java

There are many sources of Java literature and learning. Some in the form of books, some in the form online tutorials.

After writing technical articles for IBM, reviewing many of the online resources, and buying dozens of Java books, Bruce's 'Thinking in Java' is still my top resource.

Bruce not only presents the information in a readable style, but gives context to specific subjects, giving greater depth and meaning to what your reading.

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

I heard so many good things about this book - and can't say I was not disappointed! First, I must say, this book has *A LOT* of material. It covers much more subjects than any other java book I saw. However, it's not very clear. and it uses "too many words", so to speak. For example, there is a chapter comparing some strange nuances that C++ and Java differ in... Who cares?? I spent so much time reading these things, it was difficult to tell what is important, and what isn't. Also, there are no code sample runs, which makes the examples difficult to understand. Last, for every small thing the author uses 2-3+ pages of examples, which makes understanding cumbersome, sometimes 1 page would be enough. However, it's still worth buying, because of the depth. When I just started learning Java, I bought another Java book which had considerably less material than this book, and read it, and if I needed more information, I would just read the appropriate chapter in "Thinking in Java".

To sum it up, in my opinion, worth buying, but not as the only book. Good as the 2nd java book.

I'm a software engineer and I obviously read and studied various books on diffirent programming languages. My biggest claim to fame is C Programming, but I thought about object orientation for a long time and that's how I came across "Thinking in Java".

I Downloaded the book and even printed it and eventually bought a proper copy, because I was convinced it should be on my bookshelf. After reading the firts couple of chapters I have to admit that for the first time I really do understand object orientation through the clear and concise explanation backed up by good examples given on the subject.

Any one interested in Java should defenately own this.