Rating: 
Summary: I didn't think this was bad for a "starter" book.
Review: I thought this book was okay. I'm learning Java at work right now, and have also taken a class in "C" (I bought the Teach Yourself C in 21 Days, also from Sams...).I think, however, that Sams should write an "Introduction to Modern Programming" or something like that, a sort-of C, C++, Java "primer." "if" Statements, and variables, and ints and Strings, etc., etc. are all relatively similar in C and its "offspring"--C++ and Java. Each of these books seems to start with chapter after chapter explaining variables and then the logic of loops, etc., which are all about the same thing for all three languages. Rather than wasting pages and pages in each book, why not have a cheap 5- or 6-chapter book explaining the data types and loop structures so that the C and C++ and Java books can then actually discuss what makes their language different from the others, and how to more effectively use it to get done what you need to accomplish. All-in-all, however, this book wasn't bad as a primer for people who want to learn Java. Just make sure you use Sun's on-line tutorial as well. Good luck!
Rating: 
Summary: Did not get me very far
Review: I went through all the exercises and in the end I do not really feel that I am all that knowledgeable about Java. The concepts were really not explianed fully - the WHY was not elaborated on. This is at best a cursory look at Java and perhaps a good beginning, but you will need a lot more to really be able to program with any skill. I don't think I can even put that I know Java on my resume after going through this.
Rating:
Summary: Too many mistakes!
Review: I would have given this book a star or two more, but the author does not respond to e-mails about text errors. The book's website (with corrections and reader questions/answers listed) hasn't been updated in months! I know that it's almost impossible to keep mistakes out of technical writings, but update your site and respond to readers questions!
Rating:
Summary: A book where "beginner" means "beginner"
Review: I'm new to this game, so "beginners'" books which assume familiarity with programming are a bit disappointing. This slimmish volume left me looking for much more, before I realised that I had actually learnt something about programming. I would have liked a bit (a lot) more attention to general principals, but found it a helpful springboard for this beginner.
Rating: 
Summary: No direction
Review: If you are looking for a book that explains the basics of Java and you are familiar with other programming languages this is a great book. Maybe.
If you were looking for a book to teach you how to program I am not at all certain this would be the book for you. I understand what it is saying but I do not think I am learning anything. If it wore a typing class I would have an A+. The only thing I do is copy the programs in the book into my text editor compile and run it; Very boring. I want to know how to program in Java; not get better a typing. At the end of the book the author puts a slick disclaimer in. He says this book is not really here to teach you how to program but to help familiarize you with the language. Then he suggests that you buy his next book Java in 21 Days. I will certainly do that; NOT! If he would have said get familiar with Java but not learn to program on the cover of the book I would not have bought. I recommend you continue to look for a better book that is more directed towards beginning programs.
Rating: 
Summary: Tough Call
Review: Java is not an easy language to learn which is why I believe some folks have chosen to give it a low mark. I didn't find any errors in this book which is refreshing after reading SQL in 24 hours (Bad Book). I didn't however run very much of the code in the book but I did examine most of the code thoroughly and didn't find anything major. The reason I didn't run the examples is that I started with much more advanced books and got knocked back. So I picked this one up and it helped me out quite a bit, in understanding concepts and understanding the classes included in the jdk. The book is written on a very personal level which I liked a lot and I thought the author was funny. The book does get much more advanced starting in chapter 10, though this is just a part of learning java. The only reason that I didn't give this book a 5 is that author fails to completely explain a few of the examples in the book. This just made me read the examples over and over again until I understood them. Good learning tool. I would definetly not suggest reading Java 2 in 21 days after a book like this, I would go with Beginning Java 2 by Ivor Horton, which is an excellent book but I wouldn't start with Ivor's book, if your knowledge about java=0.
Rating: 
Summary: I Love Sams!
Review: Let's be for real... this book is NOT going to make you a Java guru... you're not going to be a Code Jedi in 24 hours. What this book does do is lay the foundations upon which to grow. When I picked up this book, I hadn't programmed since I was a kid with a Commodore! However, this book laid out the basics, included some varied examples that built off of different techniques, and created lessons that you could extrapolate from. Since devouring this book, I have bought more advanced tuts on Java - I consider myself healithly INTERMEDIATE now - however, it was this book that served as my spring board. It gave me the info I needed in digestible chunks and didn't send me scrambling around for answers when I'm hacking out source code in the wee hours of the morning, Mountain Dew by my side. Since then, I have gone on to learn some C++, JavaScript, VBScript, Perl, Asp, Jsp. And like another reviewer commented, a lot of the structures in the languages are so similar that you find yourself recycling the synapses instead of creating new paths. This book was a great building block and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in learning Java or object oriented programming in general! Happy Reading...
Rating:
Summary: Poorly organized
Review: Like many computer books, this one is not very good. The sections on OOP are vague, and the habit of pasting lines of code in the text rather than using more complet code only makes the learning curve steeper for those learning java. In addition, many of the examples in the book have errors. Overall, this book misses the mark.
Rating:
Summary: Better than a 1 week course
Review: My company sent me on a 1 week Java course at considerable cost. This book taught me more in 2 weeks of evening reading. Lessons stick to one-hour time frame throughout (instead of sneakily getting longer towards the end like some Sams books do). The authors humorous interjections are beneficial to the overall learning experience. An excellent introduction to Java and Object oriented programming, worth reading regradless of being superceded by Java 2.
Rating:
Summary: Great for a former Fortran programmer
Review: No book can be perfect for everyone, but I found this one a helpful, easy introduction to object-oriented programming using Java 2. If you know C++, don't buy it - it's too elementary. But if you have never coded objects, you won't understand the other books. You need to slowly absorb the syntax of object-oriented programming, and this is an excellent place to learn to do that. You will need other books - especially if you plan to code applets - but no book could really be expected to take everyone from wherever they are to wherever they want to go. This book works for those with some programming experience but who have never delt with OOP.
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