West of Wall Street: Understanding the Futures Market, Trading Strategies, Winning the Game

West of Wall Street is a grounded, experience-driven guide to the futures markets, written for traders who want to understand how these markets actually function—beyond theory, hype, or simplified rules. George Angell and Barry Haigh draw on years of professional market exposure to explain futures trading as a competitive game with defined mechanics, risks, and behavioral traps. The emphasis is not on prediction, but on preparation, discipline, and execution.

The book begins by demystifying the structure of futures markets: contracts, leverage, margin, liquidity, and the role of different market participants. Rather than treating futures as just another asset class, the authors explain why futures behave differently from equities and why many stock traders fail when they transition without adjusting mindset and risk controls. Understanding the “playing field” is presented as a prerequisite to survival.

Strategy discussions are practical and contextual. The authors explore trend participation, volatility expansion, and timing considerations, while repeatedly stressing that no strategy works in isolation. Market conditions, trader behavior, and money management must align. Throughout the book, trading is framed as a probability-based business where losses are inevitable and control—not accuracy—is the defining edge.

A central theme is trader psychology. West of Wall Street addresses emotional pressure, overconfidence, revenge trading, and the illusion of control—issues that are magnified in leveraged futures markets. By emphasizing discipline, capital preservation, and respect for market structure, the book encourages readers to think like professionals rather than gamblers.

This is not a step-by-step system manual. It is a strategic and mental framework for traders who want to approach futures markets seriously, with a long-term mindset and a clear understanding of the risks and responsibilities involved.

✅ What You’ll Learn:

• How futures markets work and why they differ from stocks
• The realities of leverage, margin, and risk in futures trading
• How to approach trading as a probabilistic, competitive game
• The importance of discipline, preparation, and emotional control
• Why capital preservation is the foundation of long-term success

💡 Key Benefits:

• Builds a realistic understanding of futures trading dynamics
• Helps traders avoid common psychological and structural mistakes
• Reinforces professional risk management thinking
• Applicable across futures, commodities, and derivatives markets

👤 Who This Book Is For:

• Traders considering or already trading futures contracts
• Stock traders transitioning into leveraged markets
• Market participants seeking stronger discipline and realism
• Not suitable for readers looking for mechanical systems or quick-win strategies

📚 Table of Contents:

• The Pit and the Players-Understanding the Basics
• Day Tradlng-One Proven Approach
• How I Trade My Own Account
• Trading Orders
• Changing the Rules
• The Significance of the Close
• Getting Started-My Story and My Advice
• The Psychological Component-Acquiring the Winning Attitude
• The Trading System-Taking the Disciplined Approach
• Finding a System That’s Right for You-What’s a Viable Approach?
• A Business, Not a Hobby
• How To Establish Your Trading Level
• Should You Speculate?
• The Doubling Up Strategy
• The Tripling Up Strategy
• The Lumber Story
• Market Indicators
• The Pros and Cons of Doing Size
• Money Management
• A Few Good Rules
• Contrary Opinion Tradlng-How To Bet Against the Crowd
• Program Trading
• Rewriting the Rule Book
• What’s Ahead-Get Prepared for the Boom and Bust
• Mutual Funds and Commodity Pools

West of Wall Street: Understanding the Futures Market, Trading Strategies, Winning the Game By George Angell