We are accustomed to quick access to information and equally rapid absorption. We prefer five-minute videos to deep lectures and short articles to books. I will not claim that a good book on programming will replace any article, this is not so. And it certainly won’t replace practice. However, for me personally, a true understanding of the basics of programming came after I, having solved hundreds of problems in the JavaRush programming course and read a ton of articles, began to simultaneously study the theory from books and delved deeply into them. I've been looking for my personal "best Java tutorial for beginners" for quite some time. Below are several Java books that were useful to me to a greater or lesser extent at different stages of my studies.
Books for Beginners
In this section, I have collected the books you will need to take your first steps in learning Java programming.
1. Head First Java, Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates
I started with this book not because it is my favorite, but because it is the simplest. This book, according to many programmers, is the best Java tutorial from scratch. Moreover, it is truly and completely from scratch, that is, it is suitable for those who are just starting out and do not quite understand what kind of beast programming is. I admit, it came to me too late. I think that's why I couldn't appreciate it. It was very pleasant to “just read” it, but it took me a long time to look for anything specific in it. The material is presented vividly, but rather superficially (because it’s from scratch!) and many topics and necessary explanations are simply not there. But my friend, to whom it was inherited, was delighted with it and shouted that this was not just the best Java textbook for beginners, but a direct world masterpiece and this is how complex material should be presented.
Advantages:
The best Java tutorial from scratch, for complete dummies, written in a living language.
Cool illustrations and humor.
Explanation with real life examples.
Flaws:
Many waters for those who have already entered the topic.
Not always successful puzzles and exercises.
2. Java for Dummies, Barry Bird
This book, I must admit, came to me already when I was working as a programmer. In an earlier version of the article about useful books, I was asked a question about it in the comments, and when I saw it with a tester at work, I decided to take a closer look at it. Java for Dummies by Barry Bird is an interesting book for beginners who are willing to use several resources to help them learn. This is not a beginner's tutorial, but rather a first reference book for Java. It is most effective to study it in parallel with step-by-step lessons (like in JavaRush) and (required!) to consolidate what you have learned in practice right away. Based on the presentation, I immediately recognized the author as a teacher, since in places he makes stops in places unexpected at first glance and examines the issues raised in great detail. This is no accident: it was on these questions that his students most often stumbled. But some topics are covered superficially... However, this is a book for beginners, you should not expect depth from it. Let's say the first two chapters are good for beginners, OOP (chapter 3) is better studied in another book, but chapters 4 (advanced programming techniques - explanations of how to use classes and methods, starting collections, multithreading, exception handling) and 5 (tips on avoiding mistakes) I consider very successful and useful. Moreover, Java For Dummies is easy to read, full of colorful and funny examples. It can be easily read anywhere on the road or before going to bed. If you are satisfied with the author's style, of course. And remember: no book in this world can turn you into a software developer. Only practice can.
Advantages:
Easy language.
Sound advice and a good introduction to a number of topics (chapters 1, 2, 4).
Good examples.
Flaws:
Not all topics are presented equally well.
Not everyone will like the author's style.
3. Java: Programming Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners, Nathan Clark
Another book for readers with zero programming experience. I would say its main advantage is its step-by-step nature. It explains quite well the points that usually cause difficulties for those who are faced with programming for the first time. Here you will learn how to choose an IDE and how to write your first program. The book will explain what the Java Development Kit and Java Runtime Environment are and provide examples of each piece of code. But... there is no Russian translation of this book, so I recommend it to those who know English at least at the B1 level. By the way, every developer needs to know English at this level, so you can kill two birds with one stone by learning Java from an English-language book. There are enough such books in this article.
Advantages:
A smooth introduction to programming and the basic functions of the Java language.
Sequence of presentation.
Flaws:
There is no in-depth explanation of the concept of object-oriented programming, so some of the practical examples can be confusing.
There is no Russian translation.
4. Think Java: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist, Allen Downey and Chris Mayfield
Another interesting book available in English. As the authors note, the main goal of the book is to help readers develop the thinking skills necessary to solve problems inherent in computer science. The book is intended for beginners, so the authors start with the basics that can be understood by those with no programming experience or knowledge of Java. It is written simply, and can be useful to students or self-taught people who want to master programming and develop algorithmic thinking skills. Like many others, the book begins with an introduction to OOP. Each chapter contains vocabulary and exercise sections to reinforce theory and master programming skills.
Advantages:
Easy and enjoyable to read.
The book presents complex programming concepts in an accessible and easy to understand way.
Decent examples and exercises.
Flaws:
Lack of step-by-step approach.
Some readers may be left with questions after some sections as there is not always a detailed explanation of certain topics.
5. Java. A Beginner's Guide, Herbert Schildt
After looking through this textbook, I thought that it would be well suited for those who like a more traditional presentation of the material than in Headfirst, but are also looking for a tutorial from scratch. In some places, the presentation in the book is very detailed, reminiscent of expanded and translated documentation with good visual examples. Sometimes, as for me, the author crosses the line and begins to chew too much, reading becomes boring... and suddenly - somersault - and some rather complex place is missed almost instantly, and you are completely bewildered trying to understand what and where you missed. However, there are not too many such places in the book, and I know people who believe that the Beginner's Guide is the best Java tutorial for those who do not yet know anything. Personally, I found the book uneven. Let's say I start sorting through collections and instead of a human explanation, they give me the task of independently creating a Set based on arrays. Cool problem, but I'd like to better understand what standard collections are first! Although this book, like the previous one, is considered a textbook for beginners, my experience as a teacher suggests that it is only good in conjunction with other materials: for a humanities switcher, not everything will be simple and clear. “A Beginner’s Guide” is suitable for someone who has somehow studied programming (for example, at university), has given up on it a long time ago, and at the same time likes the author’s presentation style. It is especially pleasing that the textbook is constantly updated, and it covers the features of Java 8, and the current edition (tenth) takes into account JDK 9 and JDK 10.
Advantages:
Traditional thoughtful presentation of the basics.
Good examples.
Flaws:
There are jumps from "too chewed" to "said in passing"
It's boring in places.
By the way, Herbert Schildt has another famous book on programming - “Java. The Complete Guide”. This is a completely different textbook, more fundamental. Let's move on to it.
Guides for those continuing or starting again
The following books are best suited for those who already have some understanding of programming and want to dive a little deeper into Java or begin practicing more thoroughly. There are manuals, reference books, and tutorials on new or relatively new Java features that people usually don’t get into right away, as well as books on Android (more precisely, one book on Android).
6. Java. The Complete Guide, Herbert Shildt
I confess: once upon a time I downloaded this book from the Internet in order to evaluate it and then buy it or not buy it. No joke, 1300 pages of text! And the price is no less impressive than the volume. I did the same with the two-volume “Professional's Library” by Kay Horstmann (more about it below). Looking ahead, I will say that I chose the second one. Why? Because in the book Java. The Complete Guide" I saw the same shortcomings as in the "Beginner's Guide". Sometimes the explanations are chewed up, sometimes they are crumpled up, but at the same time they are not just crumpled up, but somehow verbosely crumpled up. Perhaps this is the author’s style and I think someone will like it, or rather, according to their thinking. Overall, Java 8: The Definitive Guide is a good reference book for Java. But personally, I liked the presentation of the same things even more in another book.
Advantages:
Complete guide. It seems that there are all the topics that a beginner, and not just a beginner, needs to know.
Detailed explanations.
Flaws:
Lots of water (but some may like that!).
The Russian translation is not the best.
7. Java. The Professional's Library, Kay S. Horstmann, Harry Cornell
Schildt's and Horstmann's books are often compared to each other. Both one and the other have loyal fans. For me, Horstmann's two-volume book is the best textbook on Java. It became a reference book for me at beginner and intermediate levels of JavaRush. When I didn’t understand a topic, I mostly turned to Horstmann, and he clarified a lot of things. The book covers everything from syntax to multithreaded programming, program localization, and working with XML. And don’t let the name “Professional’s Library” scare you off (that’s what scared me off), the basics are covered pretty well. In addition, it is useful to re-read it periodically to refresh and organize your knowledge.
Advantages:
With a surprising number of pages, there is little water (unlike Schildt).
Contains everything beginners need.
Expands Java 8, takes into account changes in JDK 9, 10 and 11.
Good presentation of topics on collections and generics.
Pairs well with JavaRush. Get to the topic, solve problems, sooner or later you don’t understand something - watch Horstmann, try again.
Flaws:
Some may find the book dry.
No practice.
Russian translation with mistakes.
8. Java 8 in action: Lambdas, Streams, and Functional-Style Programming
With the eighth version, new functionality came to the world of Java so important and different from what was before that it is advisable to study these topics separately from everything else. Moreover: until now there has not yet been a more important language update. So before us is Java 8 in action, an interesting textbook on Java 8. It is important to immediately point out that it is designed for those who already know the basics of “just” Java. What makes this book so good is that it has so many varied and useful practice problems. The examples include both "correct" and "incorrect" code samples. The main thing is not to confuse.
Advantages:
Practice oriented.
Shows the difference between correct and incorrect code.
Flaws:
Additional resources are required to gain a deeper understanding of Java fundamentals.
9. Core Java for the Impatient (Third Edition) or Java SE 9. Basic Course, Kay Horstmann
In the original, this book is called Core Java for the Impatient, that is, “Java Core for the impatient.” I don't know why this wasn't included in the translation. In my opinion, this would help the book not to get lost among its peers. There is a translation of the second edition of the book in Russian, and in English there is already a third edition, updated to Java 17. The book is organized as a quick reference, and it is very convenient to use to find the answer to a specific question if you have forgotten something or have previously programmed in other languages. What I especially liked is that the texts are very short, essentially without chewing and water. The book provides a good description of lambda expressions, input/output streams, and modules. However, this book will not explain what a variable or loop is. But there are, in addition, I have already mentioned, fundamental structures, collections, annotations, generics, logging, multithreading - everything that you will work with in practice. Frankly, I really like this book, and even now I look at it sometimes. Just remember that this book is not suitable for those who know nothing about programming. It is more likely for those who have already studied some other language or the same Java, but for a long time and not completely.
Advantages:
Short information blocks. Everything is to the point.
There are no unnecessary topics.
A very good selection of current topics for beginner Java programmers to study.
Successful examples.
Flaws:
The book is not suitable for those starting to learn programming from scratch.
10. Java. Developer's Handbook, Benjamin J. Evans, David Flanagan
A good universal reference book, an alternative to Horstmann's books. Contains information useful for both beginners and Java developers who continue to dive into programming. The latest edition at the time of writing this phrase (seventh) is based on Java 11. The book is not long, there are many examples, the Java API and best development practices are discussed. The book is easy to read and from it you can learn the basics of the language, useful programming techniques, and even new trends in Java.
Advantages:
Brief and good summary.
There is everything a beginning programmer needs.
Good description of modern tools.
Successful examples.
Flaws:
There is not always an adequate translation of terminology into Russian.
11. The Java Module System, Nikolay Parlog
This book is available in English and Russian. It is a very detailed guide to the Java modular system. The author argues that it is much easier to create a reliable and secure application if the code is packaged in neat blocks. Modules in Java are a relatively new tool; fundamental architectural changes have affected the Java core only since version 9. And although there are more and more projects with modules, there are people who are used to working the old fashioned way and know nothing about these interesting innovations. After reading this book, you will understand how to monitor how different JAR files interact and easily find missing dependencies. If you're serious about modular Java projects or need to learn modules for work, check out this book.
Advantages:
The most complete description of the advantages of the modular system.
Great examples and strategies for migrating to modules.
Flaws:
It has few syntactic descriptions, which is difficult for beginners.
12. Modern Java in Action: Lambdas, streams, functional and reactive programming
Even though Java has been around for many years, the language is constantly gaining new capabilities. Of course, we are all human, and programmers sometimes ignore new features and approaches and are reluctant to implement them in Java projects. Books like Modern Java in Action are designed to help solve this problem. This guide covers in detail the topics that are most often covered in short mentored trainings. Let me note that usually such training lasts 1-3 days, and the information there is very concentrated. So novice programmers simply drown in new information and do not assimilate it. And this book will take you step by step from lambda expressions to method references, functional interfaces and threads, and if you can work it out carefully.
Advantages:
This book contains all the modern features of Java so it is very useful.
Consistent presentation of complex concepts.
The authors compare new trends with traditional ones. So this book can be recommended even to beginners.
Flaws:
For those who already know something about the topic, the book may seem a bit wordy.
13. Head First Android Development
Java is the native language of Android. Therefore, one of the most popular options to start application development in this language is to create an Android application. This book (there is a Russian translation "Head First Programming for Android") is another one from the Head First series. So the family traits of the series are quite inherent in this manual. That is, here you will find a lot of pictures, an easy style, a large number of exercises without seriously delving into the essence. This means that if you want to fully understand Android app development, you may need to do some additional research and go deeper into sources. But if you want to quickly start programming for this system, this is the place for you.
Advantages:
Easy style, pictures, various tasks and project exercises that can actively involve the reader in the learning process.
Simplicity and Accessibility: The authors try to explain complex concepts in simple terms, making it easier for beginners to understand.
Flaws:
Obsolescence: Rapid changes in technology in the world of programming and Android may result in the book no longer containing current approaches and tools.
Some topics are treated too superficially.
14. Learning Java: Introducing Real-World Programming with Java
I must say right away that this book is not intended for beginners. You will need it if you know Core Java at least at a basic level and can write simple applications. If so, this book will help you understand the various complex concepts of the Java language and explain how all these classes, libraries, lambda expressions, input/output, etc. are used in real industrial programming. The book is based on modern versions of Java and contains fairly simple but useful examples for real work. The last section talks about using Java directly for web applications and web servers, something you don't see often in books. By the way, this book also exists in the Russian version (“Programming in Java”, Mark Loy).
Advantages:
Modern versions of Java.
Examples of web applications and servers.
Flaws:
Difficult for beginners.
Timeless classic
The books I write about below can be called sacred texts for beginners and intermediate javists.
15. Effective Java, Joshua Bloch
It's a treasure, not a book, and focuses on the basic principles of language from one of its authors, Joshua Bloch. Most likely, you have already used its libraries (in the Java Collection, for example). I’ll make a reservation right away: complete beginners, except for some prodigies-speedrunners, do not need the Effective Java book. First, it’s better to master the syntax and get at least some programming practice, so to speak, get your head around it, and then take on Joshua Bloch’s creation. The book will be useful for those who want to truly understand Java, form the right approach when programming in this language, and understand not only how to do it, but everything else that needs to be done exactly that way. And also for those who want to deeply understand OOP (in principle, these are interrelated things). This book is the best textbook on Java in the context of the object-oriented approach to programming.
Advantages:
A brilliant presentation of material on the topic of OOP.
Best programming practices are provided.
The author knows Java very well from the inside.
Flaws:
Difficult for beginners.
16. Java Philosophy, Bruce Eckel
The title of this book speaks for itself. This is another alpha and omega for everyone who wants to know Java! In this book you will find good and clear examples, and from them it will be clear how Java works. It's hard for me to say which of the two books - "The Philosophy of Java" or "Effective Programming" - is better. I would say that Eckel is somewhat more friendly to beginners, while Bloch requires some experience. I first read the chapter from "Java Philosophy" when I was just starting to learn JavaRush (I think it was listed as recommended at one of the early levels). Then she didn't suit me. But after level 10 or 12 - it was a song! And, I will say, a very useful song. I returned to it later, when I came to Effective Programming. I will say this: let Bloch and Eckel talk about the same thing, but in different ways, and give different examples.
Advantages:
An in-depth presentation of Java principles from a professional.
It will be good for those who are switching from other languages - there are many comparisons with C++, for example.
It seems to me that you can start reading it at level 10, but Eckel – a little later.
Flaws:
Very bad Russian translations.
General Programming Books
The following books are not directly related to Java, but they will be useful to the beginning developer, as they help develop a programmer's thinking and understand how a computer works, the main principles and concepts of programming, what clean code is and how to write it.
17. Classic Computer Science Problems in Java
This book by David Kopec can be translated as "Classical Problems in Computer Science in Java". And it is intended for both experienced developers and those beginners who know a programming language and are already starting to face real-world problems. Or for those who are interested in non-standard tasks to develop programmer thinking. Or for those who want to improve their skills and do well in interviews. Some tasks seem insurmountable, but the world of programming is smaller than it seems. Most likely, someone has already solved your insoluble problem. In his book, David Kopec collected the most useful ready-made solutions, principles and algorithms. Classic Computer Science Problems contains 55 practical examples covering the most current topics: basic algorithms, constraints, artificial intelligence, etc. Main topics of the book:
Recursion, memorization and bit manipulation.
Search, graph and genetic algorithms.
Clustering (k-means method), neural networks and competitive search.
Advantages:
All useful algorithms and approaches to them in one book.
Examples in Java.
Flaws:
Some examples are difficult for beginners to understand.
18. Head First Learn to Code by Eric Freeman
I have already mentioned the Head First books twice in this article. Here's the third one! It, like all the books in the series, is written for absolute beginners, and is dedicated to programming as such. If you have encountered the series before, then when you open this book, you will easily recognize the signature style of Head First. I recommend this book if you need help with key programming concepts in a fun, easy-to-understand way.
Advantages:
Provides a general understanding of programming.
Flaws:
Uses examples in Python (as it is considered to be the easiest language for beginners).
19. Clean Code, Robert S. Martin
A novice programmer does not pay much attention to the style of his code. He is much more focused on combating errors. However, improving your style is very important for your potential work: a person who does not adhere to clean code is very difficult to work with on projects. Its code is difficult to read and maintain. This book will show you the difference between good and bad code and teach you the basic rules of writing clean, readable code using best practices. Ask a pro, and there's a good chance he'll highly recommend this book to every aspiring developer.
Advantages:
Good examples and tips for creating readable code.
One of the few books of its kind.
Flaws:
The author is sometimes too scrupulous.
20. Code: The Secret Language of Computer Science, Charles Petzold
This book can be recommended to both a schoolchild interested in computers and a programmer with many years of experience who wants to better understand computer science. I came across the Russian version of this book back in high school and was very inspired. It even explains circuit design using very simple examples, and it all starts with chickens and a basic flashlight. The author covers a wide range of topics such as electricity, circuits, relays, binary system, logic, gates, microprocessors, code and others to gradually build an understanding of how computer technology works. After reading this book, you will understand what's behind the pixels on your desktop and what happens every time you use your devices.
Advantages:
Deep dive into the lowest level of hardware.
Flaws:
Sometimes the dive is too deep :)
21. Cracking the Coding Interview, Gail Laakmann McDowell
This is a very interesting book for those who are planning to look for a job as a software developer in the near future. It contains a wide range of practical questions and solutions that you may be asked during an interview. Of course, everything flows, everything changes. And trends in developer “testing” are changing. However, this book will help the newbie understand what to expect from the interview. However, I recommend brushing up on this knowledge on forums and Java communities.
Advantages:
Preparing for Real World Programming Interviews.
Flaws:
It won't help without additional sources.
Algorithms and data structures
Knowledge of algorithms helps to solve software development problems efficiently and optimally. Knowing how to choose the right data structures helps improve performance, reduce memory costs, and provide more stable and efficient programs. And yet, you need to know them at least to pass interviews. So below are some useful books.
22. Rocking Algorithms, Aditya Bhargava
A very interesting and fairly simple book on the basics of algorithms. It explains popular algorithms such as sorting and searching in graphical form. It is books like this that help you understand the beauty and complexity of algorithms and love them with all your heart. The book has a lot of pictures: the author prefers a visual approach to explanations. The book is divided into short sections with various examples to ensure that the new information is absorbed in the right proportions.
Advantages:
Good explanations with graphics.
Interesting about the complex.
Flaws:
Examples in Python.
23. Introduction to Algorithms, Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, Clifford Stein
Introduction to Algorithms (Russian title “Algorithms: Construction and Analysis”) is a very successful book about algorithms for those who like a consistent and thorough presentation of the material. All examples in the book are written in so-called pseudocode, that is, not in a real programming language, but in a synthetic one that is intuitively understandable to everyone. Although the book is billed as an "introduction to algorithms", the topics covered are very broad and the concepts of data structures and algorithms are explained quite well.
Sorting: A detailed study of various sorting algorithms such as insertion sort, exchange sort, quick sort, merge sort, etc.
Search: forward search, backward search, binary search and others.
Trees: binary trees, red-black trees, AVL trees and others.
Graphs: graph traversal, shortest path search, minimum skeleton tree, etc.
Dynamic programming.
But the book also has its shortcomings. In my opinion, the Introduction focuses too much on the theoretical aspect of algorithms, but sometimes lacks details regarding their practical implementation. The original is written in fairly simple English (I recommend the English version!).
Advantages:
An excellent theoretical presentation of the most important algorithms for sorting, searching, trees, graphs.
Easy English.
Flaws:
Not enough practice, focus on theoretical aspects of the topic.
24. Think Data Structures: Algorithms and Information Retrieval in Java (Allen B. Downey)
This is a useful guide to using data structures in programming with examples in Java. The book focuses on practice, which helps you quickly understand how to implement and use algorithms and data structures in real programs. The author explains complex concepts of algorithms and data structures in an accessible and understandable way, so if you have at least basic programming skills, this book is suitable for you. Each section contains an introduction to the topic, examples, additional explanations and exercises to consolidate the theory. What's especially nice is that each chapter contains design problems that allow readers to apply what they learn to create their own implementations of algorithms and data structures.
Advantages:
Concise material with useful examples.
Availability of project tasks.
Flaws:
Might be a bit difficult for beginners.
Not all topics are covered in equal depth.
25. Algorithms, Robert Sedgewick, Kevin Wayne
One of the most famous books on programming, written by real experts in their field, who have raised more than one generation of software engineers. If you are not intimidated by a thorough academic presentation and complete immersion in the topic, if you are ready to truly understand algorithms, analyze them once and for all, study this book. It is a good choice for students, teachers and developers. However, for beginners, it may take extra time and effort to get a good grasp of the material in the book. The authors successfully combine theory with practical examples in Java, which makes it easier for readers to grasp complex concepts.
Advantages:
Clear and thorough presentation.
Lots of examples in Java.
Variety of topics: The book covers almost everything you need to know about algorithms.
Flaws:
Excessive academic presentation.
The book may be difficult to study on your own without proper support and
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