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Head First Java, 2nd Edition [ILLUSTRATED] (平装)
by Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates
| Category:
Java language, Software development, Computer science, IT, Technology |
| Market price: ¥ 448.00
MSL price:
¥ 418.00
[ Shop incentives ]
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A wonderful job of explaining not only the how-to, but also the "why" of Java fundamentals, in very down-to-earth language. |
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AllReviews |
  1 2 Total 2 pages 18 items |
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Ben Carlsson (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
I just got this book today, and after finishing the intro and chapter 1, I've gotta say that it's a great book with a unique (and working) teaching method. The beginnings of the book give you some great tips to use when reading the book in order to help the information sink in (which are great tips for reading ANY info book), and the book does its part by providing examples, puzzles, and descriptions of each topic covered. A common method the book uses pertaining to this is to provide you with a block of code with an error related to the current chapter in it, in which you have to find and correct said error.
This book is meant for people (like me) with no Java experience, but some experience in one or more server-side web (PHP, Javascript, etc.) or local programming (C++, Python, etc.) languages (HTML not included). The book revolves not only around providing information in a way that's easy to remember, but keeping that information in your brain and not letting it out even when it cries and pleas for escape. The authors use a friendly, comical, conversational method of explaining things, which is one of the methods they list to help you remember things. A quote from the book says "...there's no simple way to tell your brain, 'Hey brain, thank you very much, but no matter how dull this book is, and how little I'm registering on the emotional richter scale right now, I really do want you to keep this stuff [Java information] around.'"
After reading the equivalent of only two chapters of this book, I give it a solid five-star rating without a second thought. |
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Harry Yip (MSL quote), Singapore
<2007-01-10 00:00>
I noticed that the best praises for this book came mainly from readers who know something about OO-programming and Java. Readers who bought this book to learn Java seem unable to follow what's going on.
It's ironic as the book is meant to be a beginner's book. But why is this book getting praises from seasoned Java programmers and not the other way round. The obvious explanation is that this book is not easy for a beginner to follow. A beginner needs structured, step-by-step, no-brainer instructions, which this book doesn't provide. Head First Java is more of a 3-in-1 book; a thinking book, a helicopter-view book and an enlightenment book. And that is why it appeals to readers who know Java. It brought them insight and enlightenment, sort of seeing the big picture. The experience would be, like that of the four blind man describing an elephant, would have felt if their sight were restored.
My advice to beginners is not to rely on this book to learn Java. It's too advanced for you. Get a traditional book on Java and read concurrently with Head First Java or after you are quite conversant with the Java language. |
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Zraly (MSL quote), Canada
<2007-01-10 00:00>
After I borrowed and read this book I decided to purchase it for the following reasons:
- it covers amazingly well fundamentals:
- it explains why, what and how in Java, using different viewpoints
- information on fundamentals is not lost in between tons of detail
- it is fun to read since the book format makes your brain entertained
- the book graphics and structure helps you a lot with understanding and remembering the presented material.
The book does not contain as much detail as other Java books (like Thinking in Java) which can be really good if you are starting to learn Java or you plan to refresh on Java fundamentals. |
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Jim Robbinson (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
This book is simply the best programming book I have ever used. For learning Java it is an excellent reference as well as being humorous and capturing your attention to the point at which you can't put it down.
Unlike other books that drone on about one thing or another, but leave you sitting there dreaming of a nice comfortable bed (since you would be sleeping), Head First Java keeps you on the edge of your seat and laughing throughout every chapter.
It also includes mini practice activities in every chapter that will let you try out what you just learned. This hands-on approach is, in my opinion, the best way to learn the ins and outs of any programming language.
I highly reccommend this book for those learning Java programming as the last book you will need in your quest. |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
This is a relatively easy book to read, if you have some sort of background in either math, science, or basic programming. To be fair, this and all programming books can be confusing and there is probably no such thing as a perfect book on the topic.
This book introduces the topics well, but not very indepth because it is meant to give the reader a good overview and some deep thinking on components that make up a Java application.
After reading a few chapters and doing some exercises, I found that some parts still remained vague on why it did the things it did, but like previously mentioned, this book is a overview type of book.
The author(s) do a nice job on analogies and pictures do help in visualizing certain components.
I will probably need a few more books to supplement or reinforce the topics of this book.
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
This is one of the best written Java books ever. I have been programmed in Java for almost five years now and recently out of development. I now am trying to get back to programming mode and familiarizing myself with the OO concept.
The concept of polymorphism is explained superbly in this book. The general polymorphic concept that I knew was; if you are traveling from Miami to Seattle - you can travel by train of plane. It doesn't matter as long as you get there, the polymorphic concept applies. Makes sense? To a beginner, you might say, "OK...maybe" but how do I apply this to Java. This book will answer your question through the 'Animal' class example. As things become clearer, the book throws in the concept of interface by adding a Robodog to the Pet-Animal scenario. I don't want to get into more details here, but if you are learning how to program in Java, or enhancing your programming and design skills, this is a definite book to read.
Rarely you will find a beginner's book that stresses testing should be your mantra. This book introduces the idea of Extreme Programming by briefly touching the testing phase, that makes you think why you should ingrain testing into your software development work.
Head First book series, EJB and the Programmer's Exam books, have helped me becoming a java AND business component's certified professional. I then picked up this book and amazed how it can help a beginner and intermediate programmers to grasp the OO concepts using Java.
Some say that as you grow mentally and spiritually, the more humble you should be. Well, this book sure makes me become more humble - that even though the book is written for beginners, a seasoned programmer can pick up bits and pieces from it, in the quest of becoming the 'next-level' developers. The moral of the story is; never stops learning. |
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Clive (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
I started reading this book about a week ago and am at chapter 9 now and still going. This book is great, super, well written. Plenty of funny illustrations to help the reader understand some complex topics. Covers a whole lot on object oriented programming and java (duh). My only problem with this book are the exercises at the end of the chapters. They are just too short and don;t help very much. I feel that the reader needs a lot more problems to work on, preferably ones in which he/she writes his/her own code. I have found that to be very helpful in previous C++ and UNIX textbooks. This is actually my only complaint, other than that i would highly recommend it but also recommend another book with more code as you will be done with this farily quickly (a good thing, they meke everything so understandable). Hope this helped. |
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D. Alger (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-10 00:00>
This is an outstanding introduction to Java. I've done VERY basic programming in procedural languages but had a need to get some object-orientation. This book explained all the things that most other programming texts assume the reader knows and understands. To top it off, it did it in an entertaining manner.
The analogies are great and while the authors frequently repeat the same concepts several times, each time they do it from a slightly different angle. I need the repetition so this method saves me from having to read the book multiple times.
I first purchased the Head First EJB book but the authors clearly point out in the early chapters of that text that you really need this book first. They weren't kidding. If you need to get from a complete lack of Java knowledge to understanding EJBs, this book should come first, then the EJB book.
I can only hope the authors will release a book on XML and Web Services. That would complete me (for now). |
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