One really bad way to teach basic math in elementary school is to stick a calculator into a kid's hand and have her learn how to use it. The kid might be multiplying large numbers together in no time, but she won't have any real understanding of what she's doing. There's an analagous problem with learning computer programming languages using the latest whizzy integrated development environments (IDEs). The IDE does a lot of the leg work for you behind the scenes and code gets 'automagically' generated, but you don't really understand what's going on. Worse still, some of the major Java IDEs are so feature-rich that it's an uphill struggle just to understand the IDE, let alone to try and learn Java and object-oriented programming (OOP). If what I've just described mirrors your own experience in trying to learn Java using the popular Java IDEs, then read on ... the wonderful Bluej Java enviroment and this accompanying book, may be just what you've been looking for.

"Objects First with Java" is an absolute Godsend for anybody who wants to really learn Java from the ground up, and in the process, develop a clear understanding of object-oriented programming. The examples in the book are superbly illustrated using the author's "BlueJ" Java environment which comes on the CD included with the book. BlueJ lets you create your own Java modules and then interact directly with them, allowing you to experiment with their behavior as you edit and compile individual Java classes. Based upon the example projects that also come on the CD, you can alter or rewrite the Java code, compile it with BlueJ and immediately see the results. This kind of direct experimentation makes learning more fun and allows the reader to really assimilate the core principles of the Java language and the OOP paradigm that it embodies.

The book is beautifully laid out with code snippets, subject summaries and exercises all color-coded. The text is written in an accessible and conversational style that is lacking in a lot of the traditional, "dry" computer texts that are often about as much fun as having root canal work. In spite of this, the book manages to completely avoid the "light and fluffy" approach of some tutorial style texts that are overly chatty and ultimately rather lighweight. "Objects First" is a serious text for anybody wanting to learn Java and OOP and although I consider myself an experienced programmer in other computer languages, with considerable prior exposure to OOP, I never felt bored or talked down to by this book.

In summary then, I whole-heartedly recommend this book to new and experienced programmers alike who wish to learn Java well and my advice would be this: Do yourself a favor, put aside the complex Java IDE for now, buy this book, download the latest editions of BlueJ and Sun's Java environment from the web (the versions on the CD are not the latest and greatest) and REALLY learn Java!

More than that, after more than 20 years in IT, this is also the best IT text book I have ever read, end of story. I had done a 5-day Java course some months before I read the book, and found it a real slog. Just as the authors claim, the syntax first approach which was used in the course, was as confusing as hell for all of us old COBOL mainframers there.

Although you may find BlueJ is not without its bugs, the concept behind it, of visually displaying objects, and not emphasizing the Java Main method, is truly inspired (get the book if you dont know what I mean)!

One thing: make sure you get the 2nd ed of this book, I found some annoying quirks in the 1st first edition, that the authors have cleaned up here(eg, you had to trawl thru their website to get some of the install instructions).

To make it short: this is the best book I've seen so far if you want to understand what object oriented programming is about, and not just memorise the Java syntax.

The book really takes you through the process of developing applications, with great attention to detail in respect to object-oriented style, and you get the Java details, almost as an aside, automatically.

I love the fact that the book does not just present complete finsihed projects, but talks you through various stages of development, taking the magic out of software development.

This book is clearly for beginners, but it is so well written that even people who think they know how to do this stuff will find something worthwhile in it.

Not all intro Java books are created equal, and this one is definitely worth the price.

I've had formal education in 3 programming languages, and this book is by far the best one I've ever read. It's because the chapters walk you through the design, implementation, and refactoring of actual Java projects. Vocabulary and concepts are taught in the process, so you find yourself absorbing the facts by necessity.

The book comes with an application called BlueJ, which models Java classes and object relationships. You can check your work against code samples on the CD as you complete the milestones of each project.

If you learn by doing, and you need to learn Java and OO, this book is for you.

I didn't buy this book for an introductory course in college, I bought it cause I wanted to go through some topics that weren't that clear for me. I definitely have to say this is a great book for reading. As some others have said, this is no reference book, this one is for enjoying and learning basic concepts not nicely taught in college. Buy it if you are a newbie or a not so newbie who wants to review important things in OOP and Java. An important thing is that since this is not a reference book, you won't find many examples regarding a certain topic... for that you can use the internet

I haven't finished it yet, but so far so good !!