Nassim Taleb: Ask Me Anything

Pekelo said:
2 years old but I have just ran into this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/options/comments/38onec/i_am_nassim_nicholas_taleb_ask_me_anything_on/

He got real offended when asked about his HF closing and never really answered the question... Well, he directed the question to newspaper articles saying he can not promote. Except he left in 2010, so it would be discussing historical performance, not promoting...

Anyhow, here is a free book from him:

http://www.fooledbyrandomness.com/FatTails.html
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As an author Taleb has done what he could not do as a trader or mathematician, get people to speak about ( fame & fortune) and quote him. When you are quoted by such notables as Howard Marks and Charlie Munger you have arrived.
 
dealmaker said:
As an author Taleb has done what he could not do as a trader or mathematician, get people to speak about ( fame & fortune) and quote him. When you are quoted by such notables as Howard Marks and Charlie Munger you have arrived.
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you have arrived when you have female groupies following you around.
the only other trader, to my knowledge, in that situation is James Chanos.
 
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Tks for posting. Very interesting what he said about BRK

"I think from what I saw that Berkshire is not immune to their own statement. They got involved in financial products and blew up but this is not advertised (I know people who worked there)."
 
Hmm, I get out more from 10 Reddit questions and comments than I get out of a year's worth reading ET.

lawrence-lugar said:
...I didn't thoroughly read all that, just skimmed it quickly -- But what's the bottom line to all this?
I hate reading sleepy, boring Question and Answer theory sessions.

Is he a very successful guy whose ship has come in, or did he crash his own Titanic, o_O
Reddit is a place for losers. All weird 2-bit stories, and people, arise from there usually,
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... Perhaps because you don't understand him? Have you read Dynamic Hedging by him. One of the best options trading and risk management books out there. No, let me correct myself: THE best book on options out there.

Some of the best Olympic swimming coaches have never been in the top ranks themselves. So what? Same with some top tennis coaches.

MrMuppet said:
I don't know...I don't like this guy. He's waffling about his abstract mindfarts, yet all he achieved is writing books and papers.

He's just like Black/Schools/Merton who sit inside their multi million dollar appartments, musing over their "adventures" with LTCM, although they almost caused a market meltdown.

I read Black Swan and Antifragility (or at least I tried to) and handed both of them over to the fireplace, because I could no longer take the BS.

There are people in this industry who made millions although they can barely write their own name. And this moron pulls useless math out of his ass while doing nothing but burning money...

Sorry guys, but Taleb always makes me fume
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Taleb caters to the professional trading crowd. Most retail options punters do not even understand how to trade Gama, neither do they understand skew, higher order risks, managing an options book. As soon as something is above their head many here declare that person a lunatic. Taleb has traded professional money longer than most people here have even known the term trading. I don't know the details why he closed down and neither do I care. Some of his books such as Dynamic Hedging are top notch and a must read for any serious options trader. Aside Sinclair nowhere else is so much valuable information in public domain on options trading than in the Dynamic Hedging book.

I completely agree with ignoring idiots, Taleb is a quality read, however. Only those with low intellect don't grasp that.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0471...ic+hedging&dpPl=1&dpID=51WS-+ButKL&ref=plSrch

ironchef said:
Thank you for this link.

This link listed a bunch of his academic studies on tail risks. Tail risk is extremely important in options, so I better pay some attention. Unfortunately, they are not written in lay person language so they are very difficult to understand.

Regards,
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dumpdapump said:
Have you read Dynamic Hedging by him

One of the best options trading and risk management books out there
No, let me correct myself: THE best book on options out there

Some of the best Olympic swimming coaches have never been in the top ranks themselves
So what? Same with some top tennis coaches
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Ok, fine. -- But how does Nassim Taleb's teachings (or anyone else's you seem to praise so much) translate to real world trading performance for you, o_O

Care to disclose,

He may be smart academically just like the LTCM guys of the mid/late 90's, but it wasn't a happy ending for neither of them...they both blew up,

Trading is much more (or less) than just academics. and theories and formulas,
 
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Taleb's fund never blew up (I am trying to get my hands on the entire Empirica returns, will post when I get them.) and the fund he is advising is actually still operational and the performance is not pointing to any blow ups either.

Here some info on the Universa Investments fund that Taleb is advising:

https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/bear-going-vs-the-bulls-still-profits/?_r=0


lawrence-lugar said:
Ok, fine. -- But how does Nassim Taleb's teachings (or anyone else's you seem to praise so much) translate to real world trading performance for you, o_O

Care to disclose,

He may be smart academically just like the LTCM guys of the mid/late 90's, but it wasn't a happy ending for neither of them...they both blew up,

Trading is much more (or less) than just academics. and theories and formulas,
More...
 
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