Soap Programming with Java [With CDROM]

As a developer, I've read several titles on SOAP and web-services - and found most to be too 'architectural' (view from the top - v. little hands-on, detailed understanding). While SOAs and web services architecture are all fascinating - when one gets down to the development - one needs a thorough understanding of SOAP - its various implementations - and current stumbling points. This book provides all of the above for 'java' soap (it was written prior to Axis release - but still contains enough useful information). For .NET soap - I use OReilly's Programming .NET web services - which is also excellent. I have no complaints about this book - I got what I needed from a developer's perspective and also some from an architectural perspective (for e.g. - the author illustrates how using JMS with SOAP provides a truly resilient and flexible SOA).

While I believe the review by corporateprogrammer below was right on, my criteria for judging a useful book is rather different than his in that if I find a single chapter of unique use in a book I will often buy it and find it useful. My time is worth more than the price of this book and it definately saved me several hours of working some things out for myself.While I would never recommend this as a first book about SOAP, I found Chapter 8 very useful and also enjoyed Chapters 4, 5, 12, and 13. In my judgement Chapter 8 (SOAP over JMS and SOAP over Javaspaces) alone justified the purchase.My judgement is that this book belongs on the bookshelf of every programmer who aspires to become a Web Services expert.