I still feel unsure what I think about this book - basically a story of rags to riches, treading on the little guys with their mortgages and debts, similar to those the author had grown up with to line his own pockets as a city trader, then having a mental health crisis and leaving with a lot of money. Along the way he seems to have alienated his family and friends in pursuit of money he didn't seem to want or know how to spend.
On the other hand, it's an easy to read book in which the author has moments of realisation and outlines the workings of the City in all its uncaring detail. He also tries to explain trading in very clear terms, although I'm still not sure I have any understanding of it.
I had never heard of Gary Stevenson, and looked him up after finishing the book and was pleased to find that he now works to educate people around wealth inequality and is part of " millionaires for humanity"


Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Books for an advance copy of this book

This starts off strong and has some great peaks of interest. Learning about Gary’s background and trading were particular highlights. And how he becomes a trader. I also found the writing about inequality interesting, albeit upsetting, and the pace of the first half.

Where it lacked for me was the second half. Seemed to be lots of repeated information and Gary’s downward spiral. Again, interesting, but difficult to relate to because although he was objectively having a very difficult time, it’s hard to empathise with someone sat on 2 million pounds. I mean he was always going to ‘win’’! There was never any other outcome which was the take away for me regarding inequality.

Overall, worth reading, especially if you have an interest in trading but it becomes less interesting in the second half in my opinion. I would only be able to recommend to a couple of my friends as it doesn’t have a wide appeal I don’t think.

Would perhaps work better as a podcast or voice recording where you could better connect to Gary and his experience.

Honest review given for NetGalley copy of the book.

At times this was quite a difficult read and despite the attempts to explain how trading systems work, there'll be amny who still won't understand how so much money can be made by basically playing games with the system.

Despite being able to work this out and playing the game for a while it clearly drained Gary of basic humanity for a period and the style of the writing sometimes left one feeling that despite the money that it was a very lonely life that he led without true companionship or friendship.

Perhaps this should be compulsory reading for anyone about to join one of these institutions.

Such an interesting and insightful read. The authors story is soo emotional too! I feel liked I’ve learned a lot about trading and will be thinking about this one for a while. A great non-fiction pick

This is a sobering but interesting look at the way banks make money trading on the economy but with little thought to the consequences for real people.
The book describes the life of a young trader from a poor background going up against many traders whose families are rich.
Initially coming across as arrogant with little or no interest in anything but making money this trader becomes disillusioned with his life at the bank and looks to leave. This is something the bank makes exceedingly difficult.
If you never knew what happens on the trading floors this will give a good insight.
Covers the period from just before the 2008 crash to a few years after.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Press UK and Gay Stevenson for my ARC of ‘The Trading Game’ in return for an honest review.

Gary was born in Ilford in the shadow of Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers. He wants something else in life and whilst attending LSE studying economics he takes part in ‘The Trading Game’ which he wins and is offered a job on the trading desk of Citibank.

The story follows his career: the highs and lows and introduces many strange customs and dysfunctional individuals who make millions with their trading each year. He explains it all in detail keeping the descriptions simple and clear, he begins to make the money, realising he is making it by ‘betting’ on others staying poor.

Highly enjoyable and eye-opening. Recommended

The Trading Game just did not really work for me. The prose seemed robotic and somehow devoid of all emotion. At times it was confusing and repetitive. It is overly long and a hard slog after the first third. I certainly admire Gary's mission to do something about the massive inequality in this world. So if the proceeds of this book will go entirely to that cause then I wish the book success. However Gary's numerical talents would perhaps be best used a la effective altruism in making money trading and distributing it to such causes. Special thank you to Penguin Press UK and NetGalley for a no obligation advance review copy.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Gary's experience is told honestly, movingly and stylishly. His depiction of the world's banking system and economy is delicious black comedy/manifestation of my worst fears. I think it will have a large impact when it is released.

I was a little apprehensive as to whether to read this book or not. When I read what it was about, it immediately caught my interest but…. finance, trading, the City, would it be dry? Would my eyes glaze over like they do as soon as anyone mentions pensions and financial advisers, would I even understand it? But curiosity got the better of me and I’m so glad because this book couldn’t be further away from the doubts I had. Gary Stevenson is an absolutely brilliant story teller.

However it’s not a story. Well it is, it’s Gary Stevenson’s story and it’s all very real. The working class boy from East London, a whiz at maths and harbouring a desire to make it the top, he always believed in himself, with a steadfast motivation to achieve whatever he set out to achieve.

It’s a fascinating book, with the basics of the financial transactions he was dealing in explained in layman’s terms. I still didn’t completely understand most of those dealings but there’s enough explanation to at least give a good gist of what was going on and how money is made. The one thing that I feared the most, this being a non fiction book about City finance, of it being too dry most certainly wasn’t the case.

It’s a compelling read, right the way through from the highs, when he was making so much money he was embarrassed to tell his friends to when it began to dawn on him that he had become so obsessed, so focussed on making money that he’d lost sight of everything else and his mental health was beginning to suffer.

There are so many anecdotes in here, the colleagues he works with become characters in themselves, almost like reading fiction. Told with a lot of humour, yet later into the book you can feel the atmosphere of his downward spiral into depression and a desperation to get out before it consumed him completely.

It’s a fascinating insight into the world of finance and city banking. I’m glad I chose to read it and it’s probably the only non fiction book I’ve ever been sorry to reach the end of.

As someone who knows nothing about working in finance and city traders, this book was a real eye-opener. Some aspects are as expected- the ridiculous bonuses, the behaviour of the traders (all male) and competitive nature of who can make the biggest deals. However, Gary has a conscience and his narrative reveals his drive and greed. For anyone who wants to know how the global financial crisis happened- read this. A fascinating read.

This is the amazing story of how a kid from the East End of London became one of Citibank’s leading financial traders – making the bank a fortune in the process – and then walked away from it all.

Gary Stevenson won his first job at Citibank as a trader, by winning an extraordinary recruitment game, which essentially involved gambling against other job applicants and forecasting their actions. The company loaded the game against him but he still won!

He went on from there to become the bank’s most profitable trader ever, but he came to realise that in currency exchange and speculation he was betting on a decline in the global economy. Whether that was happening anyway, or to what extent Citibank and other major financial institutions encouraged it, is an open question but, eventually, Gary walked away from the job disillusioned.

The book is fast moving, authentic and highly personal. Gary Stevenson brings across the stresses and strains of city trading, the absurd shows of wealth, the abusive relationships and the lack of any conscience, through a highly personal memoir tracking both the highs and the lows.

There’s an almost symbiotic relationship between the bank and its traders, who make a lot of money but sell out any moral compass they once possessed. They become the supporting cast in the novel as their roles change within the institution but they rarely escape! One of the most fascinating aspects of the account is how, when a bank has you as a major asset, it will go to almost any lengths to keep you, with minimal regard for your employment rights and mental health.

The book is not just an exciting ride either, when you realise that the billions of pounds and dollars they are playing with is actually your money, and that these same institutions drove the Greek economy into the ground for their own profit.

At the end of the story, Gary Stevenson is at a low ebb but he has recovered since and you can find him talking about economics on just about every social media platform – and talking a lot of sense as well.

Given the state of the nation in 2024, this book should probably win every prize going!

“The Trading Game: A Confession” by Gary Stevenson is a riveting memoir that offers a deep dive into the high-stakes world of trading. The book is a rags-to-riches tale of Stevenson’s journey from the streets of East London to becoming Citibank’s most profitable trader.

Stevenson’s writing style is compelling and intensely readable. He has a knack for capturing the drama and hubris of the trading floor, making the reader feel as if they are right there with him. His vivid descriptions and original voice bring the trading floor to life, offering a unique perspective on the world of finance.

The content of the book is both engaging and thought-provoking. Stevenson’s story begins with his childhood in East London, where he dreamed of something bigger. His talent for numbers led him to the London School of Economics, where he shocked his classmates by winning a competition called “The Trading Game”. This win gave him a golden ticket to a new life as the youngest trader at Citibank, where he dealt with nearly a trillion dollars a day.

However, the book is more than just a tale of financial success. It also explores the moral and psychological toll of the trading world. Stevenson describes how the thrill of winning started to feel like losing, and how the easiest way to make money was to bet on millions becoming poorer. This introspective look at the darker side of finance sets “The Trading Game” apart from other memoirs in the genre.

In conclusion, “The Trading Game: A Confession” is a must-read for anyone interested in finance, trading, or simply a good story. Stevenson’s vivid writing and insightful commentary make for an unforgettable reading experience.

The Trading Game is such an enjoyable read. I was a little apprehensive going into it, as I'm not a bit non-fiction reader, but I was thoroughly surprised.

I went in knowing absolutely nothing about trading, and left with a slight understanding of the workings, at least enough to understand what the hell is going on in the book. Gary does an amazing job of dumbing things down, and so you do leave with some new knowledge.
As for the story in general.. Wow! What a life Gary led in those few years, I felt all the ups and downs with him, and was so invested, that I couldn't put the book down. As I'm from Essex it was also nice to read about someone a little close to home.

All I can say is read this book. If you don't think it's up your street, try it, because I think you will be surprised.

Not particularly sure what first attracted me to this book as not really what I would normally read, but boy am I glad I did as this was an absolutely first class read, documenting the rise of a young man, expelled from school for selling drugs, to becoming one of the best traders in the money markets.
Not only does this book give an interesting and completely understandable explanation of how the money markets work, but alongside this tells us all about his personal life and how the pressures of performing at such a high level year after year eventually take their toll on his health.
Thanks very much to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
Highly recommended.
Four Stars.

Unfortunately I can’t give a full review on this due to not finishing the book.

The book is written well and I feel anyone interested in the trading world would really enjoy this book but it wasn’t for me :)

I have given it 3 stars as I can appreciate the book and the content within, but it didn’t grip me enough to finish it

Now I'll be the first to admit that I have ZERO knowledge or understanding of the Trading World, apart from the stereotypical movie scenes of 'Buy, Buy, Buy' 'Sell, Sell, Sell' BUT the blurb of this story gripped me so I knew I had to give it a go.

This is Gary Stevenson' truth.
As a young boy from a working class background, he always felt the pull of money. Staring up at the London skyscrapers, he knew that one day he would be part of that world. Expelled from Grammer School for selling drugs , noone would have dreamed that a few years later Gary would be offered a position on the trading floor at a prestigious bank in Canary Wharf.

This is Gary's story of how he rose, how he climbed the ladder of success and the price he had to pay for it. Whilst chasing eye watering amounts of money may sound amazing was the damage to his mental health and the life he missed out on really worth it?

As someone with no concept of what goes on in these places, Gary gives an Idiots Guide and helps demystify the jargon in a way that even I could understand (and I'm clueless) but still some things went over my head!

Now whilst you may think this is going to be a dull as dishwater book about numbers, trading blah blah blah..... believe me it's not! It's about a guy that gave everything he possibly could, like a deal with the devil... but managed to keep his soul!

With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Press UK – Allen Lane for the ARC.

I’m not normally a fan of non-fiction books but this was brilliant. A no holds barred insight in to his background and his life as a trader. It doesn’t get bogged down with overcomplicated jargon and is fairly easy to understand. He’s really honest about the good, the bad and the really ugly side of life as a trader.

This is an absolutely brilliant read - gripping, funny, sad, horrifying. I was familiar with the author from his YouTube channel but I knew nothing about his story and I had no real understanding of what City banks or traders do. What he went through is mind blowing. Really well written, you're right there with him as he describes the people he's working with and what's happening to him. Even the maths makes sense (it's really not about the maths).

The best thing I've read in ages, I couldn't recommend it more highly.

Fascinating account of working in Investment banking and being a trader - the vices, the thrills, the disillusionment and the vast some of money that its possible to earn. Its truly an insider view and it uncovers warts and all. Gary takes you on a complete roller-coaster ride of his life during this time, and extracts all kinds of emotion from the reader - sympathy, incredulousness, wonder, envy and shock. Its a world where there are no rules, and it all comes down to your perception. Its a harsh world and only the best of the best can hack it - and that doesn't mean the smartest! I worked in this world for a while, and he does a fantastic job of describing the personalities, the vastness of the UK trading floors, the complete excess and bizarreness of it all. Well written and unfortunately is rings true,

How is it possible to make someone hate you from your own personal account? Never again will I trust finance bros and when did the robbery happen?