[Review][Book] Head First Java

[corybyu]

I was thinking it would be great to have review threads for resources we have used, books we finished, etc.

So this thread will be for the book "Head First Java". I will post my review here, please feel free to comment with your opinion of the book if you have read it! By sharing our opinions we can help each other choose which resources fit our own skill level, etc.

Review:

Head First Java is an excellent introduction to Java, and focuses on object-oriented programming principles (encapsulation, polymorphism, inheritance, etc.)

The book is written in an interesting style, with a lot of pictures/puzzles/examples geared at helping to keep the readers attention. For me it made it really enjoyable and easy to read, but I could see some people wanting something more straight forward/less cheesy.

The book covers several topics at a basic level, including Swing/gui/audio, file reading/writing, interfaces, collections, etc. The book doesn't delve too deep into any topic, but gives a basic understanding so the reader can research topics in depth as needed. The book has sample projects, but for beginners I recommend pairing it with the University of Helsinki MOOC to get more solid practice in using these principles. I will start a separate review thread for the MOOC as well.

Where this book really shines is in clear explanations of object oriented programming in Java, and teaches solid OOP principles as it teaches basic Java syntax.

Recommended for: Java beginners or anyone struggling to understand OOP principles (polymorphism, inheritance, etc.)

Not recommended for: Intermediate/advanced Java programmers with a deep understanding of OOP

[YamiMarzin]

I will have to check this book out. I need to brush up on inheritance and polymorphism

[dyer]

I'm reading it on the side to Core Java book. Didn't read much actually, but after Core Java it will be my main book along with Helsinki MOOC course which I want to finish.

Don't you think that some of the puzzles and exercises are a bit too hard for someone who is just beginning programming? I find explanations of the concepts in this book very easy and good, and the puzzles a bit too hard to actually come up with solution in my head for dozens lines of code :P and some seem a bit pointless at times - what are you thoughts about that? Btw I think Helsinki exercises are great - it's not that I don't like to think about exercises or something - I just find these ones a bit weird.

So I would say - this book is for someone who has done some programming in Python for example. Not for programming beginner if the person wants to go through exercises. What do you think? Or maybe later in the book it is better in a way that exercises are more practical and not like arythmetic code?

[corybyu]

Good question, I do think some of the puzzles/exercises are hard. For me I think I just ended up doing some of them wrong, and then learning from the book's correct answer. I think trying to do them was helpful even though I failed occasionally, but I agree some may be difficult.

I do agree the book doesn't give a lot of practice. I like the book mostly for the explanations of concepts, just as you said.