Investor's Library

Review of
Technically Speaking

by Chris Wilkinson

Reviewed by Ed Dobson, President, Traders Press, Inc.

In 1989, a book titled Market Wizards, written by prolific and accomplished author Jack Schwager, was published. It featured interviews with a number of exceptionally talented and successful traders in stocks, options and futures. It proved to be highly successful and popular, a best seller among financial titles. The success of this book spawned a plethora of other "interview" books, most of which, in my opinion, were mediocre in comparison to Market Wizards.

In 1997, a newly published book, Technically Speaking: Tips and Strategies from 16 Top Analysts, also followed the interview format. In my opinion, it not only rivals but exceeds Market Wizards in quality of writing, depth of interviews and degree of knowledge and insight the reader will gain into the art of technical analysis from it. It receives my highest recommendation, and, in my opinion, every trader and investor interested in the technical approach to market analysis should read and study it closely.

This was, remarkably, the first book-length literary effort by author Chris Wilkinson, a professional individual investor with an exceptional knowledge of technical analysis herself, gleaned from years of interest in and study and observation of the principles of technical analysis. This book will come to be viewed, I believe, as an important contribution to the field of technical analysis.

Technically Speaking features in-depth interviews with 16 of the top technical analysts in the U.S. The intent of the book is "to expand the reader's existing knowledge of technical analysis by tapping the expertise of successful and prominent analysts" and also "to disclose many of the caveats linked to particular technical indicators".

Ms. Wilkinson chose the subjects of her interviews based on the assimilation, over the years, of a list of analysts whose market research and predictions seemed, to her, to be consistently superior. Her interview subjects were also those from whom she received the bulk of her market education.

Among the group interviewed are some household names in technical analysis, such as John Murphy, John Bollinger, Martin Pring, Peter Eliades, Stan Weinstein, et.al.; others are equally talented but lesser known names. This group of analysts has an exceptional degree of experience, with the average involvement in the markets being nearly 30 years each and spanning every conceivable market condition.

This "all-star cast" of analysts has good, long-term track records. Many are published authors, but the material presented in this book should be viewed as a supplement to their original work, not a substitute for it.

Each analyst has his own unique style, and the interviews revolve around the cornerstones of their work, "focusing on pet indicators which each believes to be the most essential and valuable tools in assessing the broader markets as well as individual stocks."

The interviews are incisive, insightful and well written. As a whole, they provide the reader with the benefit of market knowledge and experience, analytical methods and techniques from the most talented and insightful technicians, all of which has taken them many years of research and hard work to assimilate and pass on. I highly recommend this book to every serious investor.