The 4 Best Swing Trading Books
Swing trading is a trading strategy that involves buying a stock (or other asset) and holding it for as little as a day and as long as a few months. Although it is an aggressive strategy, it is less aggressive than day trading, which involves buying and selling an asset on the same day.
Swing trading is hard to get right, and it’s definitely not for people new to investing. To help you learn more about swing trading so you can (hopefully) make a profit, we’ve rounded up the best swing trading books.
Best Overall: “Mastering the Trade” by John F. Carter
This book is a good choice for beginners and people already familiar with swing trading. The first section covers the basics such as how the markets work and the motivation behind your trades.
The second section dives deeper into swing trading in particular. You’ll learn things like pivot points, scalping, and ways to decipher when an asset is going to gain or lose value. The final section focuses on real life scenarios, including tips and insights from several successful swing traders.
Best for Beginners: “Swing Trading as a Part Time Job” by Brett Brown
Brown breaks down the basic concepts of swing trading chapter by chapter. You will learn how swing trading differs from day trading and position trading, and how swing trading can help you achieve your specific goals rather than the other two. You will also learn how to choose a broker, trade stocks and options, and identify trends on charts.
Ideal for technical analysis of swing trading: “How to Swing Trade” by Brian Bazim
There are many great books on technical analysis. “How to Swing Trade” is our top pick in this category because it focuses specifically on how to use technical analysis for swing trading. (Some books talk about technical analysis in general, or how to apply it to other types of trading.)
Technical analysis is a tool that uses a company’s past performance to predict its future performance. This book covers many aspects of technical analysis, and it devotes three of its 15 chapters to different aspects of technical analysis.
Best for swing trading psychology: “The New Trading for a Living” by Dr. Alexander Elder
Although this book does not focus solely on swing trading, it is valuable reading for anyone interested in swing trading. Elder begins the book by diving into why you might want to trade and what lessons you should learn before you trade. It also covers classic trading topics, such as market indicators and risk management.
Finally, he concludes the book with tips, homework, and thoughts to help you move forward and become a successful trader.
Other Swing Trading Books We Considered
We reviewed over a dozen swing trading books before picking our favorites. The following books don’t stand out as much as our top picks, but you may still be interested in reading them. Since swing trading is a complicated and risky strategy, it may be useful to know more about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is swing trading?
Swing trading is an aggressive trading strategy. Unlike day trading, you will hold a stock overnight at least once. You can even hold it for a few months. Then you use technical analysis to decide when to sell, hoping to maximize your profits.
You can also trade trading assets other than stocks, including crypto, options, forex, and more.
What is the best swing trading book?
The best book on swing trading will depend on how much you already know about the subject and what you want to learn. John F. Carter’s “Mastering the Trade” is Insider’s top pick because it covers a variety of topics and can be useful to swing traders of all skill levels.
Is swing trading always profitable?
Yes, swing trading can be profitable if you have a deep understanding of the market and develop a solid strategy. Because it’s risky, it has the potential for big wins, but also big losses.
