Best 'Teach Yourself' Java

[NotAllThere]

I'd also recommend Head First Java. It's the only larn-tha'-sen book I've ever completed.

[NickFitz]

From my dim and distant (but mostly dim) Java days, and assuming you're after something with more street cred than the "Head First" or "Dummies" range

OT somewhat, but I'm intrigued to see the "Head First" books lumped in the same general category as the "For Dummies" books.

I've never read a "For Dummies" book (although I did once burst out laughing in Borders upon seeing the tautologous title "Astrology for Dummies"), but the "Head First" books are, in my experience, excellent.

To take one example, "Head First Design Patterns" is probably the best book one could read to gain a grounding in that subject. I say this as someone who first read the GoF book "Design Patterns" years ago, and who has edits on the original patterns wiki (Ward's wiki, the very first wiki in the world) dating back to the late 90s. When I read HFDP, it actually enhanced my understanding of various patterns that I thought I already knew very well.

I'm not sure a Dummies book is designed to do that for somebody already familiar with a field, but enhancing your understanding, even if you're already familiar with the subject, is one of the intended purposes of a Head First book.

[voodooflux]

OT somewhat, but I'm intrigued to see the "Head First" books lumped in the same general category as the "For Dummies" books.

I may have been a tad unfair to the "Head First" books in mentioning them so closely to the Dummies series - their design patterns book is good for those seeking a grounding in the subject as you say (in fact it's one I recommend). I think the light-hearted style can be off-putting and irritating to some though (it's a love 'em or hate 'em kinda thing), and I've heard that some of the other titles lack depth - although picking up a more detailed companion text would solve this.

...but enhancing your understanding, even if you're already familiar with the subject, is one of the intended purposes of a Head First book.

I'm not sure I would agree that is a strict intention of the head first series and something they set out to achieve i.e. to appeal to those already familiar with the subject (certainly not the ones I've read anyway) but if they do achieve that as a side effect then all credit to them.