Getting Started in Options
$18.75
Getting Started in Options is a foundational guide designed to introduce readers to the mechanics, terminology, and strategic applications of options trading in a clear and structured manner. Michael C. Thomsett presents options not as speculative instruments, but as flexible financial tools that can be used for income generation, portfolio protection, and controlled leverage.
The book begins with core definitions—calls, puts, strike price, expiration, intrinsic value, and time value—ensuring that readers develop conceptual clarity before approaching strategy execution. Thomsett explains how options contracts function within regulated exchanges, how pricing is influenced by volatility and time decay, and how risk exposure differs from stock ownership.
A defining characteristic of this title is its conservative tone. Rather than promoting high-risk speculation, the author emphasizes covered calls, cash-secured puts, and protective strategies as practical entry points for investors seeking controlled exposure. The focus is on building knowledge gradually, reinforcing risk awareness and capital preservation principles.
Technical complexity is intentionally moderated. Advanced volatility modeling and complex multi-leg structures are not the emphasis. Instead, the reader is guided toward understanding how options can complement a stock portfolio and improve strategic flexibility without increasing overall risk.
Overall, Getting Started in Options functions as a structured primer for individuals entering the derivatives market. It builds foundational literacy, explains risk parameters clearly, and prepares readers for more advanced options education.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
- The basic mechanics of call and put options
- How options contracts are structured and traded
- How volatility and time decay affect pricing
- How covered calls generate income
- How protective puts limit downside exposure
- How to evaluate risk before placing an options trade
💡 Key Benefits:
- Provides a clear and accessible introduction to options
- Emphasizes conservative and income-focused strategies
- Strengthens risk awareness before capital deployment
- Reduces misconceptions about derivatives complexity
- Prepares readers for intermediate-level options study
👤 Who This Book Is For:
- Beginner investors exploring options for the first time
- Stock investors seeking portfolio enhancement tools
- Conservative traders focused on defined-risk strategies
- Readers wanting structured derivatives education
- Not suitable for advanced volatility traders or quantitative system developers
📚 Table of Contents:
- Introduction to Options Markets
- Understanding Calls and Puts
- Options Pricing Fundamentals
- Time Value and Volatility
- Covered Call Strategies
- Cash-Secured Put Writing
- Protective Put Applications
- Risk and Margin Considerations
- Selecting Strike Prices and Expiration Dates
- Managing Open Positions
- Building an Options Strategy Plan
Getting Started in Options By Michael C. Thomsett
| Author(s) | |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Ebook |
| Format | |
| Skill Level | Beginner to Intermediate |
| Pages | 596 |
| Publication Year | 2010 |
| Delivery | Instant Download |
22 reviews for Getting Started in Options
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Enoch Koch (verified owner) –
Buy this book if want to know more or anything about options. Great beginners book taught me the basics quick. Plenty of examples and graphs. When you read this book you will be surprised by the amount of risk that can be removed or added on. Options are less risky than you think.
James Hodge (verified owner) –
I bought this book with no knowledge of how options worked. I had read “When Genius Failed” about LTCM, the worlds biggest hedge fund which failed in the 90’s. The book had discussed options a lot and had sparked an interest in me.
I had wanted to get into trading options for a while and had tried reading about them on investopedia and various other sites. Finally I decided to settle for this book. Options is an awesome book for beginners like myself. Thomsett smoothes out Options and really makes you understand everything from the basics to more advanced options strategies. The book is filled with scenarios to support each new topic and is not dry or heavy reading.
I actually was reading it the other night on the train on the way home from a concert. The man across from me commented that it wasn’t exactly light reading for a late train ride. I hadn’t even thought about it that way. Options can be intimidating and textbook style books can be boring, however this iis not true for this book. I strongly reccomened it for the prospective options trader with little knowledge on the subject.
Laura Marquez (verified owner) –
This book is explains the options trading for the beginners in simple language. A great book to start the trading business.
Rayan Becker (verified owner) –
While I found this book helpful, it is clear that the author is a generalist and not an options expert. He is continually giving similar examples of using the same strategy and at other times is discussing different strategies (he has a whole paragraph & example about puts in the Selling Calls section) in chapters related to specific strategies. Overall, this is an acceptable book as a primer, but I’m definitely looking for more help to discover what strategies to use in my options portfolio. Hopefully, though, they have fixed some of the typos and edited better in the next edition coming out soon.
Coraline Dorsey (verified owner) –
The good part is that he covers all the basic and advanced option trades. He gives useful and good ideas about trading, and many warnings. However, the writing is choppy because he constantly inserts examples, sidebars and graphs which are not integrated into the flow of the text and are annoying. I don’t get why he calls the exercise or strike price a ‘striking price,’ or why he insists on trades as whole-dollar amounts ($1.00, $2,00, etc.) when everyone trades in dollars and cents ($1.26, $3.71, etc.). The book is certainly worth the time and money to study, and as a reference.
Milana Best (verified owner) –
Thomsett’s wordy and repetitive explanations of buying Puts and Calls and selling Covered Calls fills about 180 pages of his 210 – page text. He relegates the more interesting discussion of combined techniques to the last 20 pages. Here he gives you enough information to perk your interest, but not enough to motivate you to try these techniques. For example none of the figures in Chapter 9 suggest that you can loose money trading spreads, straddles and strangles
Harlem Cortes (verified owner) –
This is where you start if you want to learn options. I’ve sent this book to many people as a starting place.
Malakai Saunders (verified owner) –
This book provides a general knowledge base of basic option terms and descriptions, with generic examples included. You’ll come away with a basic knowledge of primarily calls & puts (both buying & selling), and some advanced strategies. However, you’ll need further reading to help you navigate the real options trading world. Primarily discipline, setting stops and taking profits when you can before time decay erodes the gains or the stock turns in the wrong direction. Not to mention buying strategies (finding the right stocks and the navigating the bid/ask when buying & selling).
For it’s purposes, this is a decent book. Just realize you’ll need to do more reading to become an “expert”
Lea Carter (verified owner) –
This book is great about being very clear and explaining different aspects of option trading. The first book I bought on options trading didn’t come close to this book and cost way more. This is the perfect book for beginners and maybe even for people who have basic knowledge of options trading. It begins with how options work and gets as far as taxation on options to even touching down on trend trading. I fully support this book if you are getting into options. After reading this book it will be hard to find another one with as much depth. I would recommend ‘The Bible of Options Strategies’after reading this book and your options trading career will be well on its way.
Mallory Cameron (verified owner) –
Horrible read with examples that are very difficult to understand as many have stated previously. I’m looking for a book written by an experienced and successful Options trader, not an accountant.
Ezekiel Valenzuela (verified owner) –
This would be a great beginners book. If you have read any introductory books on options this will be a rehash of what you already know. If you need a very easy to understand book on options this is it. If you can handle more I would recommend Options as a Strategic Investment by McMillan. If you want to get even more complex I would then read Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives by John Hull.
Maverick Morton (verified owner) –
Best book a person could ever read and find very useful whether they do options or not. this bood gives insite to just great investing tools. If you are a beginner or a pro this is a valuable book to own
Henley English (verified owner) –
This book will get you started in understanding how options work. It is written in a style that makes it relatively easy to understand options. There are some minor mistakes in referrring to puts when he means calls, but the book gives lots and lots of examples, which are what are really needed to clearly understand how options work.
Kalani Cook (verified owner) –
This helped me make my first million!
Just kidding, but really it gave me the information I needed to enhance my trading strategy and technique.
Decent book, with user friendly information.
Geared towards someone just starting to dip their toes in options trading.
Maia Garcia (verified owner) –
Easy to read and to understand. Great book.
Junior Goodwin (verified owner) –
A general introduction, lacking detail about placing orders.
Jakobe Nolan (verified owner) –
well done, informative and very worth while to read
Dustin Simon (verified owner) –
Easy to follow and understand I would recommend to other people!
Veronica Hickman (verified owner) –
Good book for a new trader.
Bryan Dawson (verified owner) –
Great Primer on Options Trading. Well recommended and essential advice that no option beginner should be without.
Shiloh Jacobs (verified owner) –
Not very good
Meadow Barron (verified owner) –
This book describes, explains, breaks down every component of what Options are. You can’t put (no pun intended) the book down. It’s like reading a thriller. The writer is very intuitive in explaining the concept. The way the author describes every detail it’s like turning over every stone, sticks and crannies of the Options trading world.