The Trading Game: The No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller

I've watch Gary Stevenson on YouTube and am familiar with what he is trying to do, which is help people understand why the economy is failing and why we need to tax the ultra rich, and stop believing the narrative being fed by them about immigrants. It made me curious about him, and after hearing him talk on a podcast about his book, and them saying it is as much about the class system as being a trader, I decided to buy it and read it. I though it might be a bit beyond my understanding, all the maths and financial stuff, but like with his videos, Gary explains it in easy layman's terms, about how he became a trader, what that means and also what it involves. It helps that I come from London, and have worked in large banking institutes like Citibank, and know a few people who are traders and brokers. I understand the lifestyle and the type of people - though Gary explains that really well, and is funny with it. It's a book that documents the financial crash of 2008 - and explains why it happened and why the economy won't recover from it. It also details how the rich are holding all the cards and ordinary people don't have a chance. This causes an emotional and moral dilemma for Gary, who comes from a poor background, and it ultimately leads to him wanting to leave Citibank who he works for, but it turns out they weren't going to let him go quite so easily. He had a fight on his hands. An interesting insight, and enjoyable book which made compelling reading. It is very much written in Gary's tone and style of speaking, although I do feel that the publishers could have proofed it better as there are sentences that don't make sense as they are missing a word, and some terms could have been explained better. (Gary refers to the 'Square Mile' a couple of times, this is actually the colloquial name for the financial heart of central London where all the banks are, it is literally a square mile, but it is never explained, so if you aren't from London, you wouldn't know).

Liked how it was written, the characters that Gary describes, the situation itself, the chaos. Found it humorous in a few bits too. But unsure how I feel with what feels like a rushed ending. Overall, I would absolutely recommend.

Absolutely riveting and full of laugh-out-loud humour. Having lived for many years on the Isle of Dogs it was interesting to know what went on in those towers that I could see from my house. I am loving this book. Yesterday it made bearable a 10-hour wait in A&E. I never imagined that the world of finance worked in this way. Gary explains it all beautifully. His forensically detailed observations of his colleagues and descriptions of interactions with them are cleverly long-drawn out and beautifully paced, which makes for a highly entertaining read. They must all have had a shock when they found out that they were the subject of such close analysis. Nothing, it seems, escapes Gary’s eye. It is good that his highly individual and personal writing style, liberally sprinkled with the F word, has been left alone by his editor. I thoroughly recommend this book.

Brilliant read

Gary has distilled an extraordinary life into a well-written autobiography covering his rise from working-class East London to Tokyo's Marunouchi financial district and back via LSE and Canary Wharf. It offers a glimpse into a world of international finance that generally goes unseen considering its influence over our lives. It struck me that a recurring theme of the book is how this world is structurally, almost intentionally opaque. As a young trader, it's normal to everyone around him that he has no idea what is going on and no one will readily explain anything, even though he is now an insider. We join him on this journey from cluelessness as he collects pieces of the puzzle through successes, mistakes, and little pearls of wisdom dropped intentionally and unintentionally by the bizarre cast of characters that inhabit this world. In the end, we arrive at a picture of a global economy in decay, eaten away by out-of-control wealth inequality. Gary doesn’t throw around blame for the problem carelessly. His critique is for a system that has grown to enable the worst in our very human nature, that redirects our resources to corrupt ends. Gary’s unique circumstances and perceptiveness mean that, unlike those around him, he cannot live with separating what they do behind the mirrored-glass tower windows from its consequences, as experienced by his childhood friends. He describes how a clueless and corrupt media and establishment have failed to inform the public about what is eating away at our living standards while it misdirects our anger with division, fear and an endless lineup of scapegoats. I think many of us have felt that something is deeply wrong and that our political systems are not offering effective options for change. I found a deep sense of relief reading the book that someone is speaking publically and credibly about the root causes. I strongly support Gary’s wider mission to spread understanding of how spiralling wealth inequality is killing our economies and living standards and leading us down the path to authoritarianism. I hope he can achieve his goal of building a grass-roots movement to compel politicians to act. The book is well worth a read in its own right. Pitching in a few quid to help with the movement is a bonus.

MUST READ POLITICAL AND SPIRITUAL ESSENTIAL READING BY A BRILLIANT YOUNG ECONOMIST & INVESTOR WATCH HIS PODCASTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR ECONOMIES CURRENTLY FUNCTION

Enjoyed reading this book. I also like a lot of what Garry talks about and agree with. Spread the wealth.

I normally would not write any book reviews but I'll make an exception for this book, since it has been strongly promoted and praised even in the Netherlands, but for me it was very disappointing. Yes, it gives some insights in the workings of the international financial markets and the cynical and ruthless role of big financial institutions and (mostly male) not-so-nice and social behaving people working there. But this offers little news since many books and actual news stories have told us this many times. The best story is the way the writer manages to get the job via -indeed- a game. After that, we're left with the experiences and views of the author trying to make more money than the rest. But whilst I expected a twist nearing the end or some real and more mature insights in the workings of the sector and what should change, that is not really there. Though there is here and there the suggestion of some reflection and insights, this all stays very shallow Poor kid with maths talent and ambition becomes rich and spoiled at a very early age, leaving the book mostly a testimony of a very egotistical, money minded FX trader. Nothing new there, I guess. Even his leaving the firm is not really about charity and changed views as is suggested. It is about even more money and 'winning'. Congratulations.

Muito bem escrito, pode ser lido inclusive por quem nao tem experiência no mercado financeiro. O mais importante aqui sao os personagens e as relações entre eles

Excellent book which shows you what it is really like on the Trading Floor and the direction of our value system.