Head First Java: Your Brain on Java - A Learner's Guide (Head First)

Although I have granted this book 4 stars -- a pretty favorable rating -- mine is another one of those dissenting opinions you will see in the current set of reviews.

I have given 4 stars because I think the Head First folks' aims are laudable; however (and this is a big however), 4 me the approach simply doesn't work, & I feel as though if I'd spent a little time with the book prior 2 ordering it I would have given it a miss.

My point here is that since it is the approach that is the real selling point here, it's worth your while trying 2 figure out whether the approach works 4 you or (as it did in my case) gives you a headache, & makes you wish 4 more traditional, meaning-bearing prose.

The harsh version of what I am fumbling towards saying here is that, 4 me, this book is the triumph of widgets. I recall a Perl 5 book from some years back that I used & liked ... but I recall detractors (the author, a really fine & well-known writer on Perl, included) saying that the book had been near-ruined with text widgets & icons & other such stuff. The Head First books, while not ALL widgets, tilt the scale massively in favor of the visual, tricky, goofy, funny [insert more terms here] approach, in a self-proclaimed effort 2 entertain you into learning.

There is a part of me that can grok that & applaud this, but when it comes down 2 brass tacks, it just doesn't work 4 me. And when I say "doesn't work," I am not even considering the question of whether the content is reasonably complete (other reviewers have pointed out that things may get dropped or glided over in th is process, with confusing results 4 learners). No, I mean "doesn't work," in the sense that I am not sure what 2 do with it. As an example, there are several "Code Magnet" sections in this book. The conceit is simple: mix & match these jumbled code fragments, as if they were "magnetic poetry" on a refrigerator, so that together they form a program that outputs the desired stuff.

This is a cute, attractive idea that a majority of readers can probably relate 2 -- but what is one supposed 2 do with a paper page of "code magnets." Is the reader supposed 2 tear the page out? type all the code in & mix it around? It doesn't appear 2 be in the downloadable code 4 the book ... OH, well it seems O'Reilly sells the code magnets, 4 $19.95 / set. Hmm.

Honestly, I didn't know that last fact until I started this review. I'm not trying 2 be awfully snarky here, but I think the whole thing would work better as an interactive CD-ROM. It's hard 4 the activities 2 reach out & grab you (crossword puzzles work okay, I guess, but their pedagogic value is pretty small) when they're confined 2 paper.

In short, try this thing first. If you like it, by all means go 4 it. I didn't like it, & I have reservations about whether it really works in its current form.

Pretty good book 4 those whom Programming is difficult 2 understand. You will be doing an excellent purchase.

I had 2 get this book 4 an Intro Java class I'm taking. The "teacher" is basically reading the book as part of his lessons. I've learned more from this book than I have from the "teacher". This book has a unique approach 2 teaching programming, & so far I think it's working. Other programming books I have read, are really dry & boring, this book is the opposite.

This is a good beginners' book. It is, however, 3 years old & does not cover the latest version of Java, 6.0. According the publisher, O'Reilly Media, the authors consider Java 6.0 2 be similar 2 version 5.0 & thus not worth a new edition. The next edition is scheduled 4 2010, when Java 7.0 comes out. On the other hand, the authors did not really cover all the new 5.0 features in this second edition. In particular, enum is relegated 2 the appendix! I am not sure how much update one can realistically expect in the 3rd edition.

As a computer science teacher I am always on the lookout 4 introductory texts that make Java less intimidating. Head First Java certainly fills the bill with a good mix of humor & content. My only objection (and it is very slight) is that it tends 2 get a bit "thick" in sections -- nothing a final edit couldn't easily fix.

On the whole, however, a very good job.

Between Moore's law & the notion of "Internet time," we're constantly being bombarded with more & more information--most of it in the form of disorganized data. Turning this information into useful knowledge is getting harder & harder 2 do, & it takes time that we just don't have. The current economic situation hasn't helped either. With money spread thin, who hasn't had 2 take on new tasks & learn new things? And slashed training budgets mean there's little 2 rely on 4 learning except books- but learning a complex new programming language like Java from a book is no simple task. Maybe your boss is giving you two weeks 2 come up 2 speed 4 a project, or maybe you're ready 2 take that next step up in your current job, or be a more viable candidate 4 a new job. Whatever the reason, the onus is on you 2 learn. All these factors make it more important than ever 2 have a way 2 learn--fast. And that's what Head First Java does -- by exploiting the way your brain works, it compresses the time it takes 2 really learn. Why? Because its unique approach not only shows you what you need 2 know about Java syntax, it enables & encourages you 2 think like a Java programmer. Mastering object oriented programming requires a certain way of thinking, not just a certain way of writing code. The latest research in cognitive science, neurobiology, & educational psychology shows that learning at the deeper levels takes a lot more than text on a page. Actively combining words & pictures not only helps in understanding the subject, but in remembering it. According 2 some studies, an engaging, entertaining, image-rich, conversational approach actually teaches the subject better. Head First Java puts these theories into practice with a vengeance. Chock full of mind stretching exercises, memorable analogies, & stories, humor & attitude that aren't just pasted-on distractions but that are used 2 drive home key points & make ideas come alive, the Head First approach is as effective as it is unique. It takes a pretty unique person 2 have developed such an innovative way 2 Learn Java. Kathy Sierra has been interested in learning theory since her days as a game designer. More recently, she's been a master trainer 4 Sun Microsystems, teaching Sun's own instructors how 2 teach the latest Java technologies. She has been actively using the concepts in Head First Java 2 teach hundreds of trainers, developers & even non programmers. She is the founder of one of the largest Java community websites in the world, javaranch.com, & she is a member of the development team 4 the Sun Certified programmer exam. Bert Bates is also a long-time Java developer & trainer with extensive experience in learning theory. His background features a long stint in artificial intelligence with clients like the Weather Channel, A&E Network, Rockwell & Timken. Is Head First Java right 4 you? That depends. Head First Java assumes you're a programmer or at least have experience with scripting languages. It assumes that you're smart, that you're creative & open 2 new ideas, & that you know you're just not the type of person who wants 2 learn the traditional way. Take a look at the sample pages, explore the background on brain-based learning, examine the table of contents, & see 4 yourself how Head First Java takes learning 2 a whole new level. See why Tim O'Reilly says, "This is the first really new approach 2 computer books that I've seen in many years. I think it's going 2 revolutionize how programming & other complex topics are taught." Table of Content: 1) Dive In (a quick dip into Java) 2) Welcome 2 Objectville (intro 2 OO) 3) Know your Variables (understanding Java types: primitives, object references, pass-by-value) 4) How objects behave (instance variables & methods) 5) Extra-strength methods (writing more complex code) 6) Using the Java Library (solving problems with the API) 7) Better Living in Objectville (inheritance, OO design, abstract classes) 8) Serious Polymorphism (interfaces, more OO design, polymorphism) 9) Life & Death of an object (constructors & memory management / garbage collection) 10) Do the Math (static methods & variables, Math methods, Wrappers, & number formatting) 11) Risky Behavior (handling exceptions) 12) A very graphic story (GUI intro, inner classes, event handling) 13) Work on your swing (more GUI, layout managers & Swing components) 14) Saving objects (object serialization & file I/O) 15) Make a connection (networking: sockets & server sockets) 16) Release your Code (deployment: code organization, packages, executable JARs, & Java Web Start) 17) Distributed Code (deployment via RMI & Servlets)

It has taken four years, but with Head First Java the introductory Java book category has finally come of age. This is an excellent book, far more capable than any of the scores of Java-for-novices books that have come before it. Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates deserve rich kudos--and big sales--for developing this book's new way of teaching the Java programming language, because any reader with even a little bit of discipline will come away with true understanding of how the language works. Perhaps best of all, this is no protracted "Hello, World" introductory guide. Readers get substantial exposure 2 object-oriented design & implementation, serialization, neatwork programming, threads, & Remote Method Invocation (RMI).

Key 2 the authors' teaching style are carefully designed graphics. Rather than explain class inheritance (to cite one example) primarily with text, the authors use a series of tree diagrams that clarify the mechanism far more succinctly. The diagrams are carefully annotated with arrows & notes. Also characteristic of the unique teaching strategy is heavy reliance on exercises, in which the reader is asked 2 complete partial classes, write whole new code segments & do design work. Though there's little discussion of why the exercises' correct answers are what they are, it's clear that the practice work was carefully designed 2 reinforce the lesson at hand. If you've waited this long 2 give Java a try, this book is a great choice. --David Wall

Topics covered: The Java programming language 4 people with no Java experience, & even people with no programming experience at all. Key concepts read like a list of Java features: Object oriented design, variable type & scope, object properties & methods, inheritance & polymorphism, exceptions, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), network connectivity, Java archives (JAR files), & Remote Method Invocation (RMI).