Glossary

Definitions for TBR rating verdicts, four rating criteria, and book categories.

Essential

Verdict tier: must-read for serious traders. Reserved for books that materially change how the reader operates.

Recommended

Verdict tier: good for the right reader. The book has clear merit for its target audience.

Useful

Verdict tier: worth dipping into for specific chapters. Not a complete read, but parts have value.

Mixed

Verdict tier: some chapters work, others don't. The book has both strengths and weaknesses worth weighing.

Avoid

Verdict tier: skip the book. It is overpriced, unoriginal, poorly written, or actively misleading.

Content Quality

Rating criterion (40% weight): originality, specificity, and actionability of the material.

Practical Applicability

Rating criterion (25% weight): can the reader use this tomorrow? Does the book give actionable frameworks?

Value for Money

Rating criterion (20% weight): price relative to content depth. Free books are rated on the same scale.

Writing Quality

Rating criterion (15% weight): readability and structural clarity.

Trading Psychology

Category: books about the mental and behavioural aspects of trading (Trading in the Zone, Best Loser Wins).

Day Trading

Category: books focused on intraday strategies and short-timeframe execution.

Forex

Category: books focused on foreign-exchange currency trading.

Crypto

Category: books focused on cryptocurrency trading and market structure.

Options

Category: books focused on options strategies, pricing, and Greeks.

Risk Management

Category: books on position sizing, drawdown management, and capital preservation.

Beginner Guides

Category: books written for traders with no prior market experience.

Biographies & Memoirs

Category: books about real traders and their methodologies (Reminiscences, Market Wizards).

Free Resources

Category: books available at no cost. Rated on identical criteria as paid books.