Head First Java -- This introductory book takes advantage of the latest research in cognitive science, neurobiology, and educational psychology, by actively combining words and pictures to help readers understand and remember important Java concepts. Full of mind-stretching exercises, memorable analogies, and stories with humor and attitude that are used to drive home key points and make ideas come alive, the Head First approach is as effective as it is unique.

Learning Java -- This book is for programmers who have experience with C, C++, or other languages, and who now want to learn Java. It provides an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to the Java programming language and is filled with easy-to-follow code examples that guide you through Java's many features, APIs, and facilities. This book comprehensively addresses important topics, such as web applications, servlets, and XML, that are increasingly driving enterprise applications. [Read it online on Safari.]

Java in a Nutshell -- This complete quick-reference guide to Java contains descriptions of all of the classes in the key APIs, with a definitive listing of all methods and variables. It also contains an accelerated introduction to Java for C and C++ programmers who want to learn the language quickly. [Read it online on Safari.]

Java Examples in a Nutshell -- A companion to Java in a Nutshell, this book is full of real-world Java programming examples and contains 164 complete, practical programs. That's over 17,900 lines of densely commented, professionally written Java code covering 20 distinct Java APIs, including Servlets, JavaServer Pages, XML, Swing, and Java 2D.

Java Cookbook -- This book is a comprehensive collection of problems, solutions, and practical examples for anyone programming in Java. Developers will find hundreds of tried-and-true Java "recipes" covering all of the major APIs, as well as some APIs that aren't as well documented in other Java books. [Read it online on Safari.] [Get a free Java recipe daily.]