general

This is the standard text for the class I take at Hennepin Technical College.

There are essentially two programming languages: those that are easy to learn but which are limited, and are in constant need of extension and revision (Visual Basic and JavaScript come to mind...) and those which are powerful but difficult to learn. Java clearly falls in the latter camp. If you are new to programming, I doubt any book on Java will be a help to you unless you are very determined. If you are an experienced programmer, this book makes it a snap to pick the language up. The examples are clear and with a little thought can be comprehended, there are no wasted pages filled with screenshots beyond what is necessary, and no padding of content. While it is an efficient introduction it also does not overwhelm you with more information than you can handle at any one time, remembering it is an introductory text.

The author expects intelligence and experience from the reader: if you require step by step directions with screenshots at each point of the tutorial, you will get nothing from this book. If you do not require such assistance, then you will be very grateful that the author does not waste your time or his with "fluff", and gets straight to the point of teaching you what you need to know.

Overall, this is a good book. I've
gone through much of chapters 1-4, some of 5-6, and
a little of chapters 17 and 19.
Chapters 1-4 are solid and (I think)
about at the right level for the intended
audience. Some of the examples in Chapter 5
(which focuses on arrays) are a little heavy.
Learning Java arrays is difficult enough
without adding concepts such as mean and
standard deviation into the mix. Also, the
two-dimensional array examples are probably
beyond the grasp of most beginning students.

Overall though, I'd give the book a thumbs up,
so far. It doesn't make the mistakes that other
Java books make, such as introducing GUI or Object
Oriented concepts before teaching methods, loops,
and arrays. For example, I've had a chance
to look at the "Head First Java" book. I think
it makes the mistake of introducing Object Oriented
programming too early on. If you don't understand
loops or methods, etc., then you can't work with
Java objects. Further, the "Head First Java" book
also goes out of its way to be funny. While I think
there's certainly room for humor in teaching,
most people don't set out to learn Java for the fun of it.
They need to in order to earn a living.
So, as dull as this book is, I'd recommend it so far.

Things I dislike about this book:
Cheap layout. Looks like it was desktop published by a so-so amateur. Black and light blue...how very 80's textbook.

It's Virtually useless for the cetification exam (SCJP)...get Kathy Sierra instead. It's weak on threads and inner classes apparently don't exist. The explanations are not suited toward the beginner as they gloss or assume prior knowledge of many aspects of the language.

Coded examples tend to be too hard for the beginner as they contain multiple concepts, which can confuse some.

Things I like about this book:
Coded Answers to ever other question.
Some coded examples.

In summary I wonder what the target audience is of this book. The beginner -> then it fails, the intermediate? With no inner classes and a weak treatment of threads...I think not...then who...certainly not the advanced Java programmer.

I think you'd do better to pocket the hefty price of this booka nd spent it on something more apt (Java 2 primer plus isn't too bad, or Head FIrst Java for the novice Or Walter Savitch if you need a textbook).

No, this book is just too expensive and too weak for what you pay. Even Deitel is significantly better. Look elsewhere.