Clara’s Verdict
The New Market Wizards is Jack Schwager returning to the format that made his first book such a success, and if the result is a touch familiar, it is no less rewarding for it. Once again he seeks out traders who have risen to the top of their field and coaxes them into explaining, as plainly as they are able, what actually lies behind their success.
The pleasure of these books, for me, is not in any promise of a shortcut, because Schwager is far too honest to offer one. It is in the accumulation of perspectives, the sense of eavesdropping on people who think about risk, discipline and psychology at a level most of us never reach. Some of the lessons echo the first volume, some cut against it, and that friction is part of the appeal.
It is an entertaining and genuinely informative listen, and a worthy companion to the book that started the series.
About the Audiobook
The New Market Wizards continues Jack Schwager’s project of interviewing exceptional traders and letting them speak for themselves, and it forms part of his acclaimed Market Wizards series. Picking up the thread of the original, he asks the questions that anyone with an interest in the markets would love to put to the financial superstars, and then gives his subjects the space to answer at length.
The book follows a satisfying and now familiar pattern. Schwager introduces each trader and the circumstances of their meeting, presents the interview itself, and then draws out the most interesting takeaways in his own summary. The traders themselves work in wildly different ways, and part of the book’s value lies in showing just how many routes there are to success, provided one has the discipline to follow a method one truly believes in.
Entertaining, informative and full of hard-won insight, The New Market Wizards has every chance of becoming as much of a touchstone as its predecessor. It stands perfectly well on its own, though readers who have already enjoyed the first book will find this a natural next step.
The Narration
DJ Holte narrates, bringing the same clear, measured delivery that suits Schwager’s interview-driven material so well. The format demands a reader who can move smoothly between the author’s framing and the voices of many different traders, and Holte manages those transitions cleanly, keeping the many conversations easy to follow.
At around sixteen hours, this is a substantial listen, and the narration is pitched for the long haul rather than a single sitting. Holte navigates the technical detail, the anecdotes and the frequent shifts of speaker with composure, never letting the density of the material overwhelm the listener. For a book that lives or dies on the clarity of its conversations, that steady, unshowy approach is exactly what is called for.
The conversational shape carries the length well. Because each interview is largely self-contained, the audiobook lends itself to being taken in sections, a trader or two at a time, which suits a long commute or a run of evenings. Holte’s steady delivery keeps the many voices and ideas from blurring together, and the summaries that close each chapter give the listener a natural place to pause, take stock and consider how one trader’s approach squares with the last.
What Readers Say
The audiobook edition is only just finding its audience, and very few ratings have been logged against it so far, so its early 4.5 average should be read as a first impression rather than a settled verdict. Readers of the book itself, however, have long been generous. One described it as priceless, valuing the insight it offers into the thinking behind successful trades rather than any step-by-step recipe.
Opinions are not uniform, which feels appropriate for a book about a field with no single right answer. One reviewer found it enjoyable and full of interesting war stories, though not hugely substantial, suggesting that those chasing hard knowledge might look elsewhere while those wanting something lively and readable would be well served. Another appreciated the way Schwager digs into how and why elite traders do what they do, always with an eye to what the novice can learn. The common thread is a book people find both engaging and useful.
One reader admired the book’s clear structure, the way Schwager introduces each trader, presents the interview and then draws out the key takeaways, though the same reviewer cautioned that some subjects reveal only fairly generic wisdom about money management and discipline. It is a fair observation, and a useful one to keep in mind: the value here lies as much in the accumulation of many perspectives as in any single revelation, which is precisely why the book rewards patience.
Who Should Listen?
This is a strong pick for anyone drawn to trading, investing or the psychology of high performance, whether they are just starting out or already well versed in the markets. It rewards listeners who enjoy ideas and stories more than rigid instruction, and it pairs especially well with the original Market Wizards.
If you would like to hear another set of the market’s most successful figures explain themselves in their own words, you can Listen to The New Market Wizards on Audible. It is a rich and rewarding way to spend the hours.
