THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE STOCK MARKET: Human Impulses Lead To Speculative Disasters is a brief, but fascinating guide about what really influences the way the financial markets behave.

Here is the top five principles of the book in summary:

1. Your main purpose must be to keep the mind clear and well balanced.Hence, do not act hastily on apparently sensational information;do not trade so heavily as to become anxious; and do not permit yourself to be influenced by your position in the market.

2. Act on your own own judgement, or else act absolutely and entirely on the judgement of another, regardless of your own opinion."To many cooks spoil the broth."

3. When in doubt, keep out of the market. Delays cost less than losses.

4. Endeavor to catch the trend of sentiment.Even if you should be temporarily against fundamental conditions, it is nevertheless unprofitable to oppose it.

5. The greatest fault of ninety-nine percent out of one hundred active traders is being bullish at high prices and bearish at low prices. Therefore, refuse to follow the market beyond what you consider a reasonable climax, no matter how large the possible profits that you may appear to be losing by inaction.