Head First Java takes a drastically different tack toward learning the Java programming language than O'Reilly's other book on the subject, Learning Java. Where the latter takes a fast-paced, highly intellectual approach to the subject, Head First Java is more creative and playful. It's great for learning the Java language, even if it isn't very good at teaching people how to program with it.

Writing analysis

Head First Java, 2nd Edition is a relatively quick read, considering its size. The language is casual and easy to read, and the drawings, diagrams, and examples make it very easy for a moderately experienced programmer to understand.

This book doesn't just show you the language and how it is used, but it also encourages readers to program securely and with attention to proper form. Head First Java, 2nd Edition specializes in teaching procedural programmers how to live and work with an object-oriented language.

I didn't read the first edition of Head First Java, so I don't know what it covered or how the second edition may have improved. I do know that Head First Java, 2nd Edition covers the most useful and common features specific to Java 5.0, such as enhanced for loops and parameterized arraylists.

The authors often repeat important concepts several times in different ways throughout the book, and in general take a wide variety of approaches to teaching Java and object-oriented programming. It's the most fun way to learn the Java language that I've yet seen.

Putting the book to the test

While Head First Java, 2nd Edition may be fun to read and follow, it is unlikely to produce a competent programmer on its own. The book rarely challenges the reader to create his own programs, instead relying on code snippets and example programs to show the reader how it's done. The end result is a notebook full of notes, and a programmer who can pretty well follow a Java program, even if he can't sit down at an IDE and actually make one himself.

In the next edition of Head First Java, I'd like to see all of the "ready-bake code" examples replaced with theoretical case studies and problems that require a Java student to actually apply the technology he's reading about.

Despite its shortcomings, Head First Java, 2nd Edition is still definitely worth owning if you're interested in learning Java. If you already have a mentor or instructor to complement your Java training, you'll likely find Head First Java, 2nd Edition the best book to learn from.

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Copyright 2006 Jem Matzan.