First Rate Reference
Excellent choice if you just want one book to learn basic Java and keep for reference as you advance. The 'overseas version' I bought via Alibris seems to be fine quality paperback, identical to the domestic printing I had seen earlier. And MUCH more reasonably priced than it, or comparable texts ! If you are totally new to programming or Java, you probably want another 'starter book' or online tutorials to get you started, but then this book will be your 'go-to' resource for quite a while.
Like other Oracle sponsored books I've seen, it has been carefully edited and proofread -- unlike so many technical books these days, which are incredibly sloppy products -- chock full of errors, mislabeled diagrams, misprints. Yes, O'Reilly & Make Publications, I mean you!
