Rating: 
- Great information, poor design
I abandoned the Gregory Morris book, "Candlestick Charting Explained," because of the unnecessarily complex and not useful amount of detail.
I truly enjoyed the narrative parts of "The Candlestick Course," finding the explanations clear and concise.
However, I was appalled and frustrated by the incredibly poor, difficult-to-use layout of the illustrations, particularly in the Q&A sections. One had to flip pages between the questions and the answers/explanations, then flip between the "question charts" and the "answer charts." It was ludicrous!
Anyway, I am really glad I read the book and persevered, because I think it's good. But, please get a good editor!!!!
Rating: - It helps a lot with lingo, and shed a little light on what candles AREN'T.
I was very excited to start this book, thinking I would find a trading tool that matched my visual senses. However, I was disappointed to find that there really is no difference between candles and OHLC. It's true, that candles are a more visual representation of the same data. But, not any more useful. One annoying aspect of Nison's personality is that he keeps trying to convince you how much better candles are than OHLC. Aside from the visual acuity (i.e. colors, wider bars), it's the same Steve! Sorry.
Western culture interprets the OHLC data differently than the Japanese, that is all. So, to that effect you learn how the Japanese interpret the data. But, they still can't be used reliably without other Western indicators. So, if you already have a trading strategy that you think might be enhanced by another "edge", go for it. Don't think you can use candles all by themselves though.
As far as Nison's style of writing, I found it a bit insulting on an intellectual level. I kept feeling like I was sitting in elementary school holding a pair of dull scissors. I realize that in order to learn, ideas must be repeated. However, he goes a bit overboard with the repetition. If the book were written better, I think as an educated adult I'd choose to read it again to get to the appropriate level of repetition. However, it's so "dumbed down", I don't think I can sit through it another time.
But, I did learn what the basic candle signals are; and perhaps more importantly what they are not. So, I give it a thumbs up for the basic material. But, thumbs down on being engaging and or something I would read again.
Also, I agree with the previous poster that said the layout is poor, and all the flipping back and forth to look at charts and answer questions was annoying. At one point I had 3 fingers holding places to go back to, and then got lost amongst the charts and was using the wrong chart to answer the question... Then was frustrated to find I'd done so when referring to the answer section to check myself.
Rating:
- Wonderful book, especially if new to Japanese Candlesticks
This is a wonderful book for people who are new to Japanese canadlesticks. Its written in an easy to read format and in layman language. On top of that, at the end of chapter, there is a set of questions that test your knowledge of the topics that was just covered. However, my only gripe would be it does not go in-depth enough, it only covers the basics. Some real life examples (i.e. Charts) on each topic covered would have been nice.
Great book for Japanese candlestick newbies but skip it if you are on an intermediate level or above.
Rating: - A good starter to get the lingo.
Being a novice to candlesticks I was open to a new world of analysis this book ofered. Comming from a background of chart pattern plotting , I wanted to find another indicator that was a realible cross check for the signals.
I thought that the instruction and layout of each chapter was thoughtful and educational. I especially liked the little review section at the end of the chapters. However I found the true application of the principles to require a more intrinsic approach to the reader. It made for a great intoduction and general apprecitaion for the art of candlesticking, but a course it is not. For those NOT looking for a light snack move on to a real meal.
Rating:
- Well written, but not much to it...
I began reading this book with great enthusiasm. At the beginning of each chapter, Nison lays out the objectives and goals that you will learn, including key terms to watch for.
So as I was reading through the book, thinking "I really love the writing style of the author and am learning some valuable information," and before I knew it, the book was over. I was finished reading in 2 hours.
Nison only talks about the most popular candle lines/patterns, but he doesn't even go into great detail on the candles/patterns that are presented. The material only fills up about 100 pages, the other 100 pages show you a chart piece by piece and have you try to figure out what will happen next.
At $44, this book is a waste of money. After being disappointed, I bought Morris' Candlestick Charting Explained. The difference between these two books is night and day. Morris goes into significantly more detail about different candle lines/patterns, not to mention he talks about almost every candle stick you will ever see. So if you want a kiddy version of candlestick charting, go with Nison's, if you want a serious book, go with Morris'.
- Great information, poor designI abandoned the Gregory Morris book, "Candlestick Charting Explained," because of the unnecessarily complex and not useful amount of detail.
I truly enjoyed the narrative parts of "The Candlestick Course," finding the explanations clear and concise.
However, I was appalled and frustrated by the incredibly poor, difficult-to-use layout of the illustrations, particularly in the Q&A sections. One had to flip pages between the questions and the answers/explanations, then flip between the "question charts" and the "answer charts." It was ludicrous!
Anyway, I am really glad I read the book and persevered, because I think it's good. But, please get a good editor!!!!
Rating:
- It helps a lot with lingo, and shed a little light on what candles AREN'T.I was very excited to start this book, thinking I would find a trading tool that matched my visual senses. However, I was disappointed to find that there really is no difference between candles and OHLC. It's true, that candles are a more visual representation of the same data. But, not any more useful. One annoying aspect of Nison's personality is that he keeps trying to convince you how much better candles are than OHLC. Aside from the visual acuity (i.e. colors, wider bars), it's the same Steve! Sorry.
Western culture interprets the OHLC data differently than the Japanese, that is all. So, to that effect you learn how the Japanese interpret the data. But, they still can't be used reliably without other Western indicators. So, if you already have a trading strategy that you think might be enhanced by another "edge", go for it. Don't think you can use candles all by themselves though.
As far as Nison's style of writing, I found it a bit insulting on an intellectual level. I kept feeling like I was sitting in elementary school holding a pair of dull scissors. I realize that in order to learn, ideas must be repeated. However, he goes a bit overboard with the repetition. If the book were written better, I think as an educated adult I'd choose to read it again to get to the appropriate level of repetition. However, it's so "dumbed down", I don't think I can sit through it another time.
But, I did learn what the basic candle signals are; and perhaps more importantly what they are not. So, I give it a thumbs up for the basic material. But, thumbs down on being engaging and or something I would read again.
Also, I agree with the previous poster that said the layout is poor, and all the flipping back and forth to look at charts and answer questions was annoying. At one point I had 3 fingers holding places to go back to, and then got lost amongst the charts and was using the wrong chart to answer the question... Then was frustrated to find I'd done so when referring to the answer section to check myself.
Rating:
- Wonderful book, especially if new to Japanese CandlesticksThis is a wonderful book for people who are new to Japanese canadlesticks. Its written in an easy to read format and in layman language. On top of that, at the end of chapter, there is a set of questions that test your knowledge of the topics that was just covered. However, my only gripe would be it does not go in-depth enough, it only covers the basics. Some real life examples (i.e. Charts) on each topic covered would have been nice.
Great book for Japanese candlestick newbies but skip it if you are on an intermediate level or above.
Rating:
- A good starter to get the lingo.Being a novice to candlesticks I was open to a new world of analysis this book ofered. Comming from a background of chart pattern plotting , I wanted to find another indicator that was a realible cross check for the signals.
I thought that the instruction and layout of each chapter was thoughtful and educational. I especially liked the little review section at the end of the chapters. However I found the true application of the principles to require a more intrinsic approach to the reader. It made for a great intoduction and general apprecitaion for the art of candlesticking, but a course it is not. For those NOT looking for a light snack move on to a real meal.
Rating:
- Well written, but not much to it...I began reading this book with great enthusiasm. At the beginning of each chapter, Nison lays out the objectives and goals that you will learn, including key terms to watch for.
So as I was reading through the book, thinking "I really love the writing style of the author and am learning some valuable information," and before I knew it, the book was over. I was finished reading in 2 hours.
Nison only talks about the most popular candle lines/patterns, but he doesn't even go into great detail on the candles/patterns that are presented. The material only fills up about 100 pages, the other 100 pages show you a chart piece by piece and have you try to figure out what will happen next.
At $44, this book is a waste of money. After being disappointed, I bought Morris' Candlestick Charting Explained. The difference between these two books is night and day. Morris goes into significantly more detail about different candle lines/patterns, not to mention he talks about almost every candle stick you will ever see. So if you want a kiddy version of candlestick charting, go with Nison's, if you want a serious book, go with Morris'.