View Larger Image	Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates O'Reilly Media, Paperback, 2nd edition, Published February 2005, 688 pages, ISBN 0596009208
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Download an excerpt: Table of Contents Chapter 2: A Trip to Objectville Excerpt provided courtesy of O'Reilly Media. Copyright © O'Reilly Media, Inc Written permission from the publisher is required for any use of this material.

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• Programming Languages : Java
• Programming : Object-Oriented
• * Series - Beg/Int Users : Head First

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The fact is your brain craves novelty. It's constantly searching, scanning, waiting for something unusual to happen. After all, that's the way it was built to help you stay alive. It takes all the routine, ordinary, dull stuff and filters it to the background so it won't interfere with your brain's real work--recording things that matter. How does your brain know what matters? It's like the creators of the Head First approach say, suppose you're out for a hike and a tiger jumps in front of you, what happens in your brain? Neurons fire. Emotions crank up. Chemicals surge.

That's how your brain knows.

And that's how your brain will learn Java. Head First Java combines puzzles, strong visuals, mysteries, and soul-searching interviews with famous Java objects to engage you in many different ways. It's fast, it's fun, and its effective. And, despite its playful appearance, Head First Java is serious stuff: a complete introduction to object-oriented programming and Java. You'll learn everything from the fundamentals to advanced topics, including threads, network sockets, and distributed programming with RMI. And the new. second edition focuses on Java 5.0, the latest version of the Java language and development platform. Because Java 5.0 is a major update to the platform, with deep, code-level changes, even more careful study and implementation is required. So learning the Head First way is more important than ever.

If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect--a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. If you haven't, you're in for a treat. You'll see why people say it's unlike any other Java book you've ever read.

By exploiting how your brain works, Head First Java compresses the time it takes to learn and retain--complex information. Its unique approach not only shows you what you need to know about Java syntax, it teaches you to think like a Java programmer. If you want to be bored, buy some other book. But if you want to understand Java, this book's for you.

About the Authors

Kathy Sierra has been interested in learning theory since her days as a game developer (Virgin, MGM, Amblin'). More recently, she's been a master trainer for Sun Microsystems, teaching Sun's java instructors how to teach the latest technologies to customers, and a lead developer of several Sun certification exams. Along with her partner Bert Bates, Kathy created the Head First series. She's also the original founder of the Software Development/Jolt Productivity Award-winning javaranch.com, the largest (and friendliest) all-volunteer Java community.

Bert Bates is a 20-year software developer, a Java instructor, and a co-developer of Sun's upcoming EJB exam (Sun Certified Business Component Developer). His background features a long stint in artificial intelligence, with clients like the Weather Channel, A&E Network, Rockwell, and Timken.

Apr 25, 2006     John from Baltimore/D.C. Metro Area U.S.A.
Somewhat Disappointed
I liked the Head First EJB book by the same authors. This book however, has rather important topics shoved in an appendix. The description of something as basic as access modifiers are in the appendix!! Sierra wrote another Java intro book (different publisher / older JDK version) that put some of these topics up front - and it is a well done book. I am not sure the rationale for the organization of THIS book. Also - this book (unlike her others) is not geared for a Sun Certification Exam. I thought the whole reason for the format was so you would remember (through visualization) facts needed to pass an exam!!! Ok book - but you could do better.

Apr 5, 2006     Ric Crouch from Warner Robins, GA
Great coverage of Java and OO for beginners!
One other reviewer complained that he was looking for an in-depth Java book, and this wasn't it. He's right--and it says that right in the book ("Are you a kick-butt C++ programmer looking for a reference book? This book is not for you.") However, this is one of the best building-block discussions of Java, object-oriented programming, and the GUI aspects of Java that I've seen. It's fun (OK, sometimes "cutesy," but so what), quick moving, and gives you actual projects to create, rather than living in the abstract world. And though it's not too advanced, it doesn't drop into the totally simplistic "for Dummies" mode. All in all, it's a great book! If you are looking to learn Java programming, and you don't want the usual "simplistic for 8 chapters followed by quantum physics in Chapter 9" books, then give this one a shot.

Mar 20, 2006     
Great and Fun Java Book
I've attempted to read many Java books, but this book is the first that I understood and made it stick, and once I started I couldn't put it down. It help in so many ways such as understanding OO concepts, Java's use of the stack and heap etc., and was very easy to read. Excellent getting start in Java book, I highly recommend it.

Nov 10, 2005     Alex K. from Philadelphia, PA
Great book for beginners.
This book is great for someone who has little or no programming experience in Java. The book assumes that the reader has basic understanding of programming concepts. While presenting the material in a form of play, the book does go into details of Java language. I personally found this book much more helpful than other plain vanilla reference books.

Jul 11, 2005     
good for beginners but getting too "cutesy"
Being a long-time C++ programmer, I recently received an assignment to design and code a Java application. After reading several books on Java, I had a basic understanding but wanted more in-depth reading. This book offered none of that, it has too many cartoons, tries to be funny (which it isn't) while presenting material for beginning non-programmer programmers from the MTV-generation. I wouldn't recommend this book for experienced programmers who are trying to learn Java as a second (or more) languate. However, if you know absolutely nothing about programming, have a ADD or similar learning disability, or just need to learn from a comic book, then this book may even make sense. In my opinion, I found it totally useless and looked to other tomes.

Mar 16, 2005     Dave from Beaverton, OR
Outstanding approach to learning the basics of Java
I had some experience writing Java web applications, relying a lot on cutting and pasting code from other apps. I had a basic Java Programming 101 course under my belt, but I didn't retain much of the nitty gritty details from the class. I didn't feel like I understood "abstract" and "interface" at all. I wasn't clear on the difference between "public", "private", "static", "final", etc. I needed a book that would hold my interest and make it all sink in. Head First Java was the book for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the authors walked me through, using fun, yet clear, examples. I tried reading through O'Reilly's Learning Java first, and was bored by Chapter 2. Certainly, Learning Java is a fine reference book, but I needed something I could stay interested in and get through without having to read the same paragraphs 7 times before the information sunk in. I was able to read through Head First Java in a matter of hours and feel like I really would be able to retain the information I learned. This is because the loose, humerous approach held my interest, while staying on target with its information. I just ordered Head First Servlets and JSP and look forward to more fun, but very useful, reading. I recommend this book to any novice or intermediate Java programmers who get bored quickly when reading the basic books typically available for learning. This one will give you all the basics in an enjoyable fashion.

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