Rating: 
Summary: good book, terrible cover
Review: I resisted buying this book despite the good reviews because I couldn't stand the thought of looking at Ivor's mug shot for two months while I went through the book. However, eventually I caved and the purchase was worth it. Ivor is pedantic and thorough so you get an excellent grounding in object-oriented programming languages as well as learning Java.I also purchased Peter van der Linden's Just Java 2 which is also good. If you already have C or C++ programming experience, you can probably get away with Just Java 2 but if you are a relative newbie like myself whose only prior programming experience was in HTML and Pascal, you are better off with Horton.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good but Lacking Polishing Touches
Review: I recommend the book because a) the examples are very useful, b)the general progression of the text is appropriate, c) the material covered is very exhaustive, d) it is the best beginning Java book I have found by far. My recommendatios for future improvement are: a)get Horton's picture off the front and back, b) provide fully coded answers to the exercises, c) break chapters 8 and 9 into smaller units (throughout the book there are places were the presented information can be overwhelming). If you are a true beginner - especially new to programming in general - this book can teach you how, but you will have to practice via the examples and exercises.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent if you have prior C++
Review: I'm a Visual C++ programmer and I found this book to be an excellent introduction to Java. I already knew object oriented programming before, so this book was easy to follow. However, a new programmer might have to put in a lot of effort to understand some of the things that the book takes for granted. It looks like to me that the book was designed to be used as a college textbook (with all the mathematical problems). Can anyone confirm or deny?
Rating:
Summary: The best book on Java 2 I have seen yet!
Review: I have many books on java and by far this is the best book if you have some programming background but are unfamiliar with the Java syntax. Look at this before any other book. Explains complicated concepts clearly and simply. You will really feel as if you understand it. Give you confidence to continue.
Rating:
Summary: Un livre trés important!!!!
Review: Je suis nouvelle en porgrammation Orientée Objet, et j'ai trouvé ce livre vraiment interéssant,à chaque fois que je termine un chapitre j'ai hâte de commencer un autre, alors je le recommande pour les nouveaux programmeurs, et BONNE CHANCE a tous et toutes.
Rating:
Summary: By far, THE best book on JAVA2 for beginners
Review: I have read several books on JAVA2, but none compare to this one. This book is jam packed with examples and explanations that make even the most difficult topics easy to understand. If you could only buy one book, BUY THIS ONE!
Rating: 
Summary: Pros: THe book covers a great deal of information but...
Review: The books problems are: 1. Horton uses too much math to teach java. If you are a math guy, then you will be happy. The problem with this approach is that abstract math in not usually seen in the programming scene! So why teach with it instead of using more real life examples! 2. The books examples are boring, you don't get into windowing until chapter 10! Before that you watch JAVA preform as a glorified calculator in a DOS prompt window. 3. The examples that actually build something build over many chapters, so you really don't see anything completed until you have read two trees worth of paper. It is far better to teach in small working examples so that the student can get a feel for the entire process.
Rating:
Summary: Best for people with Engineering background.
Review: As a hardware engineer I would like the intricate details of programming on how actually the code works and if you are one like me then go for it. This book has builded enormous enthusiasm in me for java.One word of caution is it is not worth it if EXERCISES at the end of each chapter are neglected that why I called it the enginnering way.Great book Horton.
Rating:
Summary: Well written and comprehensive
Review: There is a lot to like about "Beginning Java 2." It provides excruciatingly detailed coverage of Java, written in a clear, intelligent way. The author does an effective job of tempering the extensively technical content with a friendly writing style that is never flip or insulting to the reader. I also appreciate the abundance of examples, illustrations, and diagrams, which support the text well and are easy to read. Pertinent code samples are shaded in gray, which enhances readability. Diagrams are clear and and are supported with well-written callouts. Although the book's title is "Beginning Java 2," it could be daunting to readers with little or no programming background, especially as they progress beyond the first two chapters. Chapter 1 provides an excellent introduction to Java and object-oriented programming concepts. The first part of Chapter 2 provides a good introduction to variables and data types. About the middle of Chapter 2, however, when the author begins discussing additional mathematical concepts, the reader is led into deeper waters and at this point, "absolute" beginners may start to feel overwhelmed. This doesn't mean that they should abandon the book, but they may need to take additional time to absorb the concepts. Each chapter concludes with a summary of its content and several practice exercises. Although such practice is certainly valuable, I would have liked to see an additional appendix with "answers" to the exercises so that readers could check their work and benefit from the author's expertise. Without such author feedback, the exercises are less effective as learning tools. Overall, I see "Beginning Java 2" as a potentially valuable addition to the bookshelf of any programmer new to Java. I recommend it with some caution to "absolute" beginners -- although with patience, determination, and a commitment to learn, they, too, may find the book very beneficial.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book for beginners on Java
Review: If you are new to java, this is definately the book you want to get. It explains the language in the simplest way. This is one book you dont return. I have read a couple of other java books and I can honestly say that THIS IS THE BEST JAVA BOOK I'VE EVER READ.
| 
