Rating: 
Summary: Not quite K&R but close.
Review: K&R want-a-be. To the point but isn't as clear or concise. A must have for any Java programmer; but they could have done better
Rating: 
Summary: The definitive JAVA book -- from the source
Review: This book is not for the faint of heart, however, it is equatable with bjarne's first C++ book. This is a refeence I find myslef reaching for time and time again, when I'm stumped. If JAVA programming will become your carreer, maybe you should by two, because the first one will likely disintegrate from using it so much
Rating:
Summary: Learn from the Creator of Java!
Review: Nearly 14 years ago, I learned C from a terse little book "The_C_Programming_Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie ("C by K&R") - principals in the creation of C. In similar tradition, I chose "The_Java_Programming_Language" ("JPL") by Arnold and Gosling (first edition) as the foundation for my Java learning experience. Mastering the fundamental philosophy and elements of any Language is crucial in understanding how (and why) to use it. In this way, "JPL" certainly does not disappoint. Basic "core" Java elements (java.lang, java.util, and java.io) are clearly explained in a terse style similar to "C by K&R". In addition, "JPL" correlates Object-Oriented Programming fundamentals that relate directly to Java (Chapters 2 & 3). However, previous or collateral exposure to OOP is generally considered necessary because the "JPL" is first a book about Java, OOP principles simply surface "by extension". Like "C by K&R", the examples in "JPL" are succinct and have meaningful correspondence to real-world programming. I highly recommend "The Java Programming Language" - especially for seasoned C/C++ developers who are new to Java.
Rating:
Summary: the best intermediate to advanced java book to date
Review: I'm disappointed with many of the low rated comments, this book is not for beginners, its an intermediate to advanced text. When you read the description it states: "Most of this new edition has the more experienced reader in mind". I started out with this book in college, it was assigned reading and I hated it, I had to read each page twice. But as I got more proficient with java and wanted to learn all the fine points, I couldn't find another book out there that delves into the core of the language as well as this book does. Most java books out there spend half the book discussing swing and the api classes, but this book discusses the language itself. If you're a software engineer especially, the most difficultly you'll have is debugging complicated code, you'll need to have a good understanding of how java works under the hood. This book was invaluable to me at work, because I didn't really understand why certain variables weren't getting updated, until I read that unless you specify them as volatile, a class will keep a cached copy of them. I had problems with the order of initialization of certain variables in a subclass, and then I read that top most super class gets instantiated first, then its subclass, on down the line, fields first, then the constructor guts. You can assume that any book written by the creator(s) of a language wont be introductory, but will give you an in depth look at the finer points of the language that other, more cursory books, gloss over.
Rating: 
Summary: better books are out there (much better)
Review: Core Java 2, volumes I and II, by Cay Horstmann and Gary Cornell, are much, much better in my opinion. Almost a joy to read in comparison to this book, which is painfully dry and boring. I had to use this book for a Java class and afterwards read the Horstmann and Cornell books and was amazed at how much better they are.
I also recommend getting Design Patterns Explained by Shalloway and Trott. They use java but don't assume that you're already an OO expert. And, as they say, learning design patterns early on is a good thing.
Rating: 
Summary: poorly written, lots of info
Review: I admit that this book has much information about Java. How could it not, it is almost 600 pages long!
If you've read K&R, you'll know what a well-written reference manual looks like. If you've read K&R, you'll know that this book is not a well-written reference manual.
The authors oscillate between different examples quickly, making me think that they can't focus well. The examples they provide are not focused on the lesson at hand. They are repetitious - instead of explaining their point once clearly, they explain in twice unclearly. Their code is not self-contained - they give snipets of code, instead of an entire program (which would not have been too much longer).
You could learn a lot from this book, but if you're expecting something similar to K&R in terms of writing ability and clarity, try another book.
Rating:
Summary: My choice as first Java book
Review: This would be my first choice as first Java book. The authors condensed all the relevant material inside 500+ pages, as a side effect, the text is almost terse here and there but, in my opinion, it's a better option compared to one of those 1000+ monster manuals. Unlike within other competing titles, you will not find any redundancy here.
Be aware that a solid programming knowledge and at least a basic understanding of OOP is required; if you don't meet these criteria you may be better served by Ivo Horton's excellent book published by Wrox
Rating:
Summary: C++'s equivalent of "The C++ Programming Language"
Review: I am a hardcore C++ devotee that has recently fallen into a Java/J2EE project. I wanted to come up to speed quickly on more than just the syntax of the Java language. There are literally dozens of Java books that discuss the "how do I accomplish X in Java" type of issues. This book is focused more intently on why Java was designed the way it was. A few reviewers have stated that this book was dull, hard to get through, etc. I found it to be quite the opposite - I read every single page of the book, and I feel that I've come away with a greater appreciation and understanding of the language/platform than I had originally expected. "The Java Programming Language" is what "The C++ Programming Language" was to C++: an absolute tenant/required read.
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Summary: this book is the java language reference
Review: many reviewers seem to have the misconception that, somehow, this is a tutorial, a teach yourself java book. it is a reference for using the java programming language to design and write software, not a manual describing how to use the class libraries. it's great for deepening your understanding of how things are done in java and why they are done that way. it is supposed to be used in conjunction with books that discuss high level software engineering.
there are MANY great books for learning how to program in java. the core java books by horstmann and cornell are my favorites. if you want a quick reference, buy java cookbook or java in a nutshell. buy this book after you have a strong understanding of the libraries. you won't regret it. your code will have less bugs and be easier to understand.
Rating:
Summary: Dull but functional
Review: A dull book for a dull language. It's hard to make a language like Java exciting, and the authors of this book didn't try. Which means it's blessedly free of the tiresome advocacy found in other Java intros. This is a straightforward, workmanlike introduction to the language.
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