Way of the Turtle
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Way of the Turtle

Curtis M. Faith

4.31273 learners

Based on Richard Dennis’ legendary Turtle Trading experiment, *Way of the Turtle* reveals how ordinary people were transformed into elite traders using a simple, rule-based system. The book breaks down core principles of trend following, including the Donchian Channel breakout strategy and two structured entry/exit systems. It emphasizes critical risk management techniques: using the Average True Range (ATR) to standardize position sizing, strict limits on position units, and a 2% maximum risk cap per trade. Beyond tactics, it delves into the psychological traps that derail traders—loss aversion, result bias, overconfidence—and teaches how to replace emotional decision-making with disciplined adherence to proven rules. Packed with real-world case studies, historical backtesting insights, and lessons on adapting to changing market states, this guide is a blueprint for consistent, long-term trading success, proving mastery lies in execution, not secret 'holy grail' strategies.

Risk ManagementTrading PsychologyTrading DisciplinePosition SizingTrend Following
Trend Following
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Trend Following

Michael W. Covel

4.11152 learners

Michael W. Covel’s *Trend Following* demystifies a time-tested trading strategy anchored in the core mantra: “cut losses short, let profits run.” Unlike traditional buy-and-hold investing or speculative guesswork, trend tracking focuses exclusively on price action, tuning out noise like fundamental analysis or expert predictions. Covel brings the strategy to life through legendary traders—from David Harding’s $300B AHL fund to Bill Dunn’s 40-year track record of outperforming during crises like the 2008 financial meltdown. He breaks down critical distinctions: separating speculation from passive investment, exposing the flaws of mainstream mutual funds, and explaining how behavioral finance reveals why trend tracking exploits human cognitive biases. Backed by 800 years of historical data and academic research, the book proves trend tracking delivers consistent absolute returns, reduces portfolio volatility, and thrives in extreme market conditions. It’s a practical guide for traders seeking to overcome emotional decision-making and build a disciplined, profitable approach to the markets.

Risk ManagementTrend FollowingTurtle Trading ExperimentRichard DonchianAbsolute Returns
Insight

No Perfect Investment Theory

Every theory has flaws. Value investing, trend following—none work all the time. Pick one that fits your style and stick to it (avoid watch law: two watches confuse you).

ConsistencyFlawsInvestment Theory
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Discipline > Market Predictions

Turtles don’t predict markets. They follow rules. Success comes from sticking to the system even when it feels wrong—like holding through drawdowns for big wins.

MindsetDisciplineTrend Following
Method

Trial & Add Position Strategy

From Jesse Livermore: Start with small positions to test the market. If it goes your way, add more; if not, cut losses. This controls risk while capturing big gains.

Risk ControlTrend FollowingPosition Management
Scenario

689% Return Team

A team got 689% annual return by trend following (chasing up/down) and heavy positions. But it’s volatile—they lost money in choppy markets.

VolatilityCase StudyTrend Following
Concept

Absolute Return Target

A core goal of trend following that chases positive gains in any market condition. It does not benchmark against market indices, and only focuses on making real net profit.

InvestmentTrend FollowingAbsolute Return
Insight

Volatility Does Not Equal Risk

Traditional finance uses standard deviation to measure risk, but trend followers find most volatility comes from upside gains. Downside risk is fully controlled by strict stop loss rules.

VolatilityRiskTrend Following
Insight

Trend Following Works Centuries

800 years of market data proves trend following delivers 13% annual return with a 1.16 Sharpe ratio. Its core logic never changes, because human nature never changes.

Long-Term PerformanceTrend FollowingMarket History
Scenario

800-year Trend Backtest Result

Researchers tested trend following on market data from 1200 to 2013 across 84 markets. The strategy delivered 13% annual return, beating all traditional buy-and-hold portfolios.

Case StudyHistorical DataBacktest
Scenario

400 USD Turned To 200M

Richard Dennis started trading with only 400 USD in the 1970s, and grew this tiny capital into over 200 million USD after 2 decades of disciplined trend following.

Trend FollowingDennisTrading Legend