I have read this book and the accompanying video. Both were well-organized and easy to understand. After reading the book, the DVD was very easy to follow. I've been trying to educate myself on the tools needed to be a more active trader. Given the events of the past month on the stock market, it was clear to me that my current method of buy-and-hold was missing some very important components. I have started my 30-day trial period and will be paper-trading. Now that I have the software, it's sure easy to see the points where I SHOULD have gotten out or gone short on the stocks in my portfolio.

Never miss an opportunity to refine your craft. If you are an active/interested trader this is a must read.

This book is comprised of really good trading fundamentals and also some outside of the box trading concepts that will not only benefit the new trader, but the veterans as well. The book serves as a companion to the ART trading software, which by the way is one of the best trading software packages available at any price.

The book is easy to read and the concepts are not difficult to understand. I have not had a chance to try the 30 evaluation yet but will soon.
I received an email Friday from TradersCoach.com with an example of a DOW chart. Bennett said the DOW could drop another 1000 points soon. Today, Monday the DOW was down 800 points at one point.

I am a veteran of trading for more than 30+ years. I have never been a passive investor I am hands-on and a former member of the NYSE, ASE, CBOE, PHLX etc.

I have studied this industry through all of my successes and travails, always seeking new insight.

It is my opinion that The Art of Trading affords the readers a new, relevant look into trading that will benefit all. I am not going to say it is the Holy Grail but than again that is pure fancy.

It is attached to a software product that offers a 15 day trial.

JAC

It is written in layman words & is a very easy read.
The nice thing is it comes with a 30 free trial to the system, which I am looking forward to.
It explains the ART System clearly & precisely & gives excellent recommendations for implementing the strategies. It gives precise Entry, Exit, Stops & Targets, & explains how these have more meaning in real time not after the fact as most indicators do.
Not only does it explain the System, but gives comprehensive instruction to handle the psychology of the market & ones own personality.
A simple & straight forward approach on how to succeed in the markets long term. Well thought out, with plenty of insight to money management & preparing a trading plan.

A very useful book, giving a complete, reliable & straight forward approach to trading in any time frame or any style.

Thanks Bennett.

This book was very organized and well written. Although the ART software that is referenced in the book is proprietary, the book has abundant and generally useful information on the business and art of trading. The sections on calculating trade size and setting stops are extremely valuable as well as the information on determining what kind of a trader you are (i.e. position trader, day trader, scalper etc.) along with the types of markets to choose.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a fundamental understanding of trading and to establish their trading practice on a firm foundation. The outcome of reading the book, for me, was to undertake an evaluation of the ART software as a TradStation plugin.

Happy Trading!

Bennett consolidates his many years of experience to provide a high-level reference for traders. The book refers to the components of a successful methodology as pieces of a pie. For long-term success as a trader, complete and thorough coverage of all are necessary. The chapter on creating a business plan and identifying your own trading "style" are especially good.

The book and DVD videos cover all aspects of the ART methodology. The use of notes directly on the charts provides clarity that is often not found in other books which have you flipping pages to get back to an illustration.

As a user of the software, I found that the coverage of all trading styles to be very useful. Markets go through various periods and different approaches are needed. Bennett covers the ART techniques for trading bracketed, trending and counter-trending markets, as well as scalping.

This book is a very welcome addition to my library.

I am a beginning trader that likes to move slow, stay in order and keep things simple. If you are like me I recommend reading this book only after you have first read Bennetts other book 'A Traders Money Management System'. I am currently in the research stage of comparing "trading systems" and first wanted to read 'the The ART of Trading' before trying the system demo. I like how Bennett gives an overview of his system and that it is not overly complex or intimidating. After reading both books I can say that I have not been disappointed. The books have given me a sense of order and direction and so far have satisfied my methodical personality. I look forward to re-reading them again and again. Thanks Bennett.

This book is a must read for all traders as it gives an insightfull view of what can be acheived by an applied common sense approach to trade management.
Forget about "black box" systems that make millions (for their purveyors!)
This when followed up with the free trial of the software will change your attitude and lower your stress and confusion levels to a degree which will make you wonder where has Bennett beeen for the last ten years.
You will, if you are smart enough to think a bit and make some own decisions based on your own experience find this to be an invaluable tool.
For inexperienced traders, just use the defaults and paper trade for a while; the results if you select your market and comfort zone will pleasantly surprise.

I found this book to be an "all you need to know" if you're a trader using the ART system of trading. My biggest problems have always been a lack of discipline in following the rules and the "ability" to always find a reason not to enter trades. With other systems, they usually give guidelines and then a rather long list of all the reasons why this "trade setup" might not work. The ART trading system has been, for me, the simplest rules to follow and have visually - through the patterns shown on the charts - helped me remain more disciplined in my trading. I demo'd the system for one month and, recognizing that no system is perfect and losses will always occur,I am convinced that this is the system that my personality, trading skill level, and mental risk level all match best with.

First you should send for the free DVD, then buy this book (before purchasing the home study course.) Read the book! It covers trading psychology, discipline, strict risk control and money management. It comes with a 30-day free trial of the software. The software has simple entry and exit points using voice technology. Give a software a serious test drive. You should then decide if this system is for you.

I am familiar wth the work of Bennett McDowell for many years.In my search for robust and reliable trading systems,I was lucky enough to find the ART trading system and work with it in the markets with great success over the past years.

This book is the result of Mr. McDowell's mastery and experience over the years.It shows in a simple and straightforward way what a trader must do to succeed in the markets in the long term.Not for a day,not for a week,not for a month,but for a lifetime....Bennett's system is not just a technical system of entries and exits.It's a complete approach,a well prepared trading plan that you have to follow every day to succeed in the markets.

Is it the "Holy grail" of trading? of course not,because such a system simply doesnn't exist.And Bennett is quite clear on that.With his experience,he knows very well that it's misleading to tell a trader that there can be a system that never fails.Instead,he tries to teach the truth,the "realities" of the market,as he calls them.And that is price and volume....Nothing else....

The book gives the reader the opportunity to test,in real time,the ART trading software,which is available in many platforms.I think that this is a great companion to the system itself.It recognizes automatically the "pyramid points" and the reversal bars,and gives the trader the time to concentrate on the important things,that is the money management and the trade management.

A very useful book to whoever wants to take a complete,reliable and straightforward approach to trading....

The other book I like best is High Probability Trading by Marcel Link. Both books are: Easy to read and understand.

I must say I did use the ART system for around a year before this book came out. Most of this information is available in the home study course, but never with such detailed trading information and added insight Bennett gave during this last year in webcasts and online.

The step by step approach for trading with ART, the tried-and-tested money management system and risk control makes this book practical and useful in two ways: first it clearly describes how the system identifies trends as they start, with all relevant signals when to get in and your stop-limit, and second the risk control methodology will help you maximise returns.

I highly recommend this book for all those who wish to add more insight in their trading and trade with a better mindset.

Simplicity is the essence of Ben's system. You don't need an array of confusing indicators to trade the markets. You also get a chance to try out the software before you buy it. Worth taking a look at to see if this is for you.

I enjoyed reading "The ART of Trading" by Bennett McDowell. The concepts are easy to understand and the system is clearly defined, It's simple and it works. The ART software that comes with the book gave me the edge I needed to trade with confidence. I would recommend this book to any serious trader.

The book contains lots of good information regarding trading in general, and describes the "ART" trading system in detail. But ultimately, it is a push to sell the software. However, it does come with a 30-day free trial...

I first learned of the system and author at The Trader's Expo in Ontario this year, and liked his methods. I like the author believe in trading into trends after higher highs or lower lows. I'd recommend the method/book.

The proper conceptualization of a wining trading system requires a clear perception of 'What Is', it is this process of abstraction of these core elements -that gives an appropriate response to the market behavior- where this book derives superlative value.
It can be studied as an overture to system design or to properly align existing trading systems and concepts with core fundamental principles.
One aspect that is often overlooked in system design is the psychological interaction of markets and one's perception in the form of a system that outputs signals for coherent responses. Such psychological dimension is presented with a great sense of practicality in this work by Bennett McDowell.
Simplicity carries in its essence, strength and reliability, hence the impact derived in this manuscript

A very well written book which gives you a good background to the ART system and software. The book also provides a solid focus in trading psychology and risk management--a must for any trader or investor.

I look forward to using the ART software with the 30-day free trial and hopefully making the money needed to purchase the software if it works as well as anticipated.

I've been thru many trading books....this one with it's 30-Day trial beats them all. The system is not a blackbox, which I despise. You'll still need a fair amount of discretion & trading experience to benefit from it. Other common indicators ie MACDs, Price Oscillators, RSIs etc have their own strengths but combined with ART, you have a superior view of the market. The best feature? It suggests Entry & Exit points, which I filter from my own experience or you could simply follow them. I've never touched the eMinis, but with ART, it's given me direction & above all, confidence in riding thru whipsaws.

The ART is simple.

If you're a trader, you've seen/read it before...a book to sell a piece of software. I've not ever seen a piece of software successfully sold without comprehensive text to cultivate the imagination and support the value of the software. That said, it is worthwhile reading. It allows one to further appreciate what most successful traders are looking for...a perspective with tools to support a supposedly eternal source of unlimited income! Go for it!

I bought this book with the intent of learning more about the A.R.T. software, which I did. This book has solid trading skill ideas but the emphasis is on their software, which is the primary focus.

I obtained the 30-day free trial and made $1,800 in six trading days day trading the mini-sized Dow futures on a 5-minute chart. The profits so far will more than pay for the software with extra left over.

Though this book is geared toward being a companion manual for the ART system, many of chapters especially on risk and money management can be beneficial to readers nonetheless. For those who adopted the system, this book can certainly give you trading ideas and strategies that matches your style. Recommended.

I've been trading the ART software for almost five years and have found it to be the easiest to use of all the technical analysis systems I've tested. What helps me is that the software gives me entries and exits plus risk control. Other approaches would give me entries -- but then didn't always have clear exit signals before I placed my trade. Problem with that for me is that there wasn't a way to calculate the trade size -- since I didn't have an exit selected prior to my entry. The other aspect of the ART software is that it has voice technology so I can work on other things while I'm waiting for my entry or exit. There's no chance of missing the signal because a voice comes on that says "Pyramid Trading Point Entry NOW". Of course the ART book has tons of material on how to use the ART software system -- but it's also got a strong foundation in all the areas needed for success including money management, trading psychology, risk capital, etc. Meaning -- it's not a total loss if you don't end up using the software when you are done with the book.

What I liked about the book is that it covers all the various aspects of trading, from psychology to money management and explains the true realities of the markets which are price and volume. In his book, McDowell does not lull readers into thinking ART is a "get rick fast" trading system and instead instills the notion of strict risk control and discipline, essentially helping readers to learn how to trade in a market where odds are against traders.
The down side is that the trading ideas in the book are applicable for his software only. Therefore unless you purchase the software, the majority of the book is pretty much just nice to read but not that useful.

If you are a novice trader you can really benefit from Bennett McDowell's methodical approach to trading explained in "The ART of Trading". If you are an experienced trader and open to new ideas, this book can give you a new edge.

Bennett McDowell's method helps the trader add structure to his/her trading skills. The book also addresses the power of psychology. How everyone reacts to the financial market is a function of their psychology and Bennett McDowell helps us discover that dimension.

What I also liked about "The Art of Trading" is that Bennett McDowell does not promise the reader the Holy Grail with a "get rich quick" type of recipe. Trading needs to be treated with the utmost discipline, rigor, passion, and needless to mention lots of work. Trading is like playing a musical instrument. The more you play and practice, the more you learn, the better you perform.

This book and Bennett's approach to trading has helped me improve my trading skills and has given me the peace of mind that I need to become a better trader.

This book is very detailed and through and explains the value of how price and volume are the true realities of any market. I learned a great deal about the benefits of technical analysis and how to apply it. As an investor, the ART Software helps to identify trending markets and identifies buying opportunities, as well as, when the trend has finished and it is time to sell. Using risk control and how to apply it is also explained with clarity and detail. I learned a great deal from this book and therefore I highly recommend it.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised when I received "The ART® of Trading" book. Not only is it very clear and detailed, it also includes a DVD that has all the charts in the book blown up to full size and in color so you can see how the ART® Trading Software color icons used for trade entries and exits actually look on charts. Plus, you get 30-days of free ART® software. With 300 pages of text, a DVD, and free software - you sure get your money's worth!
The contents of the book give you what you need to know to use the ART® Trading Software and trade with it. In addition you get "Advanced Trading Techniques" that provide that extra edge of knowledge that can make a big difference in your trading results.
Because of all this, I give "The ART® of Trading" five stars. Well Done!

This is a great book for novice and experienced traders, and everyone in between. The concepts and techniques of McDowell's reality-based trading make sense and will go a long way towards helping me achieve my financial goals. The use of strict risk control on every trade, the importance of how to set stops based upon market realities, and the section on trading psychology were very interesting. The book comes with a DVD that includes color charts and videos that help clearly explain his system. You can also try the trading software called "The Applied Reality Trading or ART Trading Software" for free.

You will like this book.

If you are a trader, his book is a must! You will learn the many necessary facets needed to win in trading. From money management and risk control to the science of reality based trading this book has it all. It also comes with a neat DVD and a free software trial. I highly recommend this book to all traders!

Just got my ART book and I couldn't put it down. Finally a book that cuts through all the complexities of trading and gets to the heart of how to be profitable. It is unlike any other trading or investing book I've read. This is the book that I'll refer to for years to come.