May 18, 2019
Written by:
Al Hill
✓ Reviewed by Kunal Vakil, Co-Founder of TradingSim · Updated Mar 31, 2026
Futures offers many benefits such as lower trading capital, leverage and the ability to go long or short.
But how do you take advantage of these opportunities? Where should you start as a retail trader?
Many retail traders prefer to take a trading course or invest in a black box trading system.
However, these shortcuts don’t help in the long run, as it comes down to putting in the hard work of mastering your craft.
In this article, we will cover the seven best books for futures trading.
What better way to get started with futures trading than a primer that does not get too technical.
The book neither encourages nor discourages you to trade futures.
The book is just right if you are a beginner to futures trading. In short Futures 101 is a professional booklet that could also be called “Futures for Dummies.”
Amazon ratings: 3.6/5 (27 Reviews)
Price: $49.77 (Paperback); $12.06 (Kindle)
Starting out in Futures trading is a book written for serious speculators.
The book is currently in its sixth edition and covers all aspects of futures trading. It highlights the importance of stock indices, how to choose a broker, and the nuances of placing different order types.
Powers served as the chief economist for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, so he knows what he is talking about.
Amazon Ratings: 4.1/5 (11 Reviews)
Price: $11.97 – $25.09 (Paperback); $21.30 (Kindle)
Donna Kline is a financial news reporter with Bloomberg TV and served as a market analyst for “The Floor Report”. She was a frequent guest on CNBC’s Squawk Box.
Fundamentals of Futures market introduces you to the fundamental aspects of the futures markets.
The book combines quizzes, checklists, and charts to help educate you on the futures markets.
The book is best suited for agricultural commodities, but also does a great job of discussing specifics of the E-mini S&P
Amazon Ratings: 4.3/5 (13 Reviews)
Price: $8.00 – 39.69 (Paperback); $29.03 (Kindle)
Don’t let the year of the publication fool you. If you have had any experience with technical analysis, you know John J. Murphy is perhaps the most well-known name.
The face of Stockcharts.com, Murphy is a thought leader in the technical analysis space.
Technical Analysis of the futures markets takes the reader into different techniques and patterns. The book lays a good foundation from which you can build upon.
Amazon Ratings: 4.3/5 (25 Reviews)
Price: $14.88 (Hardcover)
Larry Williams is best known for the Williams %R technical indicator.
Long-term secrets to short-term trading covers various topics such as volatility breakouts and profitable patterns.
For day traders, the book is a must-read. There is an entire section on position sizing and risk management.
Amazon Ratings: 3.9/5 (14 Reviews)
Price: $53.13 (Hardcover); $54.20 (Kindle)
Larry gives a detailed outlook into explaining the various sections of the Commitment of Traders report, which is released weekly by the CFTC.
The book is best for commodities like agriculture and crude oil.
Amazon Ratings: 4.3/5 (34 Reviews)
Price: $65 (Hardcover); $29.03 (Kindle)
Mike Bellafiore is a well-known name among the prop trading circles. Owner/co-founder of SMB Capital, Bellafiore gives you tons of insights into how professional traders operate.
Mike Bellafiore’s One Good Trade has received rave reviews from some of the well-known authorities in the financial markets including Brett Steenbarger, a Ph.D. on trading psychology and a professional trading coach.
One Good Trade will take you on a journey and provides a view into the trading mindset, more so than just charts and strategies.
Amazon Ratings: 4.2/5 (123 Reviews)
Price: $42.98 (Hardcover); $41.61 (Kindle)
After you have had the time to soak up the knowledge expressed in these books, test out these strategies within Tradinsgim. We currently have over 20 highly liquid contracts for you to practice with in order to master your craft.
Tags: Futures Trading Books
Al Hill
Co-Founder & CEO, TradingSim
Alton Hill is the Co-Founder of TradingSim with over 18 years of trading experience. He completed the Design Thinking Bootcamp at Stanford’s D.School and brings expertise in Product Development to create the best trading simulation experience. His strategy focuses on trend-following systems, targeting high-volatility stocks with strong primary trends using the 15-minute chart.
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