Leg the Spread: A Woman's Adventures Inside the Trillion-Dollar Boys' Club of Commodities Trading

by Cari Lynn

In the Futures market, it's all about minimizing risk and maximizing your wallet. Buying something gives you one leg--selling something gives you another--and if you've got two legs to stand on,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767908554
• ISBN13: 9780767908559
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Broadway Books
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

women in finance

I never thought I'd be interested in commodities trading, but Leg the Spread really brought me into this crazy, high-stakes world that I knew nothing about, but found absolutely fascinating. Lynn is a very gifted writer, and her book opened a window into a whole new world for me. If you liked "Liar's Poker" you'll really like this book!

Must read!!

This recounts amazing stories about the ups and downs of women traders in the male dominated field of pit trading. It is extremely exciting and is hard to put down until the end. The author has a skill for keeping you in tune with the fasnitating stories she shares. You must read this book, and I guarantee you will recommend it to everyone you know.

Thumbs up

This book is engaging - it is a mostly humorous account of life in the pits. It portrays the glamour of this profession and the quirkiness of its people (both male and female). In a few years all that will be left are the movies, books and memories. Cari Lynn has captured this world very well. Having learned about financial markets on the job, I wish I had read this book and its explanations of key terminology and theories years ago.

action-packed read

Well, I know nothing about trading, so I can't claim that I know everything she says is true, but one thing IS true: it's a fascinating read! Rarely have I been this sucked into a book which is a riveting account (one woman's account, true) of trading pits at the Merc. I had no idea about all the various pits, seeming randomness of the ups and downs of the markets and all the tremendous egos that come to play in this high testoterone filled environment. I think the author does a terrific job of capturing the men's club atmosphere at the Merc. I have no doubt that her view is true to form. The reviewer who criticizes her is probably one of the louts she describes. The sad part of the book is that these people are addicted to trading, but they don't seem to enjoy the money itself, just the process of winning it. I guess trading is an addiction like any other that provides thrills and dramatic turns, but the depressing part is that it sucks the heart out of you. Near the end of the book, Lynn describes a YOUNG group of traders who came from working class backgrounds and were actually enjoying themselves and their money, but it is clear that in 20 years, they'll be the same rude, fat, balding, bitter men that make up most of the upper level traders. This book made me want to learn a lot more about trading and the pits -- I envy the author for seeing all this firsthand but being able to escape unscathed, unlike many in the book who were not as lucky.

Read this review first!

Not sure if the first reviewer really read the book from cover to cover, or just dipped in and out, but I can honestly say that this is a great read for anyone who knows about the markets and how they work or those who know nothing. It's a real education and from my own experiences of being around traders, this gives a pretty accurate account of life on the floor. Very entertaining and just a good book!