My Favorite Java Books

Core Java: Are you a programmer that would love to put Java to work for you on your current projects? Are you out of touch with all the latest developments of the Java SE 6 platform and its updated terms: Object-oriented programming, interfaces and inner classes, and the event listener model?

If you’re anxious to get to work and use the new Java platform to make all of your projects more successful, it’s time to buy a highly regarded and programmer-recommended book called Core Java, Volume I—Fundamentals. It simplifies the process of learning the Java language and makes it easy to move onto the next, more complicated steps of learning.

What does Core Java Cover?

The first volume of the Core Java series explains the basics of the new Java SE 6 platform so that dedicated programmers can understand the fundamentals of the Java language and apply that understanding toward their projects immediately. Every part of the book is broken down so that newcomers to Java, or those that are learning the new platform, can access and apply the information.

The first part of this series updates all programmers on the latest developments in Java and shows them how to incorporate the new knowledge into their current projects. Its method is simple: Examples. Programmers will be given examples from commonly encountered real-world situations. This makes the information more easily understandable, as it combines what programmers already know with what they need to know.

What is special about Core Java
Core Java’s 1st volume differentiates itself from other tutorials by using concrete examples from real projects to guide programmers through the new to the Java SE 6 platform. The focus on real world cases form a solid foundation for a book that also blends the old Java features into the new ones, giving programmers unfamiliar with Java a clear picture of how the features have developed over time.

Another focal point of the book is to allow programmers that have been working in another language to convert that language to Java and utilize it as well as the other language. Many people appreciate this.

This book has a reputation for helping experienced programmers increase their knowledge of the newest Java platform or learn the language from scratch. It’s the kind of book that helps programmers currently involved in projects immediately begin to use Java on those projects and benefit from all the language can do for them and the success of their projects. It’s one of the many reasons that this book has enjoyed such a large following over the years, and why it continues to be the book of choice for even the most experienced of programmers.

Toc Of Core Java:

Chapter 1: An Introduction to Java
Chapter 2: The Java Programming Environment
Chapter 3: Fundamental Programming Structures in Java
Chapter 4: Objects and Classes
Chapter 5: Inheritance
Chapter 6: Interfaces and Inner Classes
Chapter 7: Graphics Programming
Chapter 8: Event Handling
Chapter 9: User Interface Components with Swing
Chapter 10: Deploying Applications and Applets

… more content

Reviews:

This is a great book, it provides detailed descriptions about how exactly to write in Java. I recommend it if you have some, (but not much) java experience, as well as if you have a lot of experience. It includes great programs, references, and notes describing ways to use the most commonly used peices of java. If there are specific methods not inside the book, it gives exact references for them online on the sun website.

–D. Spencer Dickson

Outstanding java book to the non-novice. Simply wonder why the publishers do not have a Kindle edition out for this book when Vol II is on Kindle!!! I hope it comes out soon in the ebook version.

–HelloWorld

I’m a college student and was brand-new to Java just after i got this book. It’s a simple perspective and yet has enough depth to attract newbies in Java. I highly recommend it.

–Bhargav Mohanty

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Best Price:

Core Java usually retailed for $59.99 in the local store, but more importantly, you should buy this from Amazon, because it is 37% off the retail price, $37.79 now! You can save $22.20 right now and this book is qualified free shipping.

The most well known aspect for thinking in java is the diligent and particularly detailed treatment of the Java programming, with particular awareness to object design. (For instance, 10 pages for example code indicate all of the available operators.) Some of the greatest thinking about objects is within this publication, as well as when to use composition above inheritance. The clever details of Java in regard to defining classes will be completely laid out. (The particular materials about interfaces, inner classes, and designing for reuse will certainly please any expert.) Every section also has sample exercises that allow you to try out and expand your Java knowledge.

Moreover acquiring the reader to “think in objects,” Thinking in Java in addition covers other APIs in Java. Outstanding chapters involve the in-depth tour of Java’s collection and stream classes, and enterprise-level APIs like servlets, JSPs, EJBs, and RMI. Evaluating in at over 1,000 pages, all readers whom is serious regarding mastering Java inside and out will want to examine the superior reference on many of the latest and most sophisticated thinking in object design.

Topics covered:

• Object-design basics
• Inheritance and polymorphism
• Object lifetimes
• Exception handling
• Multithreading and persistence
• Java on the internet
• Analysis and design basics
• Java basics: keywords and flow control
• Initializing objects
• Garbage collection
• Java packages
• Designing for reuse: composition vs. inheritance
• The final keyword
• Interfaces and inner classes
• Arrays and container classes
• Java I/O classes
• Run-time type identification
• UI design basics with Swing
• Deploying to JAR files
• Network programming with sockets
• JDBC database programming
• Introduction to servlets
• JavaServer Pages (JSPs)
• RMI
• CORBA
• …more topics

Reviews

I am looking through Thinking in Java, have read several more books before on Java but Bruce Eckel has a classic form of exploring and explaining a programming language, studying grows more as being a glide over the concepts…brick by brick he builds an attractive conceptual foundation of the language…everything in the exact right place within the mental sequence where it should be…perfect!! He should write a book on each programming language

Several fish tank wandering by places to get the best conceptual guide…thinking in java is it.

-Kumud Kumari

This can be a greatest book about computer programming I have yet read.

This guide turns the reader through clear, logical approaches to addressing various conditions which occur while writing excellent software program with Java. By the writer’s model of weaving threads of idea through numerous areas of thought, the reader’s understanding will be developed far more than a list of “recipes” can make.

I would recommend the book thoroughly to any one enthusiastic about great Java programming.

-Dr K Williams

There are several reasons for Java literature and learning. Some in the form of books, several in the form online tutorials.

After posting technical posts for IBM, researching lots of the online resources, and purchasing dozens of Java books, Bruce’s ‘Thinking in Java’ is still my best reference.

Bruce not simply presents the info in the readable form, however presents circumstance to particular topics, offering greater depth and indicating about what your reading.

If you are looking for Java language specifications, navigate to the java.sun.com site and download the specs. If you never developed before, go take a programming course. If you want to start your career in Java, except the Java mindset, and get the book. Java is very deep and wide, TIJ is just the beginning of a long and wonderful journey.

-malcolm g. davis

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Java Concurrency in Practice, aid you become multiple thread pro

You should not declare you are the pro of java without having master the concurrency of Java.

Threads are a fundamental component of the Java program. Mainly because multicore cpus get to be the majority, making use of concurrency efficiently will become essential for setting up high-performance applications.

Java SE 5 and 6 are a huge breakthrough for the development of concurrent applications, together with improvements to the Java Virtual Machine to support high-performance, highly scalable concurrent classes and a rich set of new concurrency building blocks. Within Java Concurrency in Practice, the creators of the new facilities show you not only how they operate and how to use them, but also the enthusiasm and design patterns in it.

However, creating, testing, and debugging multithreaded software programs can nonetheless be quite challenging; it’s all too easy to set up concurrent programs which look as if work, but don’t succeed if it matters most: in production, under heavy load. Java Concurrency in Practice arms viewers with both theoretical underpinnings and concrete methods for building reliable, scalable, maintainable concurrent software. Instead of only providing an inventory of concurrency APIs and mechanisms, it offers design principles, patterns, and mental models that make it simpler to develop concurrent programs that will be both accurate and performant.

Author:
Joshua Bloch, the person who wrote the Collections framework in Java. he also write the book 《Effective Java》.

Book converts:

* Basic concepts of concurrency and thread safety

* Approaches for building and also generating thread-safe classes

* Using the concurrency blocks inside java.util.concurrent

* Efficiency optimisation dos and don’ts

* Examining concurrent software programs

* Superior topics just like atomic variables, nonblocking algorithms, and also the Java Memory Model

* … … more content

Reviews:

This gem of a book is a comprehensive and authoritative coverage of the most mentally intimidating programming concepts – concurrency.

The JDK Concurrency API has done an admirable job at simplifying the concurrency issues. This book, i feel, is an excellent followup. I can already see those caffeinated developers smiling!

A big thumbs up! Great job!

-Kode Ninja

I’m not a stranger to the java.util.concurrent package, but must admit that I learned and awful lot by reading this (really well written) book. But be warned: The more you know, the more you know you don’t know…

-Eric Jain

Java Concurrency in Practice gives very complete coverage on the language’s concurrency classes introduced in Java 5 & 6. It shows you the shortcomings of previous attempts at concurrency in earlier versions of the JDK, with great code samples.

This book is pretty comprehensive and goes through the thinking/theory of why things are written how they are, it’s not at all just a paper version of the JavaDoc reference.

It is also very, very readable. I am in no way experienced in concurrency problems, but it was very easy to follow through the reasoning and examples. (My background is a CS degree and 1.5 years in the marketplace)

This book is a must read, especially for Java devs. Even if you’re not a Java programmer, it could still be an enlightening read because it tells you how to structure your programs to cope with concurrency and how to approach concurrent stateful apps, which unless you are using Erlang, is something you suffer from.

-Timothy T
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Best Price

You can get Java Concurrency in Practice at your local store with list price:$59.99, however if you get it from Amazon today,  you can immdiately get $22.20 (37%) off,  $37.79 only to bring this fantastic book home.

Good Luck!

Effective Java 2nd Edition, help you move from java newbie to java expert.

Well, by studing java from some newbie friendly java book, like first head java, you know how to program by java. but do you hold the same understanding of java language concepts, style of coding, mind of design as java expert? your goal is to beccome java expert to get higher salary than junior java deveoper. how to improve?

What you need is a professional to help you move through. Joshua Bloch is such a java experts can help you improve yourself in Java. Who is Josh? Josh is the person who wrote the Collections framework in Java. he write the book 《Effective Java》.

This books has many very beneficial suggestions. It’ll provide you with a good and practical understanding of some fundamental Java language concepts (like inner classes, generics, etc). Something you may think you understand them all!

This isn’t about creating functional software – instead, he concentrates on things that are simple to overlook when you find yourself only concern is getting it up and running and out the door. It is organized as 78 suggestions which, if overlooked, will come back to haunt you in subtle ways long afterwards you thought you were finished.

Abstract:

Item 1: Consider static factory methods instead of constructors

Item 2: Consider a builder when faced with many constructor parameters

Item 3: Enforce the singleton property with a private constructor or an enum type

Item 4: Enforce noninstantiability with a private constructor

Item 5: Avoid creating unnecessary objects

Item 6: Eliminate obsolete object references

Item 7: Avoid finalizers

Item 8: …

….

more abstract
Limit:
This book is NOT FOR IVORY TOWER ARCHITECTS!. Only Serious Java Developers should read/refer this book.

Review:

“I sure wish I had this book ten years ago. Some might think that I don’t need any Java books, but I need this one.”

—James Gosling, fellow and vice president, Sun Microsystems, Inc.

“The best Java book yet written…. Really great; very readable and eminently useful. I can’t say enough good things about this book. At JavaOne 2001, James Gosling said, ‘Go buy this book!’ I’m glad I did, and I couldn’t agree more.”
—Keith Edwards, senior member of research staff, Computer Science Lab at the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), and author of Core JINI (Prentice Hall, 2000)

“You may be thinking its not necessary any books after you’ve learned a language. Usually, that is true – but this book is probably the few that will benefit even experienced programmers. It provides usage guidelines that go well beyond style or obvious things and will allow you to build systems that are flexible,maintainable, and perform well. The second edition is updated for Java 6 so you get advice on the best practices for using generics, enums, and annotations. This can be a great either as a refresher course or to learn new things for everyone who wants to become great Java programmer.”

—Dave G

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Best Price:

You can get Effective Java 2nd Edition at your local store with list price:$54.99, however if you get it from Amazon today,  you can immdiately get $12.10 (22%) off,  $42.89 only to bring this fantastic book home.

Good luck!

Joshua J. Bloch (born August 28, 1961) is known as a software professional, right now employed at Google, and also a technology writer. He led the design and implementation of various Java platform features, such as the Java Collections Framework, the java.math package, and also assert mechanism.  He is the author of the programming guide Effective Java, which won the 2001 Jolt Award, and is a co-author of 2 other Java books, Java Puzzlers (2005) and Java Concurrency In Practice (2006).

as a java beginner, i used to ask i myself, if there was best book i can take to learn java programming. aftere 8 years working around java, the reality tell me there is definitely not best java book.

why? is that to say every classic java book is shit? first head java is crap and think in java is useless?

of course not, actually all above java books are the most helpful java book you want. the important question is you need different “best book” at your special java learn stage.
as java beginner, the best book for you is definitely first head java. especially you have no conception on object-oriental. as i know visual basic is based on procedure, so there will be a relevant long learning curve for you to under stand object-oriental. buy first head java can short this curve. this book is funny and natural reading. the best book i have ever read for a java beginner. (unfortunately, i did not know this book as a java beginner… )
after 3-6 month study on java, you may already experienced all the basic concept of java, like variable, OO, jdbc, thread and AWT .etc. it is time to make deeper understanding on java. well, think in java should be your best book. you will become to understand why java is working in that way and how does it work internal by reading think in java.

after 2-3 years working on java. ( you should not still just studying java…. ). you become to know most aspect of java. but JVM is still one big secret to you. well, inside jvm should be your best java book that time. this book make you know how java is made by c++, even in byte code. after master on inside jvm, i will definitely fear nothing on java. you will know everything about java.
you need different best java book at your different stage.

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Who should take First Head Java

If you want to learn Java programming but have never touched Java or even never touched programming before, First Head Java is the most suitable book you want.

First Head Java is definitely not a seriousness book! It is too humorous, and even give you wander how to play computer games!

2002 after graduate from university, my major is electronic but my interesting is programming and makes something creative. So I made a decision to learn Java programming because I believe java language is a beautiful language focusing on dealing business issue.

As a java beginner at 2002, the most hard part of I learn java is to understand the conception of Object-Oriental. Well, I bet you will definitely meet the same challenge as me to understand the conception of Object-Oriental and some other abstract conception in the java world like variable type and scope, object properties and methods, inheritance and polymorphism, exceptions.

Many books can help you pass through this stage, like core java, Effective Java. But if you want your first java journey filled of funny and humor, First Head Java is the book you can’t miss.

Why First Head Java is good for java beginner?

object-oriented is abstract, so First Head Java also gives you “abstract” up, it seems irrelevant to you about some things, but it will not die quietly in the church you read, you To be playing games, puzzles, solve puzzles, and some unexpected ways and Java interaction. If you really want to learn Java, then, Head First Java you should not miss, although it is very serious. It seems to Amazon books editor recommended as one of ten JAVA!

TOC of First Head Java

Chapter1. Effective Java

Chapter2. Breaking the surface

Chapter3. A Trip to Objectville

Chapter4. Know Your Variables

Chapter5. How Object Behave

Chapter6. Extra-Strength Methods

Chapter7. Using the Java Library

Chapter8. Better Living in Objectville

Chapter9. Serious Ploymorphism

Chapter10.  Life and Death of an Object

More chapters…

What other readers think of First Head Java

“Kathy and Bert’s ‘Head First Java’ transforms the printed page into the closest thing to a GUI you’ve ever seen. In a wry, hip manners, the authors make learning Java an engaging ‘what’re they gonna do next experience.”

— Warren Keuffel, Software Development Magazine

“It’s fast, irreverent, fun, and engaging. Be careful—you might actually learn something!”

—  Ken Arnold, former Senior Engineer at Sun Microsystems

Co-author (with James Gosling, creator of Java)

“…the only way to decide the worth of a tutorial is to decide how well it teaches. Head First Java excels at teaching. OK, I thought it was silly… then I realized that I was thoroughly learning the topics as I went through the book.”

“The style of Head First Java made learning, well, easier.”

—  slashdot (honestpuck’s review)

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First Head Java Limit

First Head Java is a perfect book for java beginners, but it is not java API. It is not good manual book for you to check java API. As java developer you should bookmark http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/ as your java API manual.

Where to buy

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