Derivatives Demystified by Robert Deutsch and Mark Saccasan is presented like a college tutorial on derivatives. The entire text is a question-and-answer format, with each kind of basic derivative (options, forwards, swaps) covered by a separate chapter. The questions start very generally: What is an option? Then become more specific: How can options be used to speculate in the market? Very simple numerical examples are provided for each derivative, in a manner that is accessible even to a high school math student.
The book has neither preface nor introduction, and there is no indication for whom the book was written. In addition, there is no glossary, and this would have been useful especially for the acronyms that are used extensively throughout the book. It is hard to see the focus of this book. It lacks, for example, Braddock’s transactional approach, and there is o discussion of computer applications for the structures described, either. It would be hard to recommend this book except as a self-study guide for those with either significant other supplementary material or just a passing interest in the topic”
Viva Hammer is a principal consultant with Price Waterhouse LLP, New York