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Trading: Technical Analysis Masterclass: Master the financial markets
Trading stocks, currencies, futures, and other financial contracts is not actually complicated and anybody can learn it in a relatively short time. This has been my daily experience for the past decade and even traders who have tried everything for years without success can make their first profits if the art of trading is explained to them in the right way. However, the keyword “in the right way” is important here. This book focuses on technical analysis, explanation and interpretation of price movements and chart patterns as well as on learning effective, ready-to-use trading strategies. However, it is important to go beyond the usual technical analysis, and to analyze the behavior of traders based on psychological factors and phenomena of mass psychology as well. The price movements on the international financial markets arise because millions of people interact with each other every day. Buying and selling decisions are influenced by emotions and human behavioral patterns. Whether we are looking at a speculator from China 200 years ago, a Wall Street pit trader from New York 80 years ago or a modern-day "Joe Bloggs trader”, trading from his/her smartphone – the human components, i.e. emotions and instincts, hardly differ. Greed, fear, uncertainty and the willingness to take risks have determined human actions for millennia and, of course, also how people have maneuvered their money around the world's markets for centuries. Those who learn to read the buyer and seller interaction from the charts will be able to read and handle any price movement. This is true because all price charts follow universal and timeless rules that can be successfully interpreted with the help of effective technical analysis. Over the years, more than one million visitors have already searched for information about trading on our website www.tradeciety.com. Every day, traders ask us how they can understand technical analysis and trading in a better manner. This book is a result of the motivation to answer these questions collectively. It is the book I would have wished for at the beginning of my trading career over 15 years ago. The first section of this book provides comprehensive knowledge of the fundamentals and individual components of technical analysis and price analysis. The second section focuses on the most important trading patterns as well as the correct interpretation of chart formations. We will explore potential entry signal points and trading strategies so that traders can now already make sense of their own charts with confidence. The third and final section focuses on developing a customized trading strategy. In addition to an insight into important psychological trading concepts, traders will get numerous practical tips to ensure that they handle their trading professionally at the end of this book. The goal of this book is it to enable the reader to look behind the price movements and understand why prices rise and fall, how buyers and sellers interact and thus to make effective trading decisions. The comprehensive and step-by-step knowledge of technical analysis ultimately makes it possible to interpret any chart situation and, thus, hopefully, become an independent trader.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2019
1561 people are currently reading
1500 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
February 17, 2020
This book should be titled as Technical Chart Patterns for Dummies. It contains really basic charting techniques and indicators with simple explanations. This book also teaches you how to analyse common chart patterns like Double Top, Head and Shoulders, Ascending Triangle, Wedges etc. and how to read and draw trendiness, support and resistance lines.
MACD and RSI divergence can be fairly accurate to identify an exhausted rally. Gradual higher highs are actually losing strength and a trend reverse might be around the corner.
Counter trend trading is one of the most risky tactic as it is not easy to predict an end of a rally. It takes experience and practice to interpret price action or with momentum signals in order to not hit your SLs.
My advice: keep a healthy degree of skepticism using momentum and volatility indicators. Most of the time high can get higher and low can get lower aka one will never know when exactly a stock is overbought or oversold. Learn to use it with care. The application of indicators are really more art than a set of rules to follow.
MACD and RSI divergence can be fairly accurate to identify an exhausted rally. Gradual higher highs are actually losing strength and a trend reverse might be around the corner.
Counter trend trading is one of the most risky tactic as it is not easy to predict an end of a rally. It takes experience and practice to interpret price action or with momentum signals in order to not hit your SLs.
My advice: keep a healthy degree of skepticism using momentum and volatility indicators. Most of the time high can get higher and low can get lower aka one will never know when exactly a stock is overbought or oversold. Learn to use it with care. The application of indicators are really more art than a set of rules to follow.
July 26, 2021
Pretty basic book. Title is misleading. Certainly would not call it a "Masterclass" by any means-
More like an "Intro to Technical Analysis". I've been trading for a while now and was hoping there would be some real "mastery" in here as it claims twice in the title.
Skims over some of the major components of price action, charts, and indicators for the beginner trader. Some advice for a beginner trader, this book should be supplemental to a formal course or structured education or other trading book. Finishing this book will not give you nearly a quarter of the tools you need to start trading live- which I don't think the book tries to be. To make an analogy, it tells you what a fork, knife, and spoon are used for but doesn't touch too much on the type of meal you're working with.
If you just need to brush up on what certain indicators are used for and what candlesticks demonstrate, then this is your book. I like to say you can learn everything about technical analysis for free online, but the problem with that is that you're not quite sure what you don't know and what to search for and it's often scattered across different teachers or sites with conflicting info. However, with that being said, I didn't find anything in this book that couldn't easily be found all in one place online.
For a beginner trader, read The New Trading for a Living by Alexander Elder instead. It goes more in-depth to technical analysis concepts and also includes a trading psychology element, which is truly the meat of trading.
TAM is not a bad book, just felt kind of duped as the content is not representative of what the title gives off. It doesn't contain any value that makes it better or different from free info online or other trading books. Ironically (in trader-speak) "It didn't have any edge that separates it from the others". But give it a read if you want to get your feet wet with basic technical analysis!
More like an "Intro to Technical Analysis". I've been trading for a while now and was hoping there would be some real "mastery" in here as it claims twice in the title.
Skims over some of the major components of price action, charts, and indicators for the beginner trader. Some advice for a beginner trader, this book should be supplemental to a formal course or structured education or other trading book. Finishing this book will not give you nearly a quarter of the tools you need to start trading live- which I don't think the book tries to be. To make an analogy, it tells you what a fork, knife, and spoon are used for but doesn't touch too much on the type of meal you're working with.
If you just need to brush up on what certain indicators are used for and what candlesticks demonstrate, then this is your book. I like to say you can learn everything about technical analysis for free online, but the problem with that is that you're not quite sure what you don't know and what to search for and it's often scattered across different teachers or sites with conflicting info. However, with that being said, I didn't find anything in this book that couldn't easily be found all in one place online.
For a beginner trader, read The New Trading for a Living by Alexander Elder instead. It goes more in-depth to technical analysis concepts and also includes a trading psychology element, which is truly the meat of trading.
TAM is not a bad book, just felt kind of duped as the content is not representative of what the title gives off. It doesn't contain any value that makes it better or different from free info online or other trading books. Ironically (in trader-speak) "It didn't have any edge that separates it from the others". But give it a read if you want to get your feet wet with basic technical analysis!
May 14, 2025
4,5 stars: very practical nuts-and-bolts guide, although it’s not really my thing, was interested in technical analysis and this nifty book is packed with useful and clear explanations and background info; recommended.
January 27, 2021
Short, kinda comprehensive and direct to the point.
February 21, 2019
This is a great little book that offers a great deal of info in a very readable and understandable form. Its beauty is that it doesn't overcomplicate the art of trading in the way that so many other books of the genre do. The first aspect that I liked was the section that dealt with candlesticks and patterns - you're not inundated with dozens but a manageable number with complete explanations as to why they are important in terms of the supply and demand that creates them - armed with that knowledge so much more falls into place. Also, in the section on indicator oscillators - one aspect that I totally agree with is expounded in the discussion of overbought and oversold. Many technical traders suggest that these are times to be getting out of their positions but the author correctly states that this is a sign of trend strength - it is the exiting of the oscillator from these areas that are signs of the trend starting to fail and time to get out. This would keep you in a trade for much longer.
December 15, 2020
Good thing about this book is that it doesn't beat around the bush and directly gets into the core content about Technical Analysis of the market. Which is really good if you're not interested in anything else. However, the kind of details about technical analysis that they've shared in this book is pretty average. There are easier ways to understand those topics than go through this book. Plus there's nothing new to offer apart from the same old stuff about how to read candlecharts, how to read candle formations etc. The best chapter was sadly the last one where there was some new perspective around some of the most commonly used indicators. Until then, it's pretty average.
January 1, 2025
These highlights reflect the passages that stood out to me personally, capturing moments that resonated, challenged, or intrigued me:
"Trend Line Angle: the slope of the trend waves indicates whether a trend is gaining or losing strength."
"The candle body aspect: If the size of the candlestick bodies increases over a period, then the price trend accelerates and a trend is intensified. When the size of the bodies shrinks, this can mean that a prevailing trend comes to an end."
"The candle shadow aspect: The length of shadows helps in determining the volatility. Long shadows can be a sign of uncertainty, while short shadows indicate a stable market. We can often see that the length of the candlestick shadows increases after long trend phases. Increasing fluctuation indicates that the battle between buyers and sellers is intensifying, and the strength ratio is no longer as one-sided as it was during the trend. So, healthy trends, which move quickly in one direction, usually show candlesticks with only small shadows since one side of the market players dominates the proceedings."
"Trend Line Angle: the slope of the trend waves indicates whether a trend is gaining or losing strength."
"The candle body aspect: If the size of the candlestick bodies increases over a period, then the price trend accelerates and a trend is intensified. When the size of the bodies shrinks, this can mean that a prevailing trend comes to an end."
"The candle shadow aspect: The length of shadows helps in determining the volatility. Long shadows can be a sign of uncertainty, while short shadows indicate a stable market. We can often see that the length of the candlestick shadows increases after long trend phases. Increasing fluctuation indicates that the battle between buyers and sellers is intensifying, and the strength ratio is no longer as one-sided as it was during the trend. So, healthy trends, which move quickly in one direction, usually show candlesticks with only small shadows since one side of the market players dominates the proceedings."
December 20, 2025
I honestly didn’t expect a technical analysis book to make such an immediate difference for me, but TA Masterclass did. The way it explains technical analysis is super clear and beginner-friendly, no fluff, no complicated jargon, just the fundamentals laid out in a way that actually makes sense.
What I loved most is that I could apply the principles right away. I started using what I was learning while I was still reading, and my results improved fast. My ROI increased noticeably, and I felt more confident because I finally had a structured way to make decisions instead of guessing (like I feel I was doing after thinking back).
This book is simple, but it’s powerful. If you’re a beginner and you want something that’s easy to understand and immediately actionable, I genuinely recommend it. Very, very good.
What I loved most is that I could apply the principles right away. I started using what I was learning while I was still reading, and my results improved fast. My ROI increased noticeably, and I felt more confident because I finally had a structured way to make decisions instead of guessing (like I feel I was doing after thinking back).
This book is simple, but it’s powerful. If you’re a beginner and you want something that’s easy to understand and immediately actionable, I genuinely recommend it. Very, very good.
May 24, 2025
Avoid this book if you’re serious about trading.
✖️ Too basic: Explains candlesticks (hammer, doji), price patterns (head & shoulders), and indicators – stuff you can learn better in free YouTube videos.
✖️ No real-market value: Doesn’t teach traps, psychology, or strategies for live trading. Real markets need practice, not theory.
✖️ Waste of time/money: Save your cash – skip this and use free resources instead.
What to do instead:
✅ Learn Volume Spread Analysis (VSA) and market structure.
✅ Backtest strategies + practice on a demo account.
✅ For psychology, try a small funded account (e.g., $5k for $30).
✅ Find a mentor – real experience beats reading basics.
Final verdict: Only for absolute beginners, and even then, YouTube is better.
✖️ Too basic: Explains candlesticks (hammer, doji), price patterns (head & shoulders), and indicators – stuff you can learn better in free YouTube videos.
✖️ No real-market value: Doesn’t teach traps, psychology, or strategies for live trading. Real markets need practice, not theory.
✖️ Waste of time/money: Save your cash – skip this and use free resources instead.
What to do instead:
✅ Learn Volume Spread Analysis (VSA) and market structure.
✅ Backtest strategies + practice on a demo account.
✅ For psychology, try a small funded account (e.g., $5k for $30).
✅ Find a mentor – real experience beats reading basics.
Final verdict: Only for absolute beginners, and even then, YouTube is better.
March 11, 2021
I feel this title is misleading. This gives you a great beginners guide but really doesn't go any further then that. A lot of what is explained is basic tools you should know. The issue is, he doesn't even go that comprehensive as you would think. The best example is that he goes over candlestick charts but proceeds to only list a handful of them before telling you to go to his website for more.
Again, if you are starting out, this is perfect to check out to get your foot in the door with technical analysis. In my opinion, there are shorter and more specific books out there then this. But give it a shot if you are just starting out.
Again, if you are starting out, this is perfect to check out to get your foot in the door with technical analysis. In my opinion, there are shorter and more specific books out there then this. But give it a shot if you are just starting out.
October 9, 2023
If you have no idea about trading and technical analysis and want to get started then this is the book for you. I have been trying to learn for years but the surplus of scattered information on the internet makes it seem like a difficult thing to master.
After countless hours of YouTube videos that claim to be beginner friendly, I was ready to give up altogether. That’s when I got this book and it a matter of few days, I feel more confident trying to understand a chart. However, I do acknowledge that this is just an introduction. If you have an intermediate level in technical analysis and charting then you can skip this book because the concept is basic and meant to give a general idea.
After countless hours of YouTube videos that claim to be beginner friendly, I was ready to give up altogether. That’s when I got this book and it a matter of few days, I feel more confident trying to understand a chart. However, I do acknowledge that this is just an introduction. If you have an intermediate level in technical analysis and charting then you can skip this book because the concept is basic and meant to give a general idea.
February 21, 2020
Fantastic book for people learning technical analysis
This is a fantastic book that not only introduces new traders to the world of technical trading, but also goes in depth into candlestick patterns, identification of trends, traps and indicators. I'm a newbie in forex trading and this book has helpe me immensely in my rather steep learning curve. Highly recommended to not just newbies but also experienced traders as it is a good reminder of the basics, fundamentals behind buying/selling, dynamics behind trading and of course technical interpretation of charts.
This is a fantastic book that not only introduces new traders to the world of technical trading, but also goes in depth into candlestick patterns, identification of trends, traps and indicators. I'm a newbie in forex trading and this book has helpe me immensely in my rather steep learning curve. Highly recommended to not just newbies but also experienced traders as it is a good reminder of the basics, fundamentals behind buying/selling, dynamics behind trading and of course technical interpretation of charts.
March 22, 2020
A book about technical analysis for beginners. It is easy to read with simple and clear graphs. The only problem I had about the graphs is that the color was too light on my Kindle device.
Technical analysis is not rocket science. It is a supplement for making a better trading decision. Simply finishing the book will not make you become a master in that area. Experience, reflection, and continuous learning are the keys to success. I like this book because it did not discuss too much details, but give me a clear framework about technical analysis.
Technical analysis is not rocket science. It is a supplement for making a better trading decision. Simply finishing the book will not make you become a master in that area. Experience, reflection, and continuous learning are the keys to success. I like this book because it did not discuss too much details, but give me a clear framework about technical analysis.
Read
June 29, 2024Clear, Concise and Enlightening
The author explains Technical Analysis in a way that is easy to understand. This is the best, clearest explanation of Technical Analysis I've come across.
He explains things that many Traders misunderstand about certain aspects and indicators for Technical Analysis.
I have a much better understanding of Technical Analysis after reading this book.
Reading this book and applying what's taught in this book will surely lead to more profits while trading.
The author explains Technical Analysis in a way that is easy to understand. This is the best, clearest explanation of Technical Analysis I've come across.
He explains things that many Traders misunderstand about certain aspects and indicators for Technical Analysis.
I have a much better understanding of Technical Analysis after reading this book.
Reading this book and applying what's taught in this book will surely lead to more profits while trading.
February 20, 2019
Good for beginners
This is a great book for someone who has no education or education in trading. Not much for for serious traders. A couple of good insights. Would have appreciated it much more had it covered other practical topics like types of orders, trading psychology, what are setups, how to identify your niche in trading etc. A good introduction to trading book none the less. If someone around you is interested in trading this seems like a good gift.
This is a great book for someone who has no education or education in trading. Not much for for serious traders. A couple of good insights. Would have appreciated it much more had it covered other practical topics like types of orders, trading psychology, what are setups, how to identify your niche in trading etc. A good introduction to trading book none the less. If someone around you is interested in trading this seems like a good gift.
June 9, 2021
This is a fairly quick read. It is nice that there isn't much fluff. The book echoes a lot of the other trading authors and speakers I have learned from in the last. While I don't personally use indicators very often, I liked reading about a different approach to RSI than the one often shared online. I would have liked to hear about the effectiveness of indicators across different time frames. The information contained is worth considering for newer traders.
July 28, 2021
Great book for beginner.
Learnt about candlestick, chart patterns and indicators.
Learnt about reversal and trend-continuation candle sticks.
Opened my eyes on the significance of ascending triangle, wedge and flags as well as trend length and trend angle of chart patterns.
Corrected my misunderstanding of oversold and overbought signals of RSI. They do not signal to buy or sell but shows the strength of the uptrend and downtrend.
Learnt about candlestick, chart patterns and indicators.
Learnt about reversal and trend-continuation candle sticks.
Opened my eyes on the significance of ascending triangle, wedge and flags as well as trend length and trend angle of chart patterns.
Corrected my misunderstanding of oversold and overbought signals of RSI. They do not signal to buy or sell but shows the strength of the uptrend and downtrend.
February 14, 2023
This Works. Seriously. Just what I needed.
This book hands you the tools to a trade. A Skilled Trade. Practice with Papermoney. Test your theories. Use your mind to mine the amounts you need. This should replace Algebra in highschools, its way more u$eful towards a life that doesnt require miles & hours of pain just to earn the right to live your life your way. STUDY SO YOUR MIND RESTS YOUR FEET. I will make beats and trades around the clock. Become A Master OF both..GW.
This book hands you the tools to a trade. A Skilled Trade. Practice with Papermoney. Test your theories. Use your mind to mine the amounts you need. This should replace Algebra in highschools, its way more u$eful towards a life that doesnt require miles & hours of pain just to earn the right to live your life your way. STUDY SO YOUR MIND RESTS YOUR FEET. I will make beats and trades around the clock. Become A Master OF both..GW.
March 30, 2024
Incredible as a beginner in understanding the usage of tools to better grasp the idea of buying stocks and knowing when to sell them for a buck
I made 10 dollars as a newbie and was mind blown. Obviously with time and rereading this book and many others I will be able to bring in a few extra buck.
I would recommend this to people who are ready to lose the money they place for stocks. It can happen but with this book I think less mistakes could occur.
I strongly recommend this book.
I made 10 dollars as a newbie and was mind blown. Obviously with time and rereading this book and many others I will be able to bring in a few extra buck.
I would recommend this to people who are ready to lose the money they place for stocks. It can happen but with this book I think less mistakes could occur.
I strongly recommend this book.
January 12, 2025
Its not a masterclass really. It's more like "Technical Analysis for Beginners" is a more suitable name.
The content itself is easy to understand for beginners like me and also have illustration to describe the technique better
However if I'm a professional trader I might give lower stars on misleading title and expect more advanced techniques. The content focused on reading individual candle followed by fundamental chart patterns e.g SNR, Breakout, Consolidation, HAS, Cup and handle etc
The content itself is easy to understand for beginners like me and also have illustration to describe the technique better
However if I'm a professional trader I might give lower stars on misleading title and expect more advanced techniques. The content focused on reading individual candle followed by fundamental chart patterns e.g SNR, Breakout, Consolidation, HAS, Cup and handle etc
July 9, 2025
Excellent book for beginner traders looking to learn basic technical analysis. This book is not too information heavy and provides an adequate amount of graphs and real world examples. My only critique is that since it is a masterclass on technical analysis, shouldn't it include more advanced levels of technical analysis? The information provided in this book fits perfect for beginners but not for experienced traders.
August 24, 2025
It is crucial to analyze traders' behavior using psychological variables and mass psychology phenomena in addition to the standard technical analysis. Focusing on particular patterns and price structures, the technical trader examines share prices. Because people consistently exhibit the same behavioral patterns and frequently base their trading decisions on shared emotions, technical analysis is incredibly effective.
February 20, 2019
Lucid and practical.
Lucid and practical approach. Touched upon every aspect of the technical analysis. However it would have been great if topics of bet size and psychology also covered, cause entry or analysis of market movement is only 10% others comprise money management, trade management and psychology.
Cheers
Lucid and practical approach. Touched upon every aspect of the technical analysis. However it would have been great if topics of bet size and psychology also covered, cause entry or analysis of market movement is only 10% others comprise money management, trade management and psychology.
Cheers
December 11, 2020
I'm trying to learn how to trade, I have read a few books about the subject. but this one is "by far" the best one that I have read that explains really good the basics.
I thought I had understood some concepts before but after reading this book, now I have it much more clear.
Very recommended if you are in the learning phase.
I thought I had understood some concepts before but after reading this book, now I have it much more clear.
Very recommended if you are in the learning phase.
September 6, 2021
Not for beginners. Need to re-read again if you're a beginner (as myself). You can basically skip to reading the last 2 chapters (7 & 8) of the book as the previous chapters might be too technical if you are a beginner and those chapters contains the most important information.
Recommend starting with some other beginners books first!
Recommend starting with some other beginners books first!
June 2, 2022
Very good in depth book
This book is very good and clearly communicated, trading is not easy, and all these people who say that it is age lying. Trading is very difficult and takes a long time to master but having books like this can help along the way, i can go back to reference points aswell which is useful
This book is very good and clearly communicated, trading is not easy, and all these people who say that it is age lying. Trading is very difficult and takes a long time to master but having books like this can help along the way, i can go back to reference points aswell which is useful
April 21, 2023
Like most of other readers wrote, the book is not a Masterclass. It provides with basic graphical analysis. Probably providing too many techniques and not going into practical examples about when using what. In particular, for each technique, the author does a post-mortem analysis, which is not very useful!
October 28, 2023
An introductory overview of technical analysis for stock and futures trading. There are no calculations in this book, only brief texts on what technical indicators do, together with charts, mostly in color.
Unfortunately the standard dogmas are repeated, and none of the chapters stand out as being novel. In fact the information presented can be garnered from the wikipedia pages on technical trading. The text overpromises routinely, for example the section on advanced wave analysis borders on the occult and is so brief it may as well have been left out.
There are many other large omissions in this book:
* no word on why technical trading should actually be pursued, and instead it is rationalised as an approach with an inherent "profit potential"
* as stated there are no calculations or results, so the reader is unable to prove how well the strategy under discussion will work
* there are no discussions on data collection or data display, so that the reader cannot learn from the book how well different timeframes, different strategies, different resolutions etc will look like on screen
* there is no treatment of how to start technical trading: broker selection, accounting, tax considerations, or any other practicalities, so the book does not even serve as a recommendation.
After a few chapters the book starts to read like an extended white paper.
Unfortunately the standard dogmas are repeated, and none of the chapters stand out as being novel. In fact the information presented can be garnered from the wikipedia pages on technical trading. The text overpromises routinely, for example the section on advanced wave analysis borders on the occult and is so brief it may as well have been left out.
There are many other large omissions in this book:
* no word on why technical trading should actually be pursued, and instead it is rationalised as an approach with an inherent "profit potential"
* as stated there are no calculations or results, so the reader is unable to prove how well the strategy under discussion will work
* there are no discussions on data collection or data display, so that the reader cannot learn from the book how well different timeframes, different strategies, different resolutions etc will look like on screen
* there is no treatment of how to start technical trading: broker selection, accounting, tax considerations, or any other practicalities, so the book does not even serve as a recommendation.
After a few chapters the book starts to read like an extended white paper.
November 24, 2024
Really helpful for a trading noob like myself.
This book doesn't bog you down with the small details, it gives you a basic understanding on how to read candles, and a few indicators. I definitely felt like I learned something. So if you're new to trading, you can't go wrong with reading this little book.
This book doesn't bog you down with the small details, it gives you a basic understanding on how to read candles, and a few indicators. I definitely felt like I learned something. So if you're new to trading, you can't go wrong with reading this little book.
February 23, 2025
For absolute beginners or those who started learning trading by watching advanced YouTube videos and want to strengthen their fundamentals, this is the book for you.
Do not use any of the techniques from this book as-is, as they are outdated and often exploited by whales to liquidate you. Instead, use it to complement your other strategies, such as Smart Money Concepts (SMC), etc.
Do not use any of the techniques from this book as-is, as they are outdated and often exploited by whales to liquidate you. Instead, use it to complement your other strategies, such as Smart Money Concepts (SMC), etc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews