Rating: 
Summary: Favorably reviewed by Paul Isaac, Financial Times
Review: A review of this book appeared in the London edition of the Financial Times on November 14, 2001 (not, unfortunately, the New York edition):
...A one paragraph summary:
"Steinhardt possessed opportunism without illusions, ingrained scepticism, agnosticism to being short or long, an aggressive trading mentality, relentless focus on short-term absolute profitability and an obsession with timely, legal information on stocks. In other words, he provided the model for much of Wall Street's burgeoning hedge-fund industry. His story is worth reading by a wider audience than just those who would emulate his fabulous financial success."
Rating:
Summary: I liked the book a lot, but not for its trading tips
Review: Although I bought the book with the perception it would be a book on investing/trading techniques used by a well-respected investor, I liked it much more for what I did not expect to read.
The book is basically a biography, in which he describes how his father, his religion (even tough he calls himself an atheist) and his education have had an impact on his life, in private as well as in his work.
The way he writes is entertaining, and I found myself finishing the book within only a few days. Not a book about investing. Don't buy it to improve your trading results!
Buy it for learning about the person behind stellar investment performance.
Rating:
Summary: Insights
Review: As a speculator I learned to take the best from books and ideas without arguments (many readers seem to be training to be shallow critics)--good insights are hard to come by. One does not find these in the writings of a journalist. There are some things personal to the author that might be uninteresting to some, but I take the package. The man is one of the greatest traders in history. There are a few jewels in there.
The man did it. I'd rather listen to him than read better written but hollow prose from some journalist-writer.
Rating: 
Summary: Steinhardt the Blowhard...
Review: Dull, pompous pablum - with surprising little insight into both the markets and Steinhardt's reasoning for the trades he describes in his book. This gives credence to the likelihood that Steinhardt is nothing more than an outlier along the curve (in other words, extremely lucky) Given the amount of money this guy made, his philanthropic "vision" is extremely narrow and self-serving. Pass this one by...
Rating:
Summary: Great read of a Wall Street Titan
Review: From humble beginnings with a gambling, absentee father, Michael Steinhardt worked his way through an Ivy League school to Wall Street. But a very low level of Wall Street and it's only through luck and good fortune he was able to become a successful Hedge Fund manager. And very successful he was. The unique fact about Steinhardt is he never seemed to be quite comfortable with his profession or his religeon. Early in his hedge fund career he took a year off only to come back for many more years. Later, he shut down his hedge fund in what you could argue was the height of his career. His views on religeon are even more unique. Very Jewish, he considers himself an atheist while supporting Israel and charities to promote the Jewish culture in younger Americans. I applaud his philanthropic commitment. I strongly recommend this book if you have interest in investing and want to read about one of the success stories and how it happened.
Rating: 
Summary: GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT, SUMS IT UP.
Review: I AGREE WITH A PREVIOUS REVIEWER THAT THIS BOOK IS A "MIXED BAG." WHILE MICHAEL STEINHARDT HAD A GREAT CAREER ON WALL STREET, HE BUILT HIS FORTUNE BY HITTING A GREAT MANY SINGLES --- BUT FEW, IF ANY, HOME RUNS. AND, AS ANY BASEBALL FAN KNOWS, SEEING SOMEONE "HIT THE BALL OUT OF THE PARK" IS ALWAYS MORE EXCITING THAN A SERIES OF ENDLESS SINGLES, WALKS AND STOLEN BASES. TRUE SUPERSTARS (WARREN BUFFETT, HAROLD SIMMONS, ARTHUR ROCK, ETC. ) ARE LONG BALL HITTERS. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO READ "GOLDEN BOY: THE HAROLD SIMMONS STORY" BY JOHN J. NANCE. IT IS A MORE INTERSTING, EXCITING AND INFORMATIVE BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I bought this book after hearing it was not written as an ego builder by the author. Unfortunately I was disappointed after realizing Mr. Steinhardt's account of his father is a little too close to the character played by Chazz Palminteri in "A Bronx Tale". Although I could get past a little embellishment, it seems Mr. Steinhardt's Wharton education and his initial entrance into the market was bankrolled by his criminally motivated father. I found it extremely disappointing that Mr. Steinhardt glorifies his Bar Mitzvah "gifts" from his father and then would have us feel sorry for him for what he had to go through as a Jewish American in the military, etc. Sorry, but it seems Mr. Steinhardt speaks out of both sides of his mouth which doesn't exactly build credibility. One quote from the book..in describing his stock picking ability..."it was as if I had a direct line to God"...give me a break, is nothing sacred!
Rating:
Summary: Great story, I have read it several times already
Review: I found this book to be a great story and very fun to read.
after completing it cover to cover, I now often pick it up when I have a few spare moments and just open up to a random spot and start reading. I am usually hooked right into the story!
Michael is honest and frank about both his successes and failures, as an investor and as a human being. this book is jam packed with entertaining and often humorous stories. I particularly found his self-analysis of his many quirks and eccentricities amusing. This book is not one of their beloved "trading manuals". Michael's investment secret appears to be a tremendous competitive intensity combined with a fiercely independent mind and an aptitude for risk-taking. try learning that from a book or trading manual.. good luck. This is a great story which contains much wisdom and insight into Michaels great financial success. I personally gained new insight in how to frame investment questions and think logically when dealing with risk and uncertainties. If you actually enjoy reading and have an interest in the financial markets and the human condition, you will likely enjoy this book too.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I highly recommend this book. Mr. Steinhardt's thought process offers to any informed reader exactly what kind of internal dialogue produces great trading results. If you want to know what it takes to be a trader forget about books by people who don't have a clue because they never traded for a living. Read Soros, Steinhardt, Rogers, Abell, Koppel, Schwartz--traders who spent their careers trading.
Rating:
Summary: Good not great
Review: I watched Michael Steinhardt on several TV interviews and decided to buy the book. Generally, I prefer to read books about the stock market and perhaps that is where my expectations were not met. The story of Mr Steinhardt's life was interesting, and the story of his gold coin investment is probably worth the price of the book. Sort of a stick to what you know moral. Other than that, there was just not a lot of discussion of the market itself. He mentions being a good analyst, but why? Making market calls, but how? Mr. Steinhardt is truly a great on the street, but if you did not know that, the book could have been about anyone else in any other career.
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