A Java Introduction to Computer Science

This books covers both first and second yearconcepts in computer science, as well as a varietyof topics relevant to using Java. For an introductionto Java with minimal computer science, consult Deiteland Deitel. I would also recommend the book "DiscreteMathematics" by Rosen, or a similar book, to be usedin conjunction with this text. If you learn usingthis book or perhaps SICP by Abelson (used at MIT), you will be much better off in the long run than using aless rigorous approach.

Of course, they talk about getting JDK from Sun website in the *preface*. If you want to start out on your own this book is a good place to do that. A page of minor errata is available from Kamin's website, which perhaps bothered previous readers. Good book with a conversational style.

Don't be fooled by the Hawaiians ... this book is not as bad as the previous reviewers say it is, by any stretch of the imagination. Three professors from my school wrote this book (which, some would argue, biases me, but I've never met them...) and I must say, it is much better at teaching CS principles than the C++ book I had to read for my Intro to CS class at Eastern Illinois University. The author tries to make you think in a CS mindset, without going to fast or overloading you with Java particulars. Granted, I thought the book started out slowly, but as it got more advanced, it introduced topics at a good pace. Don't be mislead: This book is not for Java programming ... it's for introducing you to what a computer scientist does. And I think it does a great job at doing it.

Many textbooks that try to teach intro cs using Java get distracted by Java syntax and miss some important conceptual material. This book does a pretty good job of covering what I think is the core of an intro cs class. One of its strengths is a series of Debugging Alerts that warn students about the most common errors. I used Lewis and Loftus' book in a previous semester and thought this book was much more readable.