Two Books from the BunkHouse

[Dixon Alexander]

Which books is better?
Head First Java?
Or
Object First With Java?
This 2 books are #1 and #2 on the Javaranch BunkHouse.
Please don't based your answer on the fact that the authors of the book(head first java) run this web community.
Thanks.

[Mark Vedder]

I have not read Object First With Java and therefore can not give a direct comparison; however I can say without hesitation that Head First Java is the best programming book I have ever read (and I read at least 2 new books a month). It presents concepts in a clear manner. The presentation method makes things easier to remember and understand. When reading the book, even after having worked with Java for 2+ years, I found that there were many concepts that I did not have as good of an understanding about as I thought I did. It solidified many subjects and concepts for me. And it truly is a fun book to read; and any time you can make learning fun, all the better.

[Marilyn de Queiroz]

Please don't based your answer on the fact that the authors of the book(head first java) run this web community.

Actually they don't.

[Jessica Sant]

:roll: I'll repeat my reply here from the duplicate thread you posted in SCPJ...
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I did the technical edit on Head First Java -- so that makes me a bit biased.... and I've never read the Objects First with Java using BlueJ.
That being said, I did see the authors of Objects First at JavaOne 2003 and was REALLY impressed by their lecture. BlueJ seems like a really cool tool to learn Object Oriented programming. Basically -- you start off only looking at the Object-side of Java -- you don't write any full code to begin with -- you understand how Objected Oriented Programming works how you access methods, created objects etc. For someone with no exposure to Java or OO -- I think it would be an excellent method. But realize, you have to use the BlueJ software all along the way in order to use this method.
Head First Java takes a similar approach -- concentrating on the object-oriented side of Java. Teaching you how objects work with some real great examples. The book uses many different techniques in order to get the information to you (Q&A Interview type things, stories, bullet points, puzzles etc). One of the guys at my office is using the book to re-learn Java and is really enjoying it. The book is fun to read, easy to follow and you don't need your PC in front of you the whole time in order to pick up on things.
So basically -- I think you'd be happy with either book. If you want -- download BlueJ, and see what you think, also you can check out a few sample chapters from Head First Java on O'Reilly's site.
Good Luck!
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... and as Marilyn said, Bert and Kathy don't run this community, they are involved but by no means do they run it. And it wouldn't be fair to the community (or Bert and Kathy) or any other authors involved in JavaRanch if we based opinions and reviews on the fact that an author hangs out here. I think the fact that both of Bert and Kathy's book are top-sellers on Amazon is a huge testiment to how great their books are.

[Dixon Alexander]

I know the don't run the community!
Sorry about that!
I probably was ok saying, they are really involved in this community.
We run this community!
is that better???
Well thanks for the comments.

[Kathy Sierra]

Originally posted by Dixon Alexander:
Which books is better?
Please don't based your answer on the fact that the authors of the book(head first java) run this web community.
.

ha-ha-ha
Hey... you mean all this time I've been running the place and I never got my share of the $14.00 javaranch brings in each month?
Bert and I are volunteers like everyone else. Paul Wheaton, Trail Boss, runs the place, along with all the other volunteer bartenders, sheriffs, and of course the ranch visitors! (greenhorns and ranch hands). It's true that I *started* javaranch, but that was a looooong time ago, and Paul's been in charge for a long time now. No, Bert and I are just here for the same reason we're writing books... nobody else will take us. (OK, just kidding -- we both love helping people learn, and we love learning from all the amazing people around here.)
cheers,
Kathy