I'm thinking of getting PWoQF, but as the 2nd edition was published back in 2006, wondered if it was worth waiting for the 3rd edition to come out. Does anyone know of any plans for a 3rd edition please?

The only thing I have learned is that even almost finished titles have a tendency to be postponed. That means that some time schedules if made is just pure guesswork. Take this title for examplehttp://books.global-investor.com/books/14333/Nassim-Taleb/Static-and-Dynamic-Hedging,-2nd-Edition/Due for publication on 16 Jan 2011 - can be pre-ordered It have had an ISBN number for ages, of course. That is searchable and the internet book stores usually list the books, that only have an ISBN, but is not yet published. Now if Paul said, that there will be a third edition in X months time; he'd tank his own sales to some degree wont he, and that mail campaign would be for nought. So, not registering an ISBN would make sense also.

But then we would not send out a mailshot promoting the second edition if a third were planned, that would be immoral. (That's me being old fashioned again!) And we sent such a mailshot yesterday.So, no, there are no plans for a third edition, but it will happen one day.BTW please, please read Volume three (in the second edition). Almost everything people have been asking about 'recently' (i.e. since popular models went wrong) is covered in that. And it has become really annoying having to point out all the time things that I think are pretty important (albeit not covered in any other book at all), and which people who haven't read Volume three think have never, ever been considered before. Well, they have! (Volumes one and two are pretty good too...but they only really cover 'classical' stuff, although with plenty of dissing where called for!)P

Paul: Thanks for your reply - I'm very pleased to hear your stance on morality. On the strength of that I'll definitely be ordering PWoQF 2nd edition as soon as I'm back from holiday and have found the best price. Thanks

No, I'd say buy it for the humour and style; just like Carol A. in her old Market models Paul got firm opinions and a humorous approach in letting us know (MM also have that but a lot more subdued and without the cartoons). This actually facilitates learning as the more different ways we approach an issue and can associate the approaches with one another the easier it is to remember.

Thanks for that, C3I2! That is indeed part of the reason...and in my lectures I also include lots of (what I hope are) memorable examples and analogies, some can be a bit 'unusual'! But this is not to everyone's taste!P

does the book come with Excel sample spreadsheets?

jb, obviously! I want to take this opportunity to re-emphasise: Read Volume Three!P

sorry to hijack this thread ...is there "The Best of Wilmott 3" planned in the near future? Thanks

Nothing planned. We are focusing on the magazine and the new journal at the moment.P

QuoteOriginally posted by: Pauljb, obviously! I want to take this opportunity to re-emphasise: Read Volume Three!Peasy said. we don't have the book in the library, it's not in book stores either. so i have to find somebody who has it and browse it. is there a web site with source codes to look at? many books come with companion web sites and sources to download.

Hmm...just give me your address and I'll deliver it personally, wrapped up with a big bow! If I have time I'll do your ironing as well!Live dangerously, take a chance!P

I wandered over to the local bookstore and found that the three volume set is there...

QuoteOriginally posted by: PaulLive dangerously, take a chance!take a chance on you? that was funny.btw, in US we dont iron

jawabean,you have a point! (About taking a chance...not about the ironing!). People do either love the book or hate it. So it's a bit difficult knowing at which end of the spectrum you will be. But let me make a few comments:1. I write about what I think is important. Since I earn the price of a Big Mac per book it's not done for the money, nor is this post done to persuade you one way or the other.2. You will find things in the book that you won't see elsewhere. (But you have to read all of the Volumes!)3. Many of the research-level ideas described in the book have been used by me in practice. I don't keep any secrets back. 4. I have to admit to hating almost all QF books. They are are usually at least one of a) dumbed down, covering only the same entry-level ideas, b) the same as each other, covering only the same theorems and proofs, so really you only need one book, c) only ever about complete markets, and never say why things go wrong, d) impractical, so they go off on some complicated modelling that cannot be used in practice. PWOQF2 can be criticized for many things but not these things!You need to know a lot of QF before knowing what you need to buy! And so most people won't get my (a)-(d) criticisms above.If in doubt don't buy. And I'll go without a Big Mac. Or if in doubt, take a chance and do buy. Oh, but we've ruled this out!P