Essential Java Class Reference for Programmers, The (3rd Edition)

Beginners Guide

Java : An Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming (4th Edition)

Format: Paperback
Author: Walter Savitch
ReleaseDate: 20 December, 2004
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Rating:

Best Written Java Book
The fourth edition is a concisely-written, enjoyable book with excellent examples and coverage of Java 5. The author, Savitch, writes some of the best-written, easy-to-read computer language books.0, which is the newest, latest revision as of January '06.

I used this book to supplement a Java course on Game Programming and got an A in the class.

The "Absolute Java" book, also written by Savitch, is a bigger book and probably more comprehensive. However, I enjoy reading this one more.

1st edition review
While not as exhaustive as the the edition for sale here I can tell you the author is good at what he does. I have just completed (i need only two more chapters) the first of edition of this book. I haven't decided if I am going to purchase this edition but let me say that the author's prose style reminds me of the best computer programming books I read while I was an undergraduate at the University of Florida in the early 90's. This book is suitable for teaching a first or second year class of computer science students at a university. Unlike those silly "Teach yourself Java programming in 24 hours" this is the kind of programming book that really teaches you something. .

Absolutely The Best Introduction To Java
His treatment of object oriented programming concepts in chapters 4 and 5 is FLAWLESS. This book was written by someone who truly knows how to teach and not merely transmit knowledge from brain to paper. No other author does such a thorough job (this includes Deitel, Horton, Schildt, Cadenhead, etc) and I speak as the owner of these (and other texts). Let this book be your first stop towards obtaining the Sun Java Programmer and Developer Certifications as well as IBM's Websphere Certifications. But don't forget to purchase the Java Language Specification as well. .