Java For Dummies, 7th Edition 7th Edition

Don't you love it when you search for weeks to find a way to make a complex subject approachable, finding dozens of examples of smart people relating things to the unknowing in ways that only the knowing might understand? Ugh! So frustrating. Well...I have purchased out of the "for dummies" series in the past, and they have been mostly great, so I decided to give them a shot again, though I was apprehensive that the subject matter would be treated too lightly. Well, if you're learning style is one where you get the ideas when told in story format by a trusted and humble friend, then this book is EXACTLY what you have been hunting for. The author encourages and writes for you to be able to skip around the book, which I have a tendency to do...I can't wait to open the gifts on Christmas, same thing applies here. I have to say though, the the writer has such a gift of expression and for making things interesting, I'm reading the entire book in the order it was written. And for my reward, I'm being shown the history of Java, and why things are the way they are...which is giving me a huge advantage when trying to understand all the oddities of this enormous object oriented programming language. Maybe I spent just enough time banging around in the free tutorial web sites thinking that Java was so huge and complicated as to be worthless...and now having an adult conversation with a professional is putting it all into perspective, which is just a huge relief. So that's what this book is, and adult conversation, where the author might as well be sitting next to you revealing the secrets that make the language suddenly accessible. Bottom line, get the book, even if you feel like you can learn Java on your own, do it with this author who is your friend on the inside. Thank you Barry Burd, you are awesome!

If you are inexperienced in programming, I recommend you first start with Dr. Burd’s, “Beginning Programming with Java for Dummies.” Both books are great! They explain object-oriented programming very well, and help the reader understand the difference between classes and objects. Dr. Burd provides many examples in the books with detailed explanations of the code. You can download the code from his website, which I recommend. There is also more detailed information on his website listed by book and chapter. The book can be used as a reference to allow you to skip around, but I recommend reading it cover to cover.Dr. Burd includes opportunities for the reader to “TRY IT OUT” throughout the book—to think through a proposed program, determine what is needed, and to try write the code. His website has the solutions, which come in handy because he does make it challenging. Be sure not to skip those solutions even if you don’t try to write the code yourself. There’s a lot to learn from just studying the code.Dr. Burd updates his website regularly and encourages the reader to e-mail him or chat online with any questions, etc. I did, and he answered me promptly. This book is certainly worth buying, reading, and studying!

Although I rented this book from the library, I read it thoroughly and one of the main takeaways I've learned was how to write clean, easy to read code. I had no prior knowledge of coding before this book and it taught me the ropes. I reference this book daily.

This book explains Java code with the assumption that you already know some programming and this ain’t as slow and repetitive as one designed for true beginners.

Barry Burd never disappoints. I think I have most of his books. He and his co-authors have a very interesting, comprehensive and thorough way of explaining things. Thanks. Please keep them coming.

Nothing really new here text wise - Dummies books are always well laid out - easy to follow & present their content well ... thus this book follow that formula ...

Easiest way to learn Java. Comprehensive, engaging, no BS. Carefully lays down the foundations before moving ahead to more abstract concepts. Recommended to complete beginners.

I'm half way through this book, and am about to put it down. It pains me to buy a book and give up on it, but if I continue, learning will simply stop being enjoyable. I think the author's style is not that of a good teacher, even though the book purports to teach. When I close the book and finally put it away, I believe it would be because its teaching method is neither properly planned nor structured. There seems to me to be chunks missing as the book progresses into deeper and deeper levels of the topic. Even when I repeat reading some chapters, I feel it is just wasting time. A good part of this is due to the author's style and presentation. They seem particular about what is presented, but not about what is understood by the reader. Maybe the book would make good light reading, but learning to use the Java language from it might be unlikely.