Please help me choose a book.

[Fukra Jatt]

I have working knowledge of all mainstream languages, but want to speciliaze in JAVA.
I did take a JAVA course a while back but need to brush up my skills.
I am thinking of doing SCJP in the next 4-6 mths and need a good to get started on JAVA.
I am finding it really hard to pick between these two books. Please provide your openions.
FIRST ONE:
Just Java 2
by van der Linden, Peter
Link to Amazon
SECOND ONE:
Murach's Beginning Java 2
by Andrea Steelman.
Link to Amazon

If you have any other openions and suggestions, please let me know.
Thanks in advance to everyone.

[RJ Espinoza]

I own Just Java 2. I think Core Java 2 Volume 1 has a more direct approach for someone who has had some hands-on with Java.

[Anonymous]

Why not go straight to the roots:
'The Java Programming Language Third Edition'
by Ken Arnold, James Gosling, David Holmes.
Addison Wesley ISBN 0201704331

[Barry Gaunt]

I agree with Jos, if you don't need a how-to-program book. I have been reading it myself for SCJP 1.4 preparation. Skip some of the I/O stuff and read elsewhere about Assertions.

[Ilja Preuss]

If you also want to refresh your OOP skills, I would recommend "Thinking in Java" by Bruce Eckels.

[Robbie shi]

think in java~~!!
the most valuable to read
---
Robbies
-----------------------------
1.java IDE tool : JawaBeginer
2.Java Jar tool : JavaJar
http://www.pivotonic.com

[John Lee]

For passing exam purpose, I think you should get an exam preparetion book. As you go, you can learn new things. Otherwise, learning java is different process than passing scjp.

[Thomas Whalen]

I have the Murach's Beginning Java 2 book, and while I think it's admirable that a former software developer for the USAF would write a book on programming, personally I hate the book.
If you believe in the "you learn with your muscles" theory, then go ahead and copy the source from the Murach's book, then let them explain to you why things are working the way they are. It just got very stagnant that way, for me.
Therefore, I recommend a book like Deitel & Deitel's "Java How to Program Fourth Edition" book. Sure, it's a huge book, but I find their approach to having you read from a text book and occasionally provide examples of what they are talking about, THEN having you solve problems at the end of the chapter, the best approach to learning Java.
I just don't buy the "copy and paste" game. It's better to write your own source from solutions you created out of reading problems.

[Neil Laurance]

Thinking in Java rocks. Go here to check it out:
http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/
Some good reference books are also:
Java in a Nutshell
Java Foundation Classes in a Nutshell
Java Enterprise in a Nutshell
Java Examples in a Nutshell
Have fun :roll:

[Dirk Schreckmann]

Don't forget to check out The JavaRanch Bunkhouse for reviews of books by fellow Ranchers.
[ January 29, 2003: Message edited by: Dirk Schreckmann ]

[kishor rao]

core java2 volumes 1 and 2