If you are seeking a good introduction to technical analysis then try his cheaper and easier to read book entitled The Visual Investor. If you read that book and want to learn more about the subject then read on!
This behemoth of a book (over 540 pages total!) is easy to read and learn but is definitely more suited and designed for those seeking intermediate to advanced knowledge on technical analysis. Don't get me wrong; you can start here but the odds of you finishing, if you are a beginner, are slim.
Murphy starts with the basics, then goes into more advanced principles and then explains linkage (how certain sectors outperform when others under perform.) He talks about commodities and equities throughout the book and it is a very good evaluation of market trends. There are tons of graphs to help the reader along.
This book definitely covers all the basic aspects of TA: philosophy, chart construction, fundamental vs. technical analysis, trends, major technical pattern recognition, moving averages, oscillators, times cycles, computer trading systems and much more. He also covers different methods of charting, including bar, point and figure and candlestick (be aware that most of the analysis techniques he presents apply to bar charting, not PnF or candlestick).
I personally believe that technical analysis should be incorporated into just about any decision-making process when investing for any fund, stock and/or options. While fundamental analysis should be where most efforts start applied technical analysis can help people in picking entry and exit points to "avoid fighting the tape" which is a real problem for investors in the market. If you are a trader you are missing so many opportunities by not learning TA. This is the book to learn TA with! Get this book and the accompanying study guide.