Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is the best book on computer programming I have yet read. This book leads the reader through clear, logical approaches to addressing various circumstances which arise when writing good software in Java. With the author's style of weaving threads of thought from different areas of consideration, the reader's understanding is developed far more than a list of "recipes" can do. I recommend this book thoroughly to anyone interested in good Java programming.
Rating:
Summary: A must have for serious java programmer
Review: ... but not for beginner with no programmng experience at all.
If you are a C++ programmer and want to transfer to the Java world, this is the book for you.
This is the only java book i read so far that really makes you not just do programming but also think in java. Before I picked up this book, i was so naive and believed that Java was only a little more powerful than C++. but in fact, i am wrong.
While teaching me Java, the author also shows all the programming tricks in Java to me. If i don't have the book, it will take me 1 or 2 years in Java to get that. The chapter on inner class is incredible. And the explanation on Garbage collector is very helpful too.
Honestly, to master a language, you can't depend on only one book even it's as good as thinking in java. but this book should be one of your collection.
Rating:
Summary: An Ideal Java Primer and Reference
Review: If you know C or C++ then this is without doubt the ideal book to bring you up to speed on Java. This is because almost Java feature is compared and contrasted with its C++ equivalent. It's written by someone who has a deep understanding of the language and who is used to communiating with other programmers. Pretty much everything is covered in depth. The sample code is extensive and a lot of thought obviously went into producing it. Nevertheless, a few of the objects created (bowls, tables, cupboards, in one instance) hinder rather than help explain the underlying code. Beginners might find parts of the book a little daunting but, if they are keen, there is nothing that can't be understood with a couple of re-readings and a play with the sample code. Overall an excellent book. (For those coming from VB , I'd suggest Core Java by Horstmann and Cornell.)
Rating: 
Summary: Good but hard to read code examples style!
Review: I've downloaded the web version which I'm reading now since I haven't yet received the printed version. I just finished chapter 10 and, even if in the overall the book seems good, I find that the author should much much improve the readability of the code examples. He uses much much nesting and often doesn't bother to separate logical entities with blank lines. So I'm now dreading every time I arrive at example code which uses more than one or two classes.
Rating:
Summary: Thinking in Java
Review: If your are new to Java or just the whole OOP programming concept, this is the book for you. Here is my story: In the beginning of Sept. of 1999 I started read Bruce's Thinking in Java with only a structured programming background. I had previously done some programming in a language called CSP (a Cobal generator) on the mainframe and had some experience with VB and C. A friend and I made a commitment to get java certified by January of 2000 or around then because if we were going to learn java, might as well do it the right way. So, through five month of reading and doing almost every example in the book, I was java certified on January 14. The point I am trying to make is 1. use this book as a launch pad into the java and OOP world, 2. I would recommend learning Java with a friend because it is easier for you to stay focused on the true goal, and 3. do all of the examples in the book. This, obiously is not the only way to learn, however, it was a way that helped me. Note: I was working full time. So, I would recommend "Thinking in Java" for beginners and intermediates programmers
Rating:
Summary: The definitive guide for the Java language
Review: I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn Java. Bruce is one of the best technical writers to emerge on the scene in a while. In addition to providing great source code examples of Java, he also lays the groundwork for discussions on Design Patterns and more advanced Java topics such as RMI, JNDI, and threads. The Core Java series by Horstmann and Cornell is also a must read, but I think Bruce gets the nod if you have several years of coding/design/development experience and want to make the leap into OO and Java.
Rating:
Summary: Thinking in Java
Review: It is the best, do not delay reading this book I hope the author writes about EJB and Swing ..etc Good luck
Rating:
Summary: seems to be a great book
Review: clear basic concepts to advanced concepts.. i would recommend it to beginners..
Rating:
Summary: It is a for experienced objected oriented programmer
Review: I read the book from the web and decide to buy a copy of it. it is a great book.
Rating:
Summary: No contradiction
Review: Thinking and Java might seem contradictory because so many people who are too lazy to read books or learn C++ etc., flourish in Java. But this book applies thinking to understanding Java and shows that there is some logic to it. So, Bruce Eckel tells us why something is how and how it could be otherwise. And he gets away without any of the 90% filling windows images, which make up other "modern" computer books. Bruce Eckel actually thinks!
| 
