Rating: - Good but need revision
Technically, this is a very useful book in that it presents hard to find statistics on the patterns like the price expectation, failure rate, very detailed. For example, the author even included a statistic on the volume behavior for the 'head and shoulder' pattern, which is very helpful. -You may not find those facts in any other book. The approach the author took is certainly a step forward towards 'scientific' technical analysis.

However, the presentation is poor and too wordy which makes it uneasy to follow, especially when you compare it with the classics like John Murphy ans Steve Nison's. There are too many uneccary words and most of the 'trading examples' are nothing more than stories (it is also not clear if those stories are fabricated or real). They do not contribute to the technical merit of the book but occupy a considerable portion of the book.

I'll keep it but do expect a revised version.

---

Rating: - One of the best "Technical Analysis" book you'll ever find
This is a very good book about "Technical Analysis",objective and honest. Bravo and thanks to Mr Bulkowski.

---

Rating: - Head and shoulders above the competition
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: - Essential, an authentic classic
I have been using statistical techniques for many years and thought most "patterns" are mostly in the eye of the beholder. I have yet to see a head-and-shoulders. But some patterns are so obvious that recently I have looked for definitions and explanations. This author not only provides them, but also has done the heavy lifting of testing 500 securities over 5 years in order to say how often each pattern is successful, how much you are likely to make from it, etc. This has never been done before and is very useful. "Encyclopedia" went to my top 10 technical analysis list in the first ten minutes I had it. It will be the most dog-eared book since Edwards and Magee.