Rating: Summary: The book you have been looking for. Review: I have read a lot of books and traded for several years. I always felt like I was missing something. Some bit of information that would link everything together. Some knowledge that the insiders knew that I didn't. My trading life was like a donut. Everything was there except the hole and the hole was the key.I found Farley's book at the bookstore by chance and read through it. His analysis of trader psychology and what the markets are doing were right on. He nailed so many concepts that I instantly bought the book. His book supplied the hole to my donut. After buying it, I wanted to know what other people thought. I read through the reviews to see if other people felt the way I did. Most do. If you are looking for a book on trading that ties everything together and will help you put together a system that is successful, this is it. I would ignore the nay sayer comments. These people are probably too stupid to know what to look for in a trading system. Heck, if they can't spell correctly, how can they expect to understand the basic concepts necessary to trade successfully. This is not a beginner's book. It assumes you have traded for a while and are familiar with many of the concepts. If you are looking for a beginning book, other choices would be better, but if you have traded for a while and want to tie everything together, this is it.
Rating: Summary: The most complete book about swing trading Review: This book is the most complete book written about swing trading to date. It shows a lot of patterns to look for, how to get in, when to get out. This is a good reference book. A lot of the ideas and techniques may be from other books, but it's good to have it all in one book. My only complaints are that I found myself flipping back and forth to match the description to the charts and I found the writing style a bit convoluted, confusing and hard to follow. And Alan, if you EVER decide to write another book, learn to organize your thoughts better or at least hire yourself a good editor / proofreader!!!!! You would have gotten another star if your book was more readable!!!!!
Rating: Summary: EXPANDING THE ENVELOPE OF SWING TRADING Review: ... Mr. Farley has written a text which offers new insights into trading and expands the concept of how to view price movements and crowd behaviors. The book is not for those who want a quick read in between their favorite television shows. Rather, it is a valid text for students of the art and offers many exciting and unique approaches to trading and analyzing the probability of a given trade. I heartily recommend it for serious traders and offer this one tidbit for those who don't bother to absorb what Mr. Farley has proffered: it will be a pleasure doing business with you!!!
Rating: Summary: One of the best! Review: This is one of the most influential books on trading strategies that I have read. It outlines a structural framework for swing trading which incorporates many aspects of technical analysis. While geared towards the more experienced trader, it provides a unique comprehensive approach that many will appreciate. Highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: Wanna be a swing trader? Review: I read many trading books. However, this one really lays the practical groundwork for swing trading and investing styles. It helps both aspiring traders and seasoned "pros" build their knowledge of the trading science (and art!). I was first attracted to this book at my local bookstore, so I checked it out. I had intended on merely reading selected chapters and taking some notes. However, as I got into the book, I realized there was much more meat here. There must be a copy on my personal bookshelf. I quickly purchased it, and with my highlighter in hand and notepad, I started devouring this book. Farley's work reminds me of a college textbook in its thorough approach to technical analysis of the stock market. I need this kind of detailed background so I can properly watch both the market and specific stocks. The charting techniques he explains give both the investor and trader far greater insight into probable price trends. This will significantly increase their rates of return. I've been waiting for this trading book for the last 8 years.
Rating: Summary: Buy It and Read It At Least Twice! Review: The Master Swing Trader is written for those willing to take the time to read it slowly and apply its many teachings. It infuriates me to see complaints about the book's complexity and big words. I'm no rocket scientist but had no trouble at all getting through the text. There is just so much in it! Maybe that's a problem for some readers but it's exactly what I've been waiting and hoping for. And look closely: most of the complaints appear to be from the same person, writing over and over again. Think about it. I recommend all traders read this book and study it! I mean that! If you find it a tough read or get confused, read it again! There is no other book on the market that shows you how to trade for a living better than this book does. And there are definitely few books on the subject as insightful as this book. If you are looking for a black box, you won't find it in MST. If you are looking for what it takes to make it in this business, this book is for you. I think that pages 50-58, 155-213 and 313-328 are worth the price of the book all by themselves. The author shows setups and market tools that I can't find anywhere else. If you can't get the "substance" out of this book, then you are doomed. In addition, check out the excellent reviews at Trading Markets, Traders Library and Traders Press. These folks read trading books all day long, but put this book at the top of their "must read" list. I recommend this book to all my friends and everyone who wants to learn how to do it right.
Rating: Summary: Worst book I ever tried to read Review: A total waste of time. I have spent days reading this book and I did not come up with anything of value. The author is very errogant and uses fancy words trying to show off his vocabulary. The charts are so confusing. They have a million indicators on them and lines drawn everywhere. Read the reviews carefully, the good reviews are written by friends of the author and other people featured on his website. But what striked me the most was that I found out the author will go on for months without executing not even ONE single trade. And we are supposed to learn from this master, please.....
Rating: Summary: Thought Provoking Review: This book is for experienced traders with a firm grasp of technical analysis. But that is not to say that beginners cannot glean great benefits from studying it. I wish this book had been available to me when I first started. Now I see so much of what I worked so hard to learn written right here, as Alan pours out page after page of wisdom, insight, and subtlety. But as a few posters have mentioned, it's not necessarily an easy read. Sentence after sentence, it seems, could have been set aside as its own separate bullet point, coaxing the reader to stare out into space and ponder the implications. I enjoy reading books by highly experienced traders. An old proverb says that Champions study the basics at least once every year. This is an excellent practice, as it reminds us of what we already know, prods us back into the practice of good habits that may have lapsed, and opens our eyes to things we didn't have the experience to fully appreciate previously. Each time I reread 'Reminisces of a Stock Operator' I appreciate it more, in proportion to what I have learned since the last time. Alan Farley has written a book that goes well beyond the basics, while at the time reminding traders of the simple things that are vital to success This book is destined to be a classic, and would be a fine addition, not to the bookshelf, but within easy reach on the desk. I look forward to many readings throughout the years.
Rating: Summary: This book is a modern classic ... Review: What a gem this book is! I own approximately 100 books on the various aspects of trading stocks, futures and options, and Alan Farley's book is at the top of my list. If you are looking for what is probably the best modern book on swing trading and day trading- this is it. If there is a single book on trading techniques that I would recommend to anyone who has done their homework- this is it. Mr Farley's methods offer tremendous insight across a wide range of trading styles and financial instruments, not just swing trading. And his charting examples are brilliant and drive home many subtle aspects of his teachings. You can't go wrong adding this great book to your collection. It gets my highest recommendation.
Rating: Summary: Don't believe the hype Review: I have to agree more with the reviewer who complains of this book talking in circles for 400 pages, rather than those heaping loads of praise on this one...This is not one of the worst books on trading I've read, and I have no doubt the author himself is a competent trader, but something has been lost in communicating his techniques. The text is very flowery and often makes for needlessly dense reading. While there are some good ideas in here, the author treats teaching trading as too much of an art and too little of a science. While I would agree that trading is difficult to reduce to a clearcut ruleset or mechanical system, the text is filled with subjective analysis techniques riddled with exceptions. This makes for difficult implementation of ideas. I also agree with the previous reviewer who complained of confusing charts in many instances. I couldn't help but think of DeMark's work when reading this book. DeMark, while sometimes confusing and dry, attempts to reduce trading techniques to an objective, measurable, reproducible algorithm. This book goes in a completely opposite direction making it difficult to derive any confidence in implementing something that may definitely work for the author, but that often leaves the reader wondering if he is implementing the technique appropriately. I would not recommend this book to beginners at all. As someone who is an experienced trader, I can also say that mining info from this book is a tedious task.
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