The guy is a darn good journalist and movie maker. He took the initiative to popularize turtles and trend following. He provides perspectives far beyond a single viewpoint from a single person. The ethos of trend following is captured in his books from a broad perspective--although the method is impossible for the retail trader to implement correctly and is fatally flawed excepting for a few hyper succesful outliers that are pointed at again and again as proof. The books are hugely entertaining and make good beach reads, not to mention that they are among the MOST POPULAR finance/trading titles of ALL TIME. I hate trend following and don't believe in the turtles--- but still enjoy Covel's material and insight. I don't understand the viterol and jealousy so apparent here. any budding author, solicitor or not LOL !, would do well by taking lessons from Mr. Covel on success in the biz. regards, surf
Everyone in ET clearly likes to write. Everyone wants to get their opinion out, but having chat debates, trying for the endless gotcha moment as some sort of satisfaction, is far less satisfying than sitting down and doing the real thing in the form of a book. I would encourage everyone if they have the time or inclination to move beyond the immaturity of only ET writing and try for something more. Maybe it's a book, maybe a research paper, who knows. Take all that ET writing practice and apply it to something bigger.
Hilarious commentary from Surf. Trend following is flawed, but your strategy of trying to pick tops and getting stopped out EVERY TIME is good? Dave, you have repeatdly showed eveyone on here that you have zero trading skills. You basically are a one tick pony who likes to fade up moves. everything about your calls is getting in front of a trend and getting flattened. You shorted: YM Crox WFC GS Ya see a pattern here ? As far as retail traders not being able to use trend following techniques? Again...you are wrong. I know plenty of guys who trade their own money and have done very well using TF methods. Just look at a Gold or NG chart. With proper leverage and risk mgmt, TF strategies are by far the best. I have one friend who trades his own money and has blown out several times......how did he blow out? Stepping in front of trends and trying to call tops and bottoms....like you do. I know 2008 hurt a lot with TF's making a killing, but let it go Dave.....your act is both old and very sad.
That's actually good advice for some. Not that I personally have anything to write about, but I can't help but feel that posting here is time poorly spent. I read your turtle book. It was fairly decent and put some more meat on the bones of what was an interesting story. However, I note the animosity between you and Curtis Faith. Maybe you two should do a book together... Here'a an idea for you. Why not do a book on charlatan vendors with questionable pasts, claims and practices? The industry is littered with shady characters, some of whom come and go, but others that persist like the tumors that they are. William Gallacher covered a few in his Winner Take All, but perhaps you could build on it. Newcomers often fall prey and I imagine such a book could serve as essential reading for anyone wishing to participate in the markets and is under the mistaken impression that the world is chock-full of people who want to help them succeed. This subject matter may not have the gravitas of covering trading icons and such, but that stuff is already being done to death. I would think an exposé would be well received by everyone other than crooks. Sunshine is, after all, the best disinfectant, as Supreme Court Justice Brandeis once so adroitly pointed out. Give it some thought.
Thanks for the feedback. Good food for thought! In terms of the other issue you raise, I have zero animosity against the youngest Turtle. It just so happens that in writing a book on the Turtles he was part of the story. And that rather unflattering story I uncovered is something he clearly did not want public. Doing a collaboration with the individual described in my book and government depositions is not something that would be fruitful!