I've signed up with Al Brook's Price Action course

[speedo]

The way he explains his material is absolutely horrible.

Some of what he says makes no sense whatsoever and I believe is just flat out wrong.

The overall concepts are solid though imo.

If I have a criticism of Al's work, it's that he tries to cover too many bases. He provides methodologies to trade every possible twitch of a market. While there are those who can do it all, It's ill advised for most and can be suicidal for a beginner. A trader needs to pick and choose which are best suited for him or her. A beginner should stick to trend trades as they offer the highest probability with good risk/reward. Al's work has benefited my own trading considerably but I have my own trade plan which differs from his. What you will learn and benefit from is understanding the nature of price development and what price is telling you at any given time. Absorb that and you will have learned what most haven't or ever will.

 

[Frederick Foresight]

If I have a criticism of Al's work, it's that he tries to cover too many bases. He provides methodologies to trade every possible twitch of a market. While there are those who can do it all, It's ill advised for most and can be suicidal for a beginner. A trader needs to pick and choose which are best suited for him or her. A beginner should stick to trend trades as they offer the highest probability with good risk/reward. Al's work has benefited my own trading considerably but I have my own trade plan which differs from his. What you will learn and benefit from is understanding the nature of price development and what price is telling you at any given time. Absorb that and you will have learned what most haven't or ever will.

I don't think it's possible to trade every twitch in the market, therefore, I think Brooks is suspect. I think an earlier assessment of mine is fairly on point:

I bought his first book soon after it came out. It was the first book I ever returned to Amazon. As far as I'm concerned, and quite apart from the horrible writing, it was fraught with hindsight bias. There were charts where he showed "winning" trades that had preceding price action that would have been losing trades by his own standards, had he bothered to point them out (which he did not). The discretionary nature of his trading allowed for a lot of narrative (fallacy). I only read the first hundred or so pages, but that was enough. With my Amazon refund came clarity.

Also, the man is a vendor and claims to be a successful trader. If he is indeed as successful as he claims, then why has he not provided any reasonable evidence of this claimed success? Reminds me of Trump and his tax returns. ("Oh, I'd love to, but...")

 

[CharlesS]

the books are paper Demerol.

Agree; OP may find a bigger, more lucid, faster, freer high in the Volpri-Demerol at
https://www.elitetrader.com/et/thre...-trading-the-es-nq-ym-mes-mnq-and-mym.336259/


[ freer; can be such a thing as "more free" ? ]

 

[speedo]

I don't think it's possible to trade every twitch in the market, therefore, I think Brooks is suspect. I think an earlier assessment of mine is fairly on point:


Also, the man is a vendor and claims to be a successful trader. If he is indeed as successful as he claims, then why has he not provided any reasonable evidence of this claimed success? Reminds me of Trump and his tax returns. ("Oh, I'd love to, but...")

I've know Al for years and used to trade with him and I believe he is a profitable trader but it doesn't matter either way. You don't have to be a profitable trader to teach concepts and ways to trade successfully. There are far more critics on ET than those willing and able to do the work it takes to succeed. Al's work is valuable, if you disagree than ignore it but if you think you are doing a service to others by your criticism...you are just wrong.

 

[Hooti]

A lot of people start with his material and come up with a simplified version that matches there own circumstances and personality.
I read all his books. I learned more from his videos.
Does he still have a trading room? I sat in that for awhile.
...everything helped. You are on a valid path.
At the same time,
like Speedo says above,
I use a modified version of his material. And greatly simplified.

 

[Gaslight Capital]

Al Brook's video course is required for my trainees. It provides a solid foundation for understanding price action and it does an excellent job of culling out my hiring mistakes. If a trainee does not understand or see the value in the material quickly, or if he gives me even one complaint about the material, that person is not worth my time nor investment and is immediately dismissed.

I am not recruiting.

 

[Frederick Foresight]

I've know Al for years and used to trade with him and I believe he is a profitable trader but it doesn't matter either way.

I know. You mentioned so previously.

You don't have to be a profitable trader to teach concepts and ways to trade successfully.

I know. But he said he is. Is is so outlandish to ask for verification from a vendor you don't personally know?

Al's work is valuable, if you disagree than ignore it but if you think you are doing a service to others by your criticism...you are just wrong.

Maybe. I've been wrong before often enough. But not always.

 

[Frederick Foresight]

Al Brook's video course is required for my trainees. It provides a solid foundation for understanding price action and it does an excellent job of culling out my hiring mistakes. If a trainee does not understand or see the value in the material quickly, or if he gives me even one complaint about the material, that person is not worth my time nor investment and is immediately dismissed.

I am not recruiting.

 

[Laissez Faire]

I've know Al for years and used to trade with him and I believe he is a profitable trader but it doesn't matter either way. You don't have to be a profitable trader to teach concepts and ways to trade successfully.

If you’re not yourself successful you’re not likely to make other people successful teaching your own concepts which didn’t craft your own success.

I don’t think the parallell with coaches and athletes is applicable in trading.

I’m not saying there’s not value in what Al teaches, but I seriously doubt he’s crushing it.

To be a successful trader you need to write your own book.

 

[Laissez Faire]

Al Brook's video course is required for my trainees. It provides a solid foundation for understanding price action and it does an excellent job of culling out my hiring mistakes. If a trainee does not understand or see the value in the material quickly, or if he gives me even one complaint about the material, that person is not worth my time nor investment and is immediately dismissed.

I am not recruiting.

You should hire Al.