . Never a dull moment." –Ace Greenberg, Chairman, Bear Stearns "Terrific. I started reading it when we took off from Seoul’s Kimbo Airport on my way to Germany. By the time we reached Novosibirsk, Russia . . . I had finished it. I just couldn’t put it down! Not only is it a great lesson in investing and trading, it’s a fascinating psychological study of what makes a great speculator tick. The rise and fall of a great speculator as well as the rise and fall of his family is great reading. The fact that it is based on interviews with Livermore’s survivors and witnesses to the events makes it even more interesting. Great writing."–Mark Mobius, Managing Director, Templeton Asset Management "As one of the most shrewd traders of all time, Jesse Livermore demonstrated how important discipline is when trading the market. Smitten . . . covers how Livermore created his rules . . . also reviews the lessons Livermore learned along the way to develop his strategies."–William J. O’Neil, Publisher, Investor’s Business Daily "A stock market classic! Most entertaining and informative book on the market that I have had the privilege to read in the last twenty years. A must-read for students of the stock market–great even for those who have no knowledge of the market. Grabs you from the start and holds you enthralled from cover to cover. Great book!"–Dan Sullivan, Publisher, The Chartist, Fund Manager, and Investment Advisor "After reading Smitten’s magnificent biography, two Japanese proverbs came to mind: ‘Fortune favors the bold’ and ‘Darkness lies one inch ahead.’ Smitten shows how fortune and darkness were integral parts of Livermore’s life . . . has the intrigue of a mystery novel and the lessons of a trading master. What more can one ask for? I eagerly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, the markets, and trading psychology."–Steve Nison, author of Japanese Candlestick Charting


About the Author
RICHARD SMITTEN is a full-time author and trader who resides in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He holds a BA in English from the University of Western Ontario. As executive vice president of MTS International, he oversaw personnel on North Sea oil rigs, the design of the Dassault Mirage jet fighter, and security for the then newly discovered Nigerian oil fields. He also worked for the Vick Chemical Company where he became marketing director of the Canadian division. Smitten is the author of a number of books, including The Godmother, Capital Crimes, and Legal Tender, and the coauthor (with Robin Moore) of Inside the Cocaine Cartel.

FROM THE PUBLISHER