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: Occassionally amusing, but not very instructive
Summary: 2 Stars
The pace of this book is wacky. On one hand, it moves slowly, often repeating basic information 3 or 4 times in an attempt to drill it into your head. The inescapable blurbs, pictures, and sidebars, while amusing, are also distracting and sometimes feel like "filler". On the other hand, the book introduces somewhat advanced concepts like loops, encapsulation, etc very quickly, but glosses over most of the details, promising to explain the details in later chapters but more often than not failing to deliver on that promise.
It's hard to tell who this book is aimed at. Beginners with no programming experience can learn basic OO concepts, but the complete lack of actual programming exercises (as opposed to "exercises" like crossword puzzles) will prevent them from getting their feet wet.
Those readers with even a modest programming background will be left with more questions than answers, as the book explains only those details which are necessary to build its sample programs.
Book Review: Head First into ?
Summary: 3 Stars
Not sure about this book. With almost 700 pages it is a little daunting. There are a lot of examples, cartoons, jokes, etc. so you aren't reading 700 pages of text. It does have an interesting way of presenting things. I think it may be of more use as I get more into coding java.Book Review: not for non-programmers
Summary: 1 Stars
If you already know programming, or you're happy with being given vague hints of what things do rather than an organized explanation, this might a fine text for learning Java. This book throws language features at you, without following any of them up with discussion when or why you might want to use certain features. So if you don't want the book's first programs to include all of: variables, loops, method calls, and boolean values all one one page (with only sporadic re-visitations to the topic), then another text might be better for you.
To its credit, this book does manage to present the material in a way unlike any other, which can appeal to certain learning styles.
Book Review: Excellent Book
Summary: 5 Stars
If you cant learn java from this book you are not fit for IT.Book Review: Fun fun fun !
Summary: 5 Stars
Pretty funny and quite easy to follow... not for the experienced programmer :)