Rating: 
Summary: A very good-quality introduction to Java/programming!
Review: "Jave Gently" is an excellent programming primer using the Java language. While most other Java books focus on applets or lack of programming concept, it gives well-balanced and comprehensive introduction to programming and data structures as well as Java, with all practical examples, to readers. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the essential of object-oriented programming or the Java language or both.
Rating:
Summary: Readers are warned
Review: ...>I really like what the author and publishers have achieved with the third edition, especially in augmenting the material with modern programming aids to be found in similar books. The book helps students with far more than just Java programming. It has syntax and semantic forms, UML diagrams, several indices into Java APIs, classes, methods, example programs, a ten page general index (double columned), over 50 full examples and case studies, and a more sound object-oriented introduction than in many comparable books. It also has the most active and appreciated website we have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: An introduction to Object programming for academic use.
Review: A well written introductionary text for object oriented programming and design on a undergraduate level. Many cases including design (UMT).
Online (website) support. Introduces standard Java classes,
common data structures and algoritms.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your time!
Review: As a practicing professional programmer, I thought I couldn't have any problems with learning a new language...WRONG! This book is so error-laden as to be almost worthless. It does introduce topics in Java; however, it usually doesn't explain for 7 chapters what you just did nor why. Fine...I can accept that. However, the code, as written in the book, won't compile. Well, that can be a good thing...you have to learn how to fix code anyway, but you shouldn't have to do it right from the first program!! The errata that goes with the book is ridiculously long for a second edition. I had to use this book in a college class...you shouldn't unless you are a masochist.
Rating:
Summary: look somewhere else
Review: As a student at University of Pretoria, we had the privilege of having Ms Bishop as our lecturer. And we had to fork over money for her book. (Can you really call that thing a book?) A book that was about to be released in 2nd edition not more than a month after we had to buy it. i.e. we forked over our dosh for a pricey, out of date textbook that was about to be replaced with a spell-corrected version. My idea of a book is a useful and descriptive entity which covers a subject with sufficient depth to make it worthwhile reading. Not so for Java Gently. The result - 6 months wasted trying to decipher the content of this book. If only we had been wider awake we would have boycotted this book and bought a decent one. Don't waste your money on this one - was written by a person who is not a good lecturer at all.
Rating:
Summary: Java Gently ??? Maybe Gently for Judy but Junky for us...
Review: As a student at University of Pretoria, we had the privilege of having Ms Bishop as our lecturer. And we had to fork over money for her book. (Can you really call that thing a book?) A book that was about to be released in 2nd edition not more than a month after we had to buy it. i.e. we forked over our dosh for a pricey, out of date textbook that was about to be replaced with a spell-corrected version. My idea of a book is a useful and descriptive entity which covers a subject with sufficient depth to make it worthwhile reading. Not so for Java Gently. The result - 6 months wasted trying to decipher the content of this book. If only we had been wider awake we would have boycotted this book and bought a decent one. Don't waste your money on this one - was written by a person who is not a good lecturer at all.
Rating:
Summary: the evil eviscerating elephant
Review: As soon as we saw the elephant, we knew we were in trouble. The price was annoying as well. If I'm going to pay that much money for a text book, it better damn well be worth it. This has not been. The comp sci course has been compared to a speeding locamotive about to run off the track and slaughter us - by the professor - and it has largely to do with the shoddy writing done by Bishop. We, and by we I do mean the students who are first time java users, have discovered errors in some of her programs that we could never get away with. And somehow she has. I suppose this book may be worthwhile for someone who has prgrammed a few languages before, but for the beginning programmer it's pure babble. For a recent test, we were instructed to not even study from the book. I'm sure it's better than nothing, but I don't know seeing as I have not tried that nothing yet. I just get the idea that programming should not be this complicated. Thank you Ms. Bishop for completely bewildering a class, not to mention amusing our professor. On the bright side, it makes a quasi decent door stop.
Rating:
Summary: Judy Bishop has no technical writing skills
Review: Hi I am a Nepean student from Sydney forced to read this book by the UniversityI have read lots of computer related technical documentation for the 13 years when I've been using computers. This has to be the worest book I have ever read. So I can add this book to the trashest techincal writing ever along with:- O'Reilly's Sendmail Applying UML Patterns (Larman) Again, I am not making an attack on Judy Bishop I am sure she is a very knowledgable programmer and trainner. She should just stay away from technical writing.
Rating:
Summary: Shame there's not negative stars!
Review: I am a first time programmer and there is very little about this book that is gentle. What a misnomer this title is! I hate this book. It makes no sense if you don't have any prior knowledge of programming. Makes a better doorstop than anything else. Can't wait till this course is over so I can throw this book in the trash where it belongs. There must be better books out there!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent introduction to programming in the modern world
Review: I am a first-year student studying at the University of Pretoria. The negativity reflected towards this book is surprising, until you consider the manner in which the readers approach the content. Reading the preface to the 2nd edition immediately gives the impression that the book is meant as an introduction to first-year students studying computer science. One can make no absolute assumptions about the programming experience of such students, and so it is that the more abtract concepts in the book, especially the object-orientated nature of Java, are explained in detail at the earliest point possible. What I found very helpful in my introduction to Java as a first-year student, were the numerous class (and other) diagrams. They allow a visualisation of a program without first going into the details. This overview approach is essential in today's world, where it isn't always the close-up image of a problem that solves it, but a complete picture of all the details as a working system. Many comparable books on Java do not include any diagrams whatsoever! Another commendable invention in the book is the Text class. It allows the beginner the opportunity to do i/o without first being introduced to the complexities of anonymous class definitions and the buffering of input and output. Java provides a number of different ways of achieving the same end, not all of which are accessible to the uninitiated. I must say bravo! to Professor Bishop for the painstaking way in which she introduces her world to the students. I sincerely recommend this book to students learning Java and its related concepts for the first time.
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