Reviews for Java for Dummies

1. You can't learn something without actually doing it.

   Rated 2 out of 5 stars, February 12th, 2010

   I know nothing about computer programing. I'm a musician who only uses computers for recording music and surfing the internet. I was recently trying out the music software REAPER and i was reading about how it was created mainly by one guy called Justin Frankel and a couple of his friends, and i realised i was more interested in learning about the software and how it was created then i was in making music. So i thought what the heck i'll give music a rest for a while and try out a new hobby and see if i can learn a bit about computer programing.
   
   So i went to google tried to find out a bit about it and learned that there are many languages to learn in programing so i decided i may as well go with Java and this book seemed like a good place to start for a complete beginner.
   
   This book starts off great. It is well written in a light hearted style and it goes into great detail about how to download the right software and install the software on the CD. I was really impressed with the attention to detail and how the author had thought of everything that could go wrong and gave you solutions.Thanks to this i managed to install everything without any problem.
   
   Then the book goes into the history of computer programing and Java which is interesting and doesn't go on too long. Then we get to learn about Java code. About classes and objects, methods, and main methods and variables and 32 bit floats ect.
   
   The problem is there is only so much information you can take in before you need to have a go! Stuff like this only kind of makes sense in your mind until you get to see for yourself. And you just don't really get to do that in this book. There are a couple of examples that you copy in but it's no where near enough.
   
   In the past i taught a couple of people guitar, and if I was to teach people guitar the way this book teaches Java i would make the student leave the guitar on the floor while i explained the difference between minor and major chords and i would describe all the scales and modes and keys and which scales worked over certain chords bla bla bla. And you know what? None of it would make any sense to the student because you need to introduce one thing at a time and let the student have ago with each thing and get comfortable with it and then move onto the next. You don't just bombard them with information otherwise you put them off playing guitar.
   
   As i say i know nothing about computer programing. I expected it to be very difficult. I even knew there was quite a high possibility i just wouldn't have the intelligence for it and maybe that's all the problem is. But i can follow instructions and i can't help feeling there must be a better method to teach than this.
   
   I'm so glad all those years ago the book i got to teach me guitar was a brilliant one with step by step instructions. If i had gotten a book that taught guitar like this teaches java i no doubt would have just given up like i'll probably give up on computer programing. Unless there is anyone out there can recommend a great book for beginners that contains exercises? If so let me know.

2. Excellent Introduction to Java

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, February 12th, 2007

   I am a mature University student studying Web Development and Programming.I needed a gentle introduction to Java, and this book has provided just that.It takes the reader by the hand and introduces all of the basic concepts in an informative and uncomplicated manner (not an easy task).
   The author is also very accesible.I had a problem with some code and he responded to my email within hours.(He pointed me to a posting on his Weblog which did just the trick).
   I approached Java with some trepidation but thanks to Mr Burd I am now feeling very confident about tackling the more complicated issues.
   I am also more than holding my own at University.I can`t thank the author enough.
   An introduction to Java that I would highly recommend to anyone.