Book Review: The Money Trader By Jerry Anderson

THE MONEY TRADER

By: Jerry Anderson

Published: August 17, 2012

Publisher: Word & Image, LLC

Fiction

A friend of mine asked if I would read a book written by a friend of his. I was a little skeptical because the topic of “corporate greed” isn’t my usual choice in reading. But, I agreed to give it a look. I will admit that I struggled at times, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Jake Buchanan has hit it big in the world of commodity trading. By getting lucky in the silver market in the 80’s he set himself and his wife, Janet, up for a life of luxury. They had multiple homes and cars, took numerous trips, and held lavish parties.  His wife was also establishing herself as a business woman in the medical field, opening clinics all around the Twin Cities. But, Jake’s luck soon ran out and he got a bit too big for his britches. Everything around him starts falling apart. His business is crumbling, his wife leaves him and he eventually has to start taking the bus to work, without even a penny in his pocket. When Jake begins to reflect on what’s important, while he is at his lowest, he begins to see life in a whole new way.

While thinking how to describe this book to other readers, I would say it is a “Romance Novel for Men”.  The book is full of money, corporate greed, big cities, cars and beautiful women. It’s written from Jake’s perspective offering a look into his thoughts during some of the best and worst days of his life. It’s the story of a boy who grew up under the limelight of his father and in the shadow of his brothers. As an adult, he just wanted to make them proud. After losing his mother, he set out to prove to the world that he could make something of himself.  Once he became established in the construction business, he began to teach himself about commodity trading and he found that he could be successful. He earned the trust of his clients and helped many of them become millionaires, even becoming one himself. Until he started to lose money. Then the downward spiral was fast and brutal and even luck couldn’t get him out of that mess.

The favorite part of the book for me included Jake’s reflection on his childhood, college years and the early part of his marriage to Janet. I loved all the great tidbits about living in the Twin Cities. The only downside of the book was it was heavily detailed and didn’t move along as quickly as I would have liked. Even when Jake takes a trip to Europe, I felt like it was more of a travelogue than part of the actual story. But, it does offer great tips for someone wanting to visit those countries.

I found Jake’s emotions raw and real. I learned a lot about the business of trading and the highs and lows experienced in minutes, hours, and days on the floor.  Jake eventually has some big decisions to make regarding his career and personal life. I appreciated watching him change over the coarse of the novel, Jake learns the true meaning of success, which most of us know, has nothing to do with money.

Jerry Anderson is a commodity broker and trader, former stockbroker, writer, blogger, and the first time author. THE MONEY TRADER is his first published novel. He lives in Minnesota on Loring Park near downtown Minneapolis and he is still active in the markets. To read an excerpt from the book, click HERE. Visit his website, HERE.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the book on Kindle for just $2.99, click the photo below: