Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques, Second Edition

* New techniques and strategies
* The author s concept of the Convergence (when a series of signals converge at one zone, thus increasing the chances for a market turn from that area)

This new edition broadens the book s focus and all new updated charts, and information on several new areas such as day trading and how candlestick charting can be used to improve returns and help decrease market risk.

It includes everything from the basics, such as constructing the candlesticks and learning the patterns, to advanced topics, such as the rules of multiple technical techniques.

Whether you are new to candlestick charts or a seasoned pro-the reward will be immediate and long lasting.

It has a LOT LOT LOT more depth than the others. There is more to candlesticks (or any price movement analysis) than just a bunch of patterns, names, formations ... the other books are far far too brief. I cannot emphasise this enough.

Look at all the other reviews for this book, many many good words said.

It is very readable, very clear, the examples are excellent, but most valuable are the insights for all the patterns ... that other books simply do not have.

Sure, it costs a bit more than the other candlestick books, but hey, how much money are you trading? Does an extra 30 or 50 bucks make that much difference for the extra insight you will gain?

This is not just the best ~Candlestick~ book, but it is a very very good TA book as well. Candlesticks are, after all, just a way of plotting price movements.

Note that, in searching the web for info. on TA and investing, this book came up time and time again as ~highly~ recommended. Now I pass that recommendation on.

Note also Nison has another book, "Beyond Candlesticks", and while I think that this is also a good book, get this one first and learn it all, the second book concentrates more on a few "Advanced" techniques, I don't know if they are so much advanced as they are just a few more techniques + brushing over what is in the first book. Get this first book, because it has more depth on the essentials that you need to know. Get the other book later, don't try and save money by jumping to the second one in the hope it will make the first obsolete, don't try and save money by getting a cheaper candlestick book, don't brush this stuff off thinking you've learnt all the candlestick stuff just by seeing a couple of patterns and names.

I also highly recommend Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets, this is recently updated and so incredibly good.

Beginner trader: will help you a lot, a very good investment, but also look to the book recommended above.

Intermediate: what are you doing? making a profit? get the book. Not making a profit? get the book, or get out of trading.

Advanced: why don't you have it? it should be on everyone's bookshelf, have you no pride? can't you afford it?

This is one of those trading books you cannot afford not to have. I don't give that rating to many other trading books.

Good luck!

Oh, and it is enjoyable to read.


Excellent resource for understanding candlestick charts.   December 12, 1998
100 out of 101 found this review helpful

If you have heard of candlesticks but know nothing about them, look no further, this is THE book for you. In beautiful form and style, Steve Nison brings you into the world of Japanese candlestick charts and patterns. First giving you a fascinating history of the birth of the futures markets in Japan. Armed with that knowledge, Mr. Nison delves into the "psychology" behind the patterns that develope in the chart. He provides a thorough explaination of each pattern, down to it's historic name, and what to anticipate when the pattern unfolds. There is also a large part of the book devoted to using candlestick charts with various indicators i.e., stochastics, moving averages, relative strength, etc. You name it, he's got it. Actual charts are provided to visually enhance Steve Nison's explainations. Not only does he tell, but he showes you using various markets from coffee futures to the S&P market. This book is a must addition to the library of any trader who relies on technical analysis, from the beginer to the master.


A reference for any trader   March 12, 2000
Steven E. Swayne (Layton, UT)
60 out of 62 found this review helpful

Whether you are a short or long term trader, this book is a must have. Once you read this book, you will want to use no other charting method but candlesticks. More important than teaching very common chart patterns, you come away with a good understanding of what each type of candlestick is telling you about the psychology of the market you are studying. Although his clear illustrated examples use mostly futures, these methods definitely apply to equities as well. You will no longer fear shorting a stock when you can clearly see the "dark cloud cover" on strong volume. If you want to know more about technical charting and have money for only one book, this is it.


A Winning book on a winning strategy   July 9, 1999
vanstory@colorado.edu (Colorado, USA)
40 out of 41 found this review helpful

I had learned the basics of candlestick charting before I purchased this book. I wouldn't always remember to do a candlestick analysis of my stocks, but when I would remember, I benefited. I came across this book when browsing and decided it would be a great way to extend my skills in candlesticks. I've read the book now got a lot out of it. I plan to make it the basis for all my future trades. I was also surprised, when CNBC interviewed a successful daytrader who started trading with this very book. Candlesticks are the way to go in this market, and this is an excellent book to get you started.


A complete ripoff in big font and double space type   July 5, 2003
38 out of 55 found this review helpful

Steve Nison is desperately trying to fill pages. A big font and double spaced book may appeal to elementary school kids but not a professional traders. The whole book could be condensed to about 25 pages. This book is over priced, dry and boring.

If you want to read and enjoy learning about candlesticks, Steven Bigalow's book is great (and cheap).

Nison is trying to impress the reader with his knowledge of about 10 Japanese phrases, which is lame. Please spend half the money on a much better book. Nison is making money by selling books and seminars, not trading. What surprises me is how some people, can publish stuff with no substance.

I found this book completely useless.