Book excerpt: Like the lessons of Zen, the lessons in this book are brief, simple & profound. They are intended as much for the person who glances at the financial pages in the evening to see how his or her investments are faring as for the full-time trader or professional money manager. Their underlying message is that you are in a contest with yourself & not the market. Just as the lack of sense of self makes the samurai warrior a powerful & formidable opponent, it can make you successful in your stock trading. You will lose less. You will make greater profits. It is simple. "Captures the secret of successful trading."