Top 5 Forex Trading Books for Beginners

Top 5 Books for Beginning Forex Traders

Updated April 12, 2021

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The world of foreign exchange, or forex, can be daunting even to experienced hands-on investors. However, there are plenty of books on the subject of currency trading, ranging from basic introductions to the forex market to advanced strategies based on fundamental analysis and technical analysis. These are six of the best that have stood the test of time and the forex market's ups and downs.

Key Takeaways

Currency Trading for Dummies by Brian Dolan

Currency Trading for Dummies is one of the best of the lot for beginners. It presents clear, easy-to-read instructions on currency trading and descriptions of the forex market. In fact, it's not a bad read for more seasoned hands who need a quick refresher on the basics. It's regularly used as a resource by the financial media. Originally published in 2011, the updated book was co-written by Brian Dolan, former chief currency strategist at Forex.com, and Kathleen Brooks, director of research at Forex.com.

Day Trading and Swing Trading the Currency Market by Kathy Lien

Kathy Lien is a world-renowned currency analyst, BK Asset Management's managing director, and a frequent guest on Bloomberg, CNBC, and Reuters programs. Now in its third edition, her book employs a two-pronged approach that combines theory and actionable learning with balanced insight into the fundamental and technical forex trading strategies designed to generate regular profits. Lien walks readers step-by-step through Forex fundamentals such as the long- and short-term factors affecting currency pairs. She also covers the technical analysis trading strategies that professional forex traders use on a daily basis.

Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques by Steve Nison

Steve Nison's Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques is credited with introducing this versatile technical-analysis tool, now widely used by forex traders, to the Western world. The book provides a lengthy and in-depth education on candlestick charting, which is also used for futures, speculation, hedging, equities, and anywhere else that technical analysis may be applied. Nison's work is ideal for traders seeking to up their trading strategies game. As they do, they might want to consult one of the sequels Nison has written: The Candlestick Course, Beyond Candlesticks: New Japanese Charting Techniques Revealed, and Strategies for Profiting with Japanese Candlestick Charts.

How to Make a Living Trading Foreign Exchange by Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith begins How to Make a Living Trading Foreign Exchange with an introduction to the world of forex that explains how the market works. But most of this 2010 work is devoted to making money, offering six strategies to earn a steady income by trading. He also provides important risk management techniques as well as material on the psychology of trading. It includes an explanation of Smith's unique "rejection rule," a strategy designed to double the profit generated from basic channel breakout systems.

Forex Trading: The Basics Explained in Simple Terms by Jim Brown

As the title indicates, this book is oriented toward giving beginners the basics. The author is a self-taught forex trader who became intrigued by currency exchange and its profits at a private gathering for stock traders. The text stands out for Brown's clear, concise language that, without being condescending, never takes the reader's knowledge for granted. Some of the basics covered are:

The definitions of forex and forex markets
Strategies for entrances and exits
Trading psychology
The ins and outs of forex pairs
Places to trade foreign currencies
Tips for how to choose a broker

Brown also offers up his own trading strategy that a novice can use, or at least be inspired by and use as a guideline for creating a personalized one.