Rating: 
Summary: Not sufficient testing to produce reliable trading methods
Review: 500 stock charts or 2 years are not sufficient to produce reliable trading rules. Its rather absurd. These charts with Meta Stock (add-on) or Back Track can be used to test most of them over extended priod of time. Or Trade Station if he can write TS Chart patterns program. Then after atleast 10 years of testing, he can write this book. ... Free End of Day.
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Summary: Finally...
Review: After reading Tom's article in the recent Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities magazine, I knew I had to see his book. Finally it seems that someone is actually testing chart patterns for success/failure rates. While his definitions for the patterns and for the failure rates are subjective, they are at least consistent and allow for a base line for comparison with any future studies. This, in itself, sets it apart from anything previously published. With definite rules, one can't look back at a pattern in hindsight and claim something different (as is too common among chartists). I'd still love to sit and pick his brain over some specifics, but I see it as a tremendous leap in the level of what is available on chart patterns and their predictability. The amazingly low failure rates listed on some of the patterns are based on entry *after* a breakout of the pattern. The "too good to be true" aspect of this is then greatly tempered by the relatively great distance this puts one from the recommended "stop" levels. It will take some testing of my own to learn what kind of "expectancy" can be dragged out of these numbers. It will also be fun to learn whether the stats hold for intraday charts. His emphasis on the rates of "pullbacks" and "throwbacks" (and definitions of same) was a surprising and valuable bit of added information. With the right indicators, this knowledge just might find one some significantly safer entry points with closer stops. One thing that stumps me is the absence of the opening prices on the bars of the charts. Did I detect a bias against candlesticks? I haven't been at this long enough to have enough data to even know if this charting and technical analysis stuff can really be made to work long term, but this book should at least make it a lot more fun to find out. Sure must have been a lot of work.
Rating:
Summary: The best book on chart patterns
Review: All 43 chart patterns. One chapter for each type. Well organized and easy to read. Every chapter describes Upside Breakouts, Downside Breakouts, Tour, Identification Guidelines. Focus on failuers, Statistics, Trading tactics and Sample trade.
Rating:
Summary: Very indepth and good use of statistics
Review: As a trader myself I am always on the lookout for books and materials that do not tout get rich quick strategies. Mr. Bulkowski takes a very methodical and usefull approach in collecting many common and some exotic chart formations and then documenting how identify, trade, and ultimately reveal their statistical performances. One feature I found pricesless was the visual index in which you can match a formation visually and then figure out what it is called to read more about it. I highly recommend this book for people who are looking for a excellent chart formation book.
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Summary: Excellent Reference Work
Review: As co-author of "The Encyclopedia of Trading Strategies" and "How to Start Day Trading Futures, Options, and Indices," I highly recommend Bulkowski's excellent book. I first came across it while killing some time in a bookstore and couldn't put it down, nearly missed my appointment. His research was up to the rigorous standard I set for myself. He was comprehensive and his reporting was easy to understand. Anyone trading on the basis of visually identified chart patterns should not think twice about buying this book--it is a must have for their trading arsenal.
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Summary: Absolutely, positively, essential reading.
Review: For years the "experts" have been regurgitating the same old stuff with respect to chart patterns, "This is what a double top looks like; This is what a pennant looks like; yada yada yada." Finally, Bulkowski gives us something we can really use: a book based on actual market testing. Want to know the reliability of the cup-with-handle - look it up! Want to know the likelihood that you will make at least 25% on the breakout of an ascending triangle - look it up! Of course, there are no absolutes in trading, however, this book gives plenty of statistically relevant information that one would be foolish to ignore. I wouldn't think of trading without it.
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Summary: A must have for every traders.
Review: Great! I have used it to trade stocks in Hong Kong and make profit by identifing any chart patterns. Although the book is too wordy, the patterns identification rlue is helpful.
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Summary: Head and shoulders above the competition
Review: Hardy har har. Yet I mean it. Most books on TA are simply awful. Finally a scientist (engineer, anyway) has taken his turn. The book is clearly written, with clear looking charts, unlike the other awful texts. But more than that is the scientific approach: OK, let's rigorously formulate what these patterns are, and then test them empirically. A brilliant (though obvious) idea. This is a great beginning, although I think the project is far from over. The focus can be made even sharper, with clearer definitions and methodology. Some ideas need to be scrapped, like the scoring system (which doesn't appear until the end, thankfully). It seems completely nonsensical to me. I have lots of suggestions for Bulkowski's next edition. If the author is reading this comment, he can contact me at wramey@home.com. (Please, that's for the author only.)
Rating: 
Summary: Statistics are not accurate in my opinion
Review: I am an author on TA. I have articles published by Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodites. Mr. Bulkowski on page 659 says that Rectangle Bottoms, up breakout failure rate is zero!!! Now here is a formation you can't go wrong with, right!? Just trade this formation and you will never lose money! He also states that Rectangles, Wedges, Triangles, Double Bottoms, Broadening formations and so forth have a failure rate of 2%!! Excellant!! We are all going to get rich trading these formation! In chapter 17, page 252, he calls Dogi a Hanging Man! Don't you think he ought to know the difference!! Judge for yourself.
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Summary: Regarding inaccurate statistics
Review: I don't even know Mr. Bulkowski, but I felt compelled to write this review. One particular reviewer points out a few apparent discrepancies in this 672 page volume of research. It does not matter whether you are an author or have been published in trading-related magazines. The reviewer sarcastically poses that since the "rectangle bottom" stats on page 659 portray a zero faulure rate, that traders can get rich and never lose money! If you truly read the entire text, including Mr. Bulkowski's opening remarks that define his fresh statistical-analysis approach, then everything falls into place. Furthermore, the author addresses the "zero loss stat" for the rectangle formation on pages 440 and 444. He states that the "sample size" was small for this pattern and said: "Let me emphasize that because I did not find any failures of rectangle patterns with upside breakouts does not mean there are none." This is a good and comprehensive book with a very fresh statistical approach for analyzing classic (and newer) bar chart formations. There is a wealth of information addressing each of the many patterns. It is offered up to the reader as copious amounts of quantified data that any trader/investor can draw from to incorporate into his or her own trading. I too am an author, and I trade stocks full-time for a living. This book is a great resource and fits in the top 15 T.A. books of which I own roughly 300. Yeah, he called a "dogi" a "hanging man." To me that doesn't detract from the other 671 pages. Buy it, read it and use it!
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