Thread: Anybody recommends good Java books (up-to-date)

Hello all.

I am a totally new programmer to Java. In fact, as a computer scientist, Java is an essential part of programming. I plan it as my secondary, if not primary, language. I only know Assembly and Python fully, and Python isn't as powerful as Java or C, and it isn't as much as OOP as Java/C. Now, I want to enhance my Java. I've read a few hundred pages of Headfirst Labs : Headfirst Java, and it's for Java 1.5 (i.e. not for 1.8, the latest, and as the Pragmatic Programmer says, we should update our knowledge as technology evolves.), so I've two questions.

Can "outdated" knowledge be improved if I understand all of its concepts? If I complete the Headfirst Java book, will I be able to understand its newer version in three days or less? If no...
Can you refer me good, in-depth, critically acclaimed books? Please refer me some books that are up-to-date, and although the entertaining style of Headfirst is preferred, it is not required (obviously, since Headfirst is the only non-serious-serious tech book)

Can "outdated" knowledge be improved if I understand all of its concepts?

Can knowledge be outdated? I think knowledge is always useful, but I think I get the point of your question.

Java has had few dramatic changes in the last 10+ years. The last (IMO?) was the leap to 1.4. Even then, the basic programming tools and mechanics did not change and they are similar to the same basic tools in many other languages that you probably already know. What you should add to that with your Java 1.5 book are the specifics of using those basic tools in Java PLUS the graphics, OOP, GUI, and advanced SE classes that may be similar to but not exactly the same as those in other languages. The changes since then are relatively minor and can be easily learned as you need to. Hundreds of articles are written on the new features planned and actually delivered with each release.

Can you refer me good, in-depth, critically acclaimed books?

This question is asked so often that a 'net search will give you a wide variety of answers to choose from. That's what will always get in response to this question: a wide variety of answers that are largely based on people's opinions, preferred learning styles, existing experience with Java and other languages, preferred area of study, etc., etc., etc., and few (if any) of those factors may match yours.

If you find a book that sounds interesting and you want to get our opinions, ask, but again, you'll get a wide variety of answers. For example, I think the "Head First . . ." series are hard too read and spend too much time trying to be cute and too little time getting to the point. I dislike them. At the other end, you can't go wrong with a Deitel book on any programming subject. They cover the subject matter in excruciating detail, include tons of examples and exercises, and are relatively heavy and expensive. You can occasionally find old versions of their books on the web, but I'm never sure how legal any of those copies are.

Originally Posted by Ada Lovelace

C is not OOP - neither is C++ really, C uses structured concepts
and C++ does use OOP but is a multi-purpose language, allowing
the programmer to write in procedural or OOP way. Objective-C
is more of a OOP language.

Anyway to your actual question - it is absolutely fine to learn from
Head First Java - as all concepts covered are also in Java 6, 7 and 8.
Very few additional Java features are added to each revision of the
language, and the ones that are will not really effect the standard
core of the language syntax. However, anything below standard 4
is considered outdated by today's standard.

Most textbooks available today are mostly up to date and support
Java 6, 7 and or 8. Your overall knowledge will expand as you delve
deeper into the language and learn about new and exciting concepts.
You can never have too much knowledge in a language, and I do not
believe James Gosling would be able to remember the entire language
off the top of his head without a reference book

Keep working hard and Good luck

Wishes Ada xx

The Pragmatic Programmer always said that you should learn the new version of language as it releases (of course, for more job opportunists, more libraries, more safety and cleaner syntax), but of course, it's not necessary to think of it while learning a new language (we can worry about that later, when we'd actually understand the syntax).

While I'd surely like good, in-depth books (that don't teach bad programming habits), Headfirst seems fine for now. Although it seems too short, I can comprehend it better than Thinking in C++ or C++ primer, they are too...complex and brief, they aren't fun at all, even though I consider programming itself fun. Headfirst tries a different approach, and that I actually like, but they're too, brief.

--- Update ---

Thanks, I'll check Deitel. Although Headfirst works, it's too brief (but simple to understand). Alas, I'll try to learn with Headfirst the basics (first few hundred pages) before moving into more advanced (and up-to-date) books.

The only gripe I have against Deitel is the lack of change in their textbooks.

I agree that this can appear to be lazy book writing and almost cheating, but there's a benefit to the reader: if one has already learned one language using the Deitel book, learning another language using a Deitel book is like walking through familiar territory wearing a different pair of sunglasses. This benefit has made my learning C enjoyable - though I haven't gotten to memory management yet which has to be new material.

(*Ahem*, I am sorry, I until now, was thinking that the small "plus" sign embedded with the quote mark, was a "thank you"/+1 button, sorry if it bothered you)
My Headfirst journey is quite a long one (five-hundred pages remain), and they won't be finished by two or three days, but probably will not last longer than one-and-half-a-week (six-to-fourteen days to finish).
What now I plan is, I'm going to master Java, then its latest edition, then master C/C++ (of course, i'll read a book of "advanced" level, since by then I'd have pretty much advanced knowledge about OOP programming), is this okay in your opinion? If not, what can I do to enhance my Java knowledge further before moving to C?

Yes, I've heard the infamous pointers. While I've a fair understanding of programming itself (Python and Assembly. Assembly is, I am slowly forgetting, Python is more high-level, but nonetheless, a programming language), C/C#/C++ is going to be hard, if we consider pointers and such, which were automatically done for us in Java.

For Java, we'd use simple

System.Out.Prinln.("Something");

It's difficult to use

org 0x7c00
 
mov bx, RANDOM_MSG
call print_string
 
mov bx, SOME_MSG
call print_string

But I think once my grip over Java (and OOP itself) becomes more strong, I'd be a pretty good C programmer.

Yes. Even Microsoft uses C in all latest Windows edition (including, if I am right, Windows XP, and Vista. I am sure Windows 8/7 is written in C/C++, with only a few hundred lines of code 'hand-tuned' with Assembly).
So, is Effective Java Second Edition worth it, after reading Headfirst : Java?

Thank you.

While I mostly use PDF books while learning, there are some really good authors that are underrated and need to be supported. What my point was that after reading HFJ, should I read a two-thousand paged book that had everything I knew from the scratch, or should I read a book that is understandable and two-thousand paged? It doesn't matter the size, it matters what I learn.

However, thanks still. I shall try a few more books.

Effective Java Second Edition worth it

Worth it? Hard to say. My OPINION is that it is a GREAT reference book to skim through and then have near your desk when programming to look up the general concepts that you remember are there but don't quite remember the details. It is a "DO this" or "DON'T DO that" book that spends whole chapters explaining why DOING this and NOT DOING that will make you a better Java programmer. Every serious Java programmer who has reached the later intermediate or early advanced stage should have this book handy and be generally aware of what's in it.

Originally Posted by GregBrannon

Worth it? Hard to say. My OPINION is that it is a GREAT reference book to skim through and then have near your desk when programming to look up the general concepts that you remember are there but don't quite remember the details. It is a "DO this" or "DON'T DO that" book that spends whole chapters explaining why DOING this and NOT DOING that will make you a better Java programmer. Every serious Java programmer who has reached the later intermediate or early advanced stage should have this book handy and be generally aware of what's in it.

Thank you. I just needed confirmation that is an excellent book as Stackoverflow said, since every book (Thinking in Java, the Pragmatic Programmer, Effective C++ and Effective Java) has recieved at least ten negative reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. And by the way, what's the difference between Pragmatic Programmer and this, other than focusing on Java?

I haven't read "Pragmatic Programmer" so can't say. I'll look through it when I get a chance.