Head First Java, 2nd Edition by Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Head First Java, 2nd Edition
Book Review: An Excellent Introduction
Summary: 5 Stars
I am recommending this book highly, not for its content, which is present in any of Learn Java books, but for the style in which the information is presented, which has resulted in the content actually sticking. I've ploughed my way through plenty of good books (say Bruce Eckles - Thinking in Java), but this one is the catalyst that has made it stick - although you could view this as a fluffy approach, with diagrams, puzzles, photo captions etc, the novel approach to cognition is what makes the difference.Having worked with Java for over a year, I've found this book a refreshing antidote to the other Java books I've read, and fills in what I can't admit to not understanding fully. After this I'll revisit Thinking in Java with a clearer head and plough on towards some certifications!!!
On the downside, there are a few non-critical typos(but this is a first edition), and if you are comfortable with stacks, heaps, threads and their ilk, this will probably be below you interest threshold.
Book Review: An amazing achievment
Summary: 5 Stars
Who do Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates think they are? Don't they know that learning a programming language is supposed to be hard? Don't they know that it is supposed to involve suffering? Apparently not, as they have written a complete introduction to Java that is fun to read and easy to understand. If we don't stamp this out now, students will start expecting their teachers to be entertaining!The book is an excellent introduction to Java. It covers all the typical topics of a basic introductory text and some extra including serialization, networking, and distributed computing. Each topic is covered in a fun way with important information highlighted. The authors use stories, fake interviews, pictures, and assorted other clever techniques to catch your imagination and make the topics memorable. There are plenty of exercises (with answers) to help you check to be sure you understood each chapter. And there are plenty of fun programs to code including a cool music machine instead of the typical "reverse a String" exercises.
If you are looking for a traditional text then this book is definitely not for you. Instructors should think carefully whether this book fits in with their style of teaching. This book is not for everyone but if you want to learn Java and object oriented programming in fun and unique way then this is the book you want. Now I just have to figure out how to keep it away from my students.
Book Review: A lighthouse in an ocean of banality!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Quite simply this book is a gem! Don't be put off by the cartoons and 'funky' fonts, this book provides a great intuitive introduction to Java and the OOP paradigm without getting bogged down in jargon or conveniently skipping or failing to clarify points. The question-and-answer sections and 'interviews' provide answers to many of the questions that spring to mind while reading a topic that so many other books just leave unanswered. This book is not for someone with no programming experience, nor will it show you the technicalities of how to actually compile programs or install the SDK. What it gives is a good introduction to the language itself. You will come away feeling you like Java and that you have really achieved a step forward in learning it. The only caveat is that there aren't more books in the range!!!Book Review: Great book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is really different from others I've read. The book is full of pictures, exercises and puzzles which all make it really interesting to read. Usually technical books make me feel sleepy, this one definitely didn't. Also the exercises and puzzles make it easier to learn.Book Review: It's fun, new and the method works
Summary: 4 Stars
The presentation and method used here is certainly different. The exersizes are clear and managable. The content is accurate and accessable.My main bugbear is that one of the main projects is a music machine which doesn't help much if you are learning on a box with no sound system. Not everyone is using a PC. (In answer to another review : What's wrong with the reverse string program? I would find string handling etc much more useful than midi and graphics.)