Books on Java

NOTE: The list below is far from complete and is not intended to be an endorsement of any particular collection of books. If you know of a book that ought be there, send us an email.

We will categorize Java books into five categories:

Fast-intro books: These books don't really "teach" programming but are written for programmers or students with some programming already under their belt. A good example is the Java in a Nutshell book by D.Flanagan. Some of these books may be suitable for a 3rd-course introduction to Java (such as the Jia or Winder books).
Gentle intro books: These books teach Java from scratch at a level appropriate to beginning programmers. They are usually used as textbooks in intro computer science courses. A good example is: Java, An Introduction to Computer Science and Programming by W.Savitch (Prentice-Hall).
2nd course books: These books usually teach the second course in a 2-course sequence and focus on topics like data structures. A good example is: Data Structures and Other Objects using Java by M.Main (Addison-Wesley).
Advanced books: These books cover advanced material such as the Java API, or are focused on special topics (such as Threads) or cover software engineering (such as design patterns). A good example is: Core Swing Advanced Programming by K.Topley (Prentice-Hall).
AP Computer Science books: These books are focused on the College Board AP Computer Science program.

So, which books should a beginner get? Theoretically, no book should be needed given the wealth of resources online. However, most of us like to have something to read if just to avoid looking at the screen all the time. For beginners, the following books might initially be best:

A fast-intro book such as Java in a Nutshell (which is also inexpensive).
A gentle-intro book - take your pick from below.

Fast-intro books:

Java in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition by David Flanagan (O'Reilly Pub.)
This book is a handy reference that contains a (rather terse) overview of the language, tools and API's. Initially, a beginner will find it difficult to read, but it's probably the only book you will continue to use even after becoming a Java expert.
Core Java 2, Volume 1 by C.Horstmann and G.Cornell (Prentice-Hall). This book, a introduction to Java for programmers, starts from scratch, has plenty of examples and comparisons with other languages. Volume 2 has advanced material. Object-Oriented Software Development Using Java: Principles, Patterns and Frameworks by X.Jia (Addison-Wesley). After introducing Java, the book also covers design patterns and frameworks.
Java with Object-Oriented Programming by P.Wang (Thomson). Covers much of Java, requires some programming background.
Object-Oriented Programming Featuring Graphical Applications in Java by M.Laszlo (Addison-Wesley). Covers objects, design patterns and frameworks.
Understanding Object-Oriented Programming with Java by T.Budd (Addison-Wesley).
Just Java by P. van der Linden (Prentice-Hall). Covers a wide variety of topics from XML to Beans. A rare topic, regular expressions, is also covered using Java Grep.
Java By Example by J.R.Jackson and A.L.McClellan (Prentice Hall).
Java Programming Advanced Topics by J.Wigglesworth and P.Lumby (Thomson). Broad introduction with examples for programmers. Also covers some advanced topics such as beans.
Developing Java Software by R.Winder and G.Roberts. Software engineering perspective. Unique in that it goes through the gory details of a few substantial applications.
Prelude to Patterns in Computer Science Using Java by E.C.Epp (Franklin-Beedle). This book is hard to categorize: it covers some introductory Java and yet is not really aimed at intro courses. Probably best suited for a third programming course in a sequence where the first two are not in Java. Introduces design patterns.
Java: How to Program by H.Deitel and P.Deitel (Prentice-Hall). Covers both introductory and advanced material.
Java from the Beginning by J.Skansholm (Addison-Wesley). Covers both intro material, GUI's and streams/networking.

First-course books:

Java: An Introduction to Computer Science and Programming (3rd Ed) by W.Savitch (Prentice-Hall). A popular first-course book that, at 900 pages, covers a lot of material for a first-course. The approach is traditional: objects are covered later, followed even later by GUI's.
Object-Oriented Problem Solving: Java, Java, Java by R.Morelli (Prentice-Hall). Apart from covering first-course material, there are also chapters on second-course material. The book takes an "objects-first" approach, starting early with objects as well as GUI's.
Java: An Object-Oriented Approach by D.Arnow and G.Weiss (Addison-Wesley). This book takes the objects-first approach but separates GUI programming as optional supplemental material in each chapter.
Objects First with Java: A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ by D.Barnes and M.Kolling (Prentice-Hall). As the title indicates, the book is for a first-course that takes an objects-first approach. The book is also tied to the BlueJ development environment.
Object-Oriented Application Development Using Java by E.R.Doke, J.W.Satzinger and S.R.Williams (Thomson Learning). Takes an objects-first approach.
Java: A Framework for Programming and Problem Solving by K.Lambert and M.Osborne (Brooks/Cole). This book takes a more-or-less objects-first approach but postpones GUI's until covering some elementary Java. A balance between GUI-first and GUI-later.
Java Programming, 2nd Edition by J.Farrell (Thomson). Objects-first, GUI-first approach. Many examples in tutorial style.
The Object of Java: Introduction to Programming Using Software Engineering Principles by D.Riley (Addison-Wesley). A good example of the direct objects-first, GUI-first approach. Starts immediately with a graphical, call-methods-in-objects approach. Follows up with a second-course book (see below).
An Introduction to Programming and Object-Oriented Design Using Java by J.Nino and F.A.Hosch (Wiley). Objects-first approach.
Introduction to Java and Software Design by N.Dale, C.Weems and M.Headington (Jones and Bartlett). Objects-first, GUI-first. A Java version of their popular C++ text.
Object-Oriented Programming with Java by B.J.Holmes and D.T.Joyce (Jones and Bartlett). An objects-first, GUI-first approach using their custom AVI classes.
Java by Dissection by I.Pohl and C.McDowell (Addison-Wesley).
Introduction to Programming Using Java by D.Arnow, S.Dexter and G.Weiss (Addison-Wesley). An objects-early approach, with supplemental GUI material.

Second-course books:

Data Structures and Other Objects Using Java by M.Main (Addison-Wesley). Solid coverage of APCS-AB material. This is the text we use at GW for our second course.
The Object of Data Abstraction and Structures Using Java by D.Riley (Addison-Wesley). Standard second-course material following his first-course text that is objects-first, GUI-first.

Advanced books:

Core Java 2, Volume 2 by C.Horstmann and G.Cornell (Prentice-Hall). Volume 2 covers threads, networking, JDBC, beans and security.
Advanced Java: Internet Applications by A.Gittleman (Scott Jones). Covers a broad range of advanced topics from JDBC, servlets and JSP to Java2D and beans.
Advanced Java: Development for Enterprise Applications by C.Berg (Prentice-Hall). Emphasises server-side stuff: beans, servlets, RMI.
Java Design Patterns: A Tutorial by J.W.Cooper (Addison-Wesley). Concise introduction to design patterns in Java.
Patterns in Java, Vols. 1 and 2 by M.Grand (Wiley). Catalogue of design patterns with UML.
Core Swing Advanced Programming by K.Topley (Prentice-Hall). What the title says it is.
Practical Java: Programming Language Guide by P.Haggar. Tips for advanced programmers.
HardCore Java by R.Simmons (O'Reilly Pub.). Useful and esoteris odds and ends.

Note: The advanced books listed above do not even scratch the surface of what is available. There is, for example, an entire series of books on Java by O'Reilly Publishing that cover various special topics such as threads, concurrent programming, servlets and the like.

AP Computer Science books:

J.Lewis, W.Loftus, C.Cocking, S.Horwitz. Java Software Solutions for AP Computer Science.
S.Horwitz. Addison-Wesley's Review for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java (Addison-Wesley).
M.Litvin and G.Litvin. Java Methods and Java Methods (AB).
M.Litvin. Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java.
T.West and C.Stephenson. Java for AP Computer Science (Holt Software Associates).

Links to reviews on Java books:

JavaShelf, a website devoted to Java books.
Java book list and reviews by Marty Hall, author of Core Java Servlets and JSP.
A richly annotated list of books on Java by Elliotte Harold (himself an author of several Java books).