Java is currently a popular language on many software development platforms. This skill can bring you promotion opportunities and attractive income.
Looking for valuable references about Java? There are many Java programming books available, but not all provide the helpful information you need.
For a long time, I have found the ten books that you should have in your home library. These publications will make your learning journey much simpler.
With my experience working in Java programming, these titles can provide the best help to you. There are books suitable for beginners, but many books can also satisfy seasoned programmers. Scroll down to see more!
1. Core Java: Fundamentals
Specification
- Item Weight: 3.2 pounds
- Dimensions: 6.75 x 1.5 x 9 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 928 pages
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Reason To Buy
- There is a version on Kindle
- Give the detailed examples
- In-depth explanations of problems
- It contains complete information about Java Core
Review
The first piece I bring to this list is a book for people who want to develop their programming skills.
This publication is the best reference book for the Java programming language. With only concise language, the author has also explained the principles that programmers need to know.
For programmers with a good background, this book will be a lever for them to improve their coding skills. My codes have become more concise and efficient thanks to this book.
The author has detailed and thoroughly explained Core Java with different features. I was no longer blind to lambda expressions or dealing with interfaces after finishing the book. The detailed examples in work also fascinated me. They make complex theories a lot simpler and easier to understand.
2. Effective Java
Specification
- Item Weight: 1.63 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.9 x 9 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 416 pages
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Reason To Buy
- Easy to read
- Explain basic and advanced issues
- Help improve programming work
- Contain the best programming methods
Review
The second book I want to mention in this article is Effective Java, written by expert Joshua J. Bloch.
In my opinion, all Java software developers should have this book on their bookshelf. I have recommended this work to many of my friends and colleagues interested in Java.
The author has explained the basics of the Java programming language to readers. The contents inside have unity and good links with each other. So, my Java programming knowledge has improved significantly after reading this book.
This book also offers programming best practices that I can apply in my real work. The advice the author gave has helped me make my programming work more efficient. This publication will benefit anyone with an essential Java background or experienced programmers.
3. Java: A Beginner’s Guide
Specification
- Item Weight: 2.28 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.41 x 9.1 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 720 pages
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Reason To Buy
- Cover basic topics
- Advanced themes included
- About Java’s Latest Features
- Provide comprehensive knowledge
Review
Herbert Schildt is the world’s leading author on programming topics. With his 3 decades of experience in programming, you can easily find his work in any store.
Among them, Java: A Beginner’s Guide is his work that many people hunt worldwide.
This book is an excellent reference for Java beginners, university students, or even experienced programmers.
It introduces the reader to the core topics of the Java programming language. So, I understood the basic Java principles well after reading the book.
Not only discussing the basics like Core Java, data classification, or control, the work also extends into more advanced knowledge such as lambda expressions, modules, and JShell. The author also provides readers with information about the latest Java features and ways to take advantage of its power.
If you combine this work with lectures or a Java course, you can make rapid progress. I also enjoyed the illustrative examples included in the publication. These simple examples make the lesson more practical and receptive.
4. Java: The Complete Reference
Specification
- Item Weight: 4.07 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.9 x 9.1 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 1280 pages
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Reason To Buy
- High-quality content
- Provide Java standard library
- Introductory and easy to understand
- Provide methods for building software architecture
- Cover modern improvements and has good example codes
Review
Next, I would like to recommend you another work from the author Herbert Schildt. With 1000 pages, it’s not a pamphlet.
Many people may miss this work because they are afraid to read it, which is unfortunate. The Complete Reference is the best Java dictionary you can own.
I found it easy to learn the knowledge in the work because the writer presented the contents in great detail. In each topic, the author gives a brief explanation related to the concept and some accompanying examples.
The code inside is straightforward, not challenging the reader’s understanding.
It can be an excellent guide for someone who is starting to learn Java but already has a thorough understanding or is a programmer.
The complete and comprehensive information the work provides allows you to build a solid knowledge base. I’ve got myself harvested on Java programming fundamentals, keywords, and syntax.
5. Head First Java
Specification
- Item Weight: 2.6 pounds
- Dimensions: 8 x 1.48 x 9.25 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 688 pages
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Reason To Buy
- Good interpretation
- Contain interesting questions
- Easy to follow and capture knowledge
- Cover topics with practical significance
Review
I bought this book and finished it just 1 week later. Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates elaborated on the topics they wanted to cover in this piece.
The way the authors use comparisons makes me have unique associations. It causes dry knowledge to become practical and understandable.
I found all the OOPS concepts I needed in this book, along with reasonable explanations for them. The book focuses on timely updates to Java 5.0.
The author presents these issues with mystery, charm, and powerful illustrations full of emotion. I felt my brain become more excited to rake in the knowledge inside, which was never done before.
The most important topic the author was able to cover in this book was common programming mistakes. Hence, I could avoid and solve problems related to distributed programming, OO mistakes, threading, and network sockets. My work became smooth, and I saved much time on programming.
I also greatly appreciated the 42 puzzles in the book. These short tests allow me and other readers to double-check what we’ve learned.
6. Head First Design Patterns
Specification
- Item Weight: 2.29 pounds
- Dimensions: 8 x 1.4 x 9.25 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 694 pages
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Reason To Buy
- Simple examples
- Suitable for beginners
- Offer a variety of perspectives
- Combine technique and theory
- Analysis of popular design patterns
Review
I have found the patterns I have used frequently in this book’s 20 years of programming experience. Those things don’t make me feel like Head First Design Patterns are boring because I can also see new patterns I have yet to try.
They offered different views based on their unique perspectives on these patterns. The work has a good integration between specific patterns and general design principles.
It is a low-level facility that allows readers to come back to clarify if they need to specialize in existing practices or need help finding specific patterns.
I focused more on object-oriented programming and kept the projects simple.
The authors had good communication with the readers. The book led me from asking why questions to sparking curiosity and interest in learning.
This direction has quickly clarified the models and the point of view that the writer gives. The examples in this book have been simplified so I can easily focus on its primary content.
7. Learn Java: A Crash Course Guide
Specification
- Item Weight: 8.8 ounces
- Dimensions: 6 x 0.41 x 9 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 178 pages
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Reason To Buy
- Start with simple programs
- Detailed content presentation and easy to follow
- A guide to using arrays and classes to manage data
- Suitable for beginners and experienced programmers
Review
If you are looking for a book for beginners to learn Java programming, I recommend this book.
This book is the go-to document for many people during their first days with Java because of the basics and easy-to-follow instructions it provides.
The book presents issues logically, making it easy for me to follow what the author wants to say. First, the author will give detailed explanations for them.
Then, he gave me the solution and coding instructions to overcome the challenge. These simple steps helped me get familiar with Java quickly during my first time learning programming.
The book starts with the fundamental principles of Java so that you understand the basic concepts and rules. The author leads the reader to more advanced content. I learned how to use Java to program and create simple applications.
The author also taught me more advanced techniques to improve my software. Arrays, layers, program loops, statements, and object-oriented programming are all lessons that any programmer should master.
8. Learn Java in One Day and Learn It Well
Specification
- Item Weight: 12 ounces
- Dimensions: 6 x 0.52 x 9 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 228 pages
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Reason To Buy
- Good updated knowledge
- Well illustrative examples
- Well-presented content of concepts
- Suitable for both beginners and advanced
Review
As a concise guidebook, Learn Java in One Day provides brief information to help you quickly build a Java programming foundation. If you’re a beginner and don’t have much time to study, try reading bouncing work.
This book contains the most basic information and concepts about the Java programming language. All the information needed to understand and use this programming language is clear and concise explanations.
I had the necessary knowledge base in just a short time while studying the work.
The author has carefully selected the examples in the book. They do a great job helping to clarify previous theories.
This publication also contains several factual updates. You will feel confident applying the knowledge from this book to your work.
I love the extension project at the end of the piece. This book can help me review previous knowledge and understand how to apply them in practice.
After finishing this exercise, I felt confident to start my Java programming at more advanced levels.
9. Test Driven
Specification
- Item Weight: 2.37 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.38 x 1.1 x 9.25 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 470 pages
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Reason To Buy
- Give an overview of TDD
- More about the FIT/FitNesse tool
- Example code that might work well
- Support to reduce errors when using TDD
Review
For long-time Java programmers, developing a test-driven program can be daunting. However, you do not need to worry, and I will recommend you TDD and Acceptance TDD by Lasse Koskela. It is a great resource to assist you in using TDD techniques in practice.
The work gives a good overview of TDD aspects so that those new to the field can also catch up. I was impressed with the chapters on EJB testing, web applications, and data access testing. The included examples illustrate well, and the codes all work seamlessly.
I have learned how to run Java code and develop it towards acceptance testing of the Fit framework. Dilemmas like data access codes and multithreaded programs can no longer bother me.
The book also showed me the challenges of using TDD in an organization. I found solutions to these complex problems in the last chapter.
When my company directed its programming work towards TDD and unit tests, I was able to follow the trend without difficulty confidently.
10. Java Concurrency in Practice
Specification
- Item Weight: 3.2 pounds
- Dimensions: 6.75 x 1.5 x 9 inches
- Language: English
- Paperback: 928 pages
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Reason To Buy
- Simultaneous testing of different programs
- Support program performance optimization
- Provide knowledge on advanced topics
- Cover concurrency theory and multithreading safety
Review
Some books give me insight into threading and high-performance concurrency classes, such as Java Concurrency in Practice. This book provides advanced Java knowledge that programmers should master to improve their products.
The work provided me with the knowledge base to build simultaneously scalable and maintainable software. I can clearly understand how these applications work concurrently in a block. Not only that, but I also learned related techniques and design models to be able to apply them to my work.
The examples in this book are in-depth, helping to explain the theories and being directly applicable in practice.
I can fix problems in my multithreaded applications after experiencing this publication. The performance of the apps I create has improved, opening up excellent career advancement opportunities.
This work is not a simple and easy-to-read book because concurrency and threading are challenging to understand. You will need a good background and equipped yourself with practical experience to start learning the book. But when you persist in learning, the value you receive will surely make you satisfied.
Buying Guide
Skill Levels
Java programming books are targeted at many different audiences. Works for beginners often contain content that includes basic concepts and exercises.
These books help bored experienced programmers, and they will only learn something new from this document. In contrast, experts will have advanced knowledge and be more apparent if you have enough background knowledge.
So, choosing books according to your capacity is the first factor you need to consider. It will prevent you from spending money on products you don’t need.
Author
Each author will have different strengths and voices. Depending on the area you want to improve, you should choose books by experts in that field to refer to.
For example, if you want to learn more about real-world experiences, you should look for books from programmers who have been in the industry for many years.
Working with forward-thinking from these experts can help you grow quickly.
Some writers have a way of presenting their books humorously and engagingly. They offer a gentle and stress-free approach to complex issues. These works will not make the reader tired to follow.
Content
The content inside can teach you to analyze the relationship between Java and other programming languages. What you want to get after experiencing the work will determine which book you should buy.
I recommend you carefully read the content description provided by the publisher to avoid buying new books by mistake.
Price
Finally, a good book is not necessarily the most expensive publication. It would help if you balanced the value, the material delivered, and the budget to get it.
The product you should have is a work that gives the information you want and has a price that fits your pocket.
FAQs
What is Java? Why is it useful?
Java is a famous programming language that everyone has heard of. Application developers use it to design and perfect software. It is the foundation of many popular websites, applications, and some popular programs that we all use.
Are 3 months enough to learn Java?
You can learn basic Java to design applications in 3 months. However, to master and create perfect software, you will need more practice and experience.
Is Java hard to learn?
Java programming language is relatively easy for you to understand the background and basic knowledge. Advanced skills take work. You will have to work hard and try to develop in this field.
Is Java more challenging than C++?
No, C++ is a lot more complicated than Java. A survey based on many programmers has shown that many people rate Java as more straightforward than the C++ programming language.
Which coding language is best?
There are many programming languages for creating software today. Each language has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is difficult to say which is the best. Some programming languages that many people use and have the most applications are JavaScript, Java, Kotlin, Python, and C++.
Conclusion
This article has provided good help for programmers looking for the best material to learn Java programming.
For beginners, you should read Effective Java to build yourself the best foundation. Java Concurrency in Practice will be the choice that many professionals love to improve their working capacity.
Finally, I hope you find a suitable book for your learning journey via the list I have introduced above. Thank you for reading!