The Trading Game: A Confession Paperback – January 30, 2025

Gary Stevenson’s Trading Game isn’t just another finance memoir—it’s a gripping, brutally honest look at what it really means to make it in high finance. Stevenson’s journey from an East London kid to Citibank’s top trader is wild, but what sets this book apart is his willingness to tell the truth: the game is rigged, and the house always wins.The writing is sharp, darkly funny, and pulls no punches. He makes the financial world accessible without dumbing it down, showing exactly how traders profit off economic misery while regular people get squeezed. And I know the system he’s talking about—having worked as a financial advisor at UBS, I’ve seen firsthand how wealth doesn’t just accumulate at the top; it’s designed to stay there.But this isn’t just a “rise and fall” story—it’s about disillusionment. Stevenson lays bare the psychological toll of playing a game where making millions means believing in nothing. He doesn’t sugarcoat the loneliness, the ethical dilemmas, or the realization that success in this world might not be worth it. His account perfectly captures the contradictions of modern finance: the illusion of meritocracy, the widening wealth gap, and the deepening inequality that traders exploit but can’t reconcile.What makes Trading Game so compelling is that it’s not just about finance—it’s about power. About how markets aren’t neutral forces, but engines of inequality. It’s a rare book that entertains, educates, and makes you think about who really pays the price in our economy.Five stars, no hesitation. If you want the real story behind trading—without the Hollywood sheen—this is it.

This book is quite entertaining and relatively informative. It doesn't actually teach you how to trade or get rich, but it's worth the read. I now have a better understanding of money and how the super rich operate.

This book is not only entertaining And informative but very well written and easy to read, My husband couldn't put it down or stop talking about it.

Amazing story telling about the inequality form a relatable successful orator in the face or Gary Stevenson. Each chapter excited me, wanting to know how Frog would be disgustingly acting or how JB transformed throughout the story. The thoughts and pondering of Gary are very relatable to my personal journey and I hope this isn't the last book he writes. I was not born or have ever been to East London, but this book persuaded me that I was right there whenever Gary viewed or thought about anything. I felt the emotion, the clarity, the concern for the mates and the rush from winning. Hope this will become a movie some day.

This book was more about his life, than trading. While he made $ millions trading it certainly about how hard the game is and shorting your life. It was well written.

The Big Short is my favorite movie so of course I loved this. It’s not as well written as a Michael Lewis tome but is hugely readable. It would be 5 stars except I wish Gary Stevenson had spent more time hitting the real climax of the story, which is when he realizes the secret to crushing the trading game and the implications thereof. His personal drama / relationship with the banks was less compelling to me than the omg moment of finding the key to macro (and micro) economics in the early 21st Century! But anyway, couldn’t put it down regardless. Love this book.

Gary Stevenson, a young lad from a working-class background, embarks on an epic financial journey that’s a wild rollercoaster ride. Through clever and lucky breaks, he lands on Citibank’s trading desk, diving into FX swaps. If FX swaps sound confusing, don’t worry—he breaks down the financial jargon. He doesn’t just survive the trading desk—he rises to become one of Citibank’s top traders. As he pulls you into his wild ride, he dishes on the quirky crew at the trading desk and his bold move to Japan. It’s a gripping rags-to-riches saga packed with humor and juicy anecdotes. I highly recommend The Trading Game: A Confession.

Alter provides an entertaining account of his time as a currency trader in London. He grows up in very poor working class neighborhood (East London) and somehow breaks into a very protected employment sector. A lot of candid observations about the personalities as well as the realities of being a traitor. By the end of it, it really seems that many people could be good traders but are shut out due to class, social, and economic barriers. In the end, the social and moral value of trading itself is called into question.