Beating the Stock Market: Basic rules and attitudes for anyone who hopes to speculate successfully

R. W. McNeel

• Publisher: Paeroa House
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Economics
• eBook ISBN:
  9781779794963
• Subtopic: Trading
• Index: Economics

In the roaring twenties, when fortunes were made and lost in the blink of an eye on Wall Street, two seasoned market veterans dared to reveal the closely guarded secrets that separated the winners from the casualties. R. W. McNeel and James L. Fraser witnessed firsthand the devastating crashes that wiped out amateur speculators while a select few walked away with extraordinary profits. Their explosive findings challenge everything you think you know about stock market success, exposing the fundamental psychological traps that doom most investors to failure before they even begin. This isn't another dry financial textbook filled with complex theories and academic jargon. Instead, McNeel and Fraser deliver raw, unfiltered wisdom forged in the crucible of actual market battles. They strip away the mystique surrounding successful speculation, revealing the essential mental discipline and strategic thinking patterns that separate professional traders from gambling amateurs. Every page pulses with the tension and drama of high-stakes financial warfare, where split-second decisions mean the difference between wealth and ruin. The authors dissect the emotional demons that plague every speculator, from the intoxicating rush of early wins to the paralyzing fear that follows inevitable losses. Their insights penetrate deep into the psychological machinery of market behavior, illuminating why certain fundamental attitudes and rigid rule-following create consistent winners while emotional decision-making destroys even the most promising careers. Modern investors facing today's volatile markets will discover that human nature and market psychology remain remarkably unchanged across the decades. The same greed, fear, and wishful thinking that devastated speculators in 1921 continue to claim victims today. This book arms you with battle-tested principles that transcend technological changes and market evolution. Whether you're a novice investor or experienced trader, these timeless lessons in speculation discipline will transform your approach to market participation. The authors' hard-won wisdom offers a roadmap through the treacherous landscape of stock speculation, providing the mental framework necessary to survive and thrive when others inevitably fall victim to their own psychological weaknesses.

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• PREFACE
• DEDICATION
• CHAPTER I. — SPECULATION.
• CHAPTER II. — CHANCE.
• CHAPTER III. — BUYING AND SELLING.
• CHAPTER IV. — CHARACTER.
• CHAPTER V. — FAITH.
• CHAPTER VI. — PATIENCE.
• CHAPTER VII. — “THEY.”
• CHAPTER VIII. — THE MARKET CYCLE.
• CHAPTER IX. — BUYING.
• CHAPTER X. — CONSISTENCY.
• CHAPTER XI. — SELLING.
• CHAPTER XII. — DANGER SIGNALS.
• CHAPTER XIII. — STOP-LOSS ORDERS.
• CHAPTER XIV. — MARGINS.
• CHAPTER XV. — SHORT SELLING.
• CHAPTER XVI. — PETS.
• CHAPTER XVII. — CHARTS.
• CHAPTER XVIII. — BROKERS.
• CHAPTER XIX. — ENTHUSIASM AND HASTE.
• CHAPTER XX. — CUSTOMERS.
• CHAPTER XXI. — TICKERS.
• CHAPTER XXII. — WOMEN.
• CHAPTER XXIII. — NEW FLOTATIONS.
• CHAPTER XXIV. — MARKET LOSSES.
• CHAPTER XXV. — REASON v. INSTINCT.