Which is best book for learning java for beginner?

[sandip chaudhari]

Hey frndss I am new in java.can anybody suggest me which is best book for me.

[Jaikiran Pai]

Sandip, welcome to CodeRanch!

Take a look at our book reviews for beginning Java and you can then decide which one suits you best.

[Neil Van Styn]

I find the "Beginning Java for dummies" books good at the moment. But they only go so far. I find the light hearted approach and moving at your own pace a good way to learn, albeit slowly.

[Campbell Ritchie]

I have a problem with that book in that it hardly scratches the surface of object‑oriented design, I am afraid.

[Neil Van Styn]

Well, you're not wrong. But it was a good starting point I thought. I've finished it now and barely know which direction to turn, so it might not have been the "best" in retrospect.

[Michael Gomez]

For beginner, here are some possible choices:

*Head first Java (2nd Ed) 2005 - good if you like lots of pictures, stories, and analogies, published 9 years ago but still good for basics...
*Thinking in Java (4th Edition, 2006) is rated highly on Amazon...
*Java For Dummies (2013) - Newer, but doesn't seem to cover as much Head First

[Campbell Ritchie]

I am not sure that Thinking in Java is a beginner's book. It is a long time since I read it however. I did think it good, then.

Anybody else got opinions about TiJ?

I am going to duplicate this discussion in the books forum.

[sandip chaudhari]

Thanxx for reply!!
I think Head First Java: Your Brain on Java - A Learner's Guide Paperback is perfect book for me.

[Scott Winterbourne]

Good choice in my opinion. I started with Head First and it gave me a solid foundation to build on.

Once you are most of the way or all the way through Head First, you might try some of the coding problems on codingbat.com. I find they are really good practice for things like String manipulation, and filtering and sorting collections.

The Java documentation will be a big help when doing the codingbat problems as you can look up String methods and other class methods that are already available to you in the java libraries.

[Uwe Pfeifer]

I got both, Heads first Java and Java 7 for Dummies. I'm also starting with Java. I hope these two books help me find my way into Java programming. ;D

[Abhay Agarwal]

Java book my Mala gupta is also one of the best book on Java for beginners

[peter dell]

I'd would also recommend:

- Head First Java

You can check out this list of the best java books
It has all the beginner and advanced books i would recommend

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to the Ranch
I suspect OP might not still be waiting for any answer, however.

[peter dell]

I know, but since i have found this "old" thread when i was looking for some help i might think that other ppl will find this too

Thank you

[Charles D. Ward]

This could be a sticky thread or something. The exact same question gets asked almost every day.

[Raj Govindaraju]

I agree with Michael. I used Head First Java for SCJP certification, it was worth it.

Michael Gomez wrote:For beginner, here are some possible choices:

*Head first Java (2nd Ed) 2005 - good if you like lots of pictures, stories, and analogies, published 9 years ago but still good for basics...
*Thinking in Java (4th Edition, 2006) is rated highly on Amazon...
*Java For Dummies (2013) - Newer, but doesn't seem to cover as much Head First

[Al Hobbs]

I think this is the best one for beginners:
http://math.hws.edu/eck/index.html
It's free, too.

[Harry Kar]

From Polytechnic University in Brooklyn here's another one course
http://www.cafeaulait.org/course/

[Sandra James]

I have the following books which will help you a lot:
1. Head first Java (2nd edition)
2. Thinking in java (4th edition)
3.  Introduction Java by Segdewick

These are amazing books and will help you out in studying Java easily. I hope this useful

[meenal deshpande]

Hii sandip,
As you are beginner in java these are some books which you can prefer.
Head First Java, 2nd Edition.
Thinking in Java (4th Edition)
Think Java.
Introduction to Java by Sedgewick.

[Harry Kar]

Here i have temporarily compiled a list of open books (the target is to do it well in his own place )
All textbooks there are valuable but as a very first read i  recommend Think Java How to Think Like a Computer Scientist 2002 by Allen B. Downey only because is very small and teach you the very basics without overwhelming you(that's a good pedagogic tecnick)  

[Campbell Ritchie]

Harry Kar wrote:. . .  Think Java How to Think Like a Computer Scientist 2002 by Allen B. Downey . . .

Please supply more details of that book; I have seen a book with a similar name which was full of errors.

[Harry Kar]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:

Harry Kar wrote:. . .  Think Java How to Think Like a Computer Scientist 2002 by Allen B. Downey . . .

Please supply more details of that book; I have seen a book with a similar name which was full of errors.

No AFAIK is not that one no errors here(it's a very basic text optimal for a very first read IMO or also for someone who comes from another language and want fast intro in Java) ; I like prof Downey's style. He adopt that style for others languages too Python i guess

[Campbell Ritchie]

That looks different from the book I didn't like. Thank you.

[Harry Kar]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:That looks different from the book I didn't like. Thank you.

You're welcome. For the sake of common acknowledge please share with us what book was that?
By the way all books in our library are open so freely downloadable (or inspected if in HTML)

[Campbell Ritchie]

I can't seem to find the book I didn't like at the moment. Sorry.

[Nick B. Smith]

As a beginner, I searched for such information all over the internet. Most lists of resources seem to repeat the same books and courses. I've personally tried reading Head First Java, Thinking in Java (Eckel) and Core Java Vol I-II (Horstmann) and I must admit that only Core Java by Horstmann has struck the right balance of theory and style so far. From what I've heard about this book, I think my next one will be Effective Java by Joshua Bloch.
If it helps any other beginners on here, I came across a very good list of best best books to learn Java. I hope it helps you, as much as it had helped me.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Nick B. Smith wrote:. . . I think my next one will be Effective Java by Joshua Bloch. . . .

An excellent book, but by no mean a beginners' book.

[Steven Fraser]

I think Head First Java is excellent as is Murach's Java Programming.
Best,
Steve

[Nick B. Smith]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:

Nick B. Smith wrote:. . . I think my next one will be Effective Java by Joshua Bloch. . . .

An excellent book, but by no mean a beginners' book.

Indeed. I had a quick look at it and it will definitely have to wait until I'm a bit more advanced:)
Good job there's still plenty for me to read.

[paul zink]

Head First Java by Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates

[Ronald Smith]

I learned java from the book "Java: A Beginner’s Guide by Herbert Schildt" and was quite pleased. At the same time, I watched a video in YouTube in parallel and I was also assisted by an acquaintance who is well versed in this.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to the Ranch

[Hemendra Singh Tnh]

Head First Java by Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates

Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies

Java: Programming Basics for Absolute Beginners by Nathan Clark

Java: A Beginner’s Guide by Herbert Schildt

Core Java Volume I — Fundamentals

Think Java: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist by Allen Downey and Chris Mayfield

[Campbell Ritchie]

The last time I looked, Schildt didn't get good reviews on our books pages. I don't think Horstmann's book should count; it isn't intended for beginners at all.

[Sagar Barot]

Here is the list:

Head First Java by Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates

Java: Programming Basics for Absolute Beginners by Nathan Clark

Java: A Beginner’s Guide by Herbert Schildt

Effective Java is written by Joshua Bloch

Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel

[Campbell Ritchie]

I haven't heard good things about Schildt's book. Bloch's book is excellent, but it isn't a beginner's book.