Two Books That Reveal the Secrets of Commodity Trading

Sometimes, new employees or just people, that are new to the industry, ask how to better understand commodity markets. It’s a fair question—these markets are complex, full of big players, global politics, and high-stakes deals. We’ve got two book recommendations that will open your eyes to this fascinating world.

We’ve chosen to start with two books by the same author, Jonathan Kingsman, but we have plenty more interesting titles to share in the future. These two, however, provide a great foundation for understanding the industry from both a practical and a behind-the-scenes perspective.

Commodity Conversations: A Must-Read for Anyone in Agri-Trading

“Commodity trading is not about predicting the future, but about understanding the present better than anyone else.” – Jonathan Kingsman

Commodity trading isn’t just about numbers on a screen—it’s about understanding the real-world forces that drive markets. Supply chains, weather, and even politics all play a role, and no one explains this better than Jonathan Kingsman in Commodity Conversations: An Introduction to Trading in Agricultural Commodities.

Why This Book is Worth Your Time

Kingsman writes as if he’s sitting across from you, explaining how agricultural trading really works. Whether you’re new to the game or have been in the business for years, this book offers valuable insights:

• How supply and demand shape agricultural markets (it’s not always as simple as you think).
• The critical role traders play in moving food from farms to tables worldwide.
• How weather, politics, and global events can send prices soaring—or crashing.
• The growing influence of data and technology in commodity trading.

The best part? It’s an easy, engaging read. Kingsman doesn’t drown you in jargon—he tells stories that make the market come alive.

Out of the Shadows: The New Merchants of Grain

“The world of grain trading has always been one of shadows, where knowledge is power and secrecy is currency.” – Jonathan Kingsman

If Commodity Conversations is a friendly guide to the world of agri-trading, Out of the Shadows: The New Merchants of Grain is the behind-the-scenes exposé. This book takes you deep into the hidden world of the massive trading houses that control global grain flows—companies you may never have heard of but that wield enormous influence.

What Makes This Book Fascinating

• Who Really Runs the Market? Learn about the powerful firms that quietly dominate the grain trade.
• High-Stakes Deals & Risks: Get a glimpse into the billion-dollar decisions that shape the food supply.
• Global Impact: From geopolitical tensions to supply chain crises, this book shows how grain traders navigate a world of uncertainty.

Together, Commodity Conversations and Out of the Shadows provide a full picture of agricultural trading—from the day-to-day mechanics to the power players who pull the strings behind the scenes.

We’ll be sharing more book recommendations soon, but for now, let’s talk about these! Have you read them? What are your thoughts? Or maybe, you can share the book, to compliment this list?