Beginners Book

Would you recommend a beginning book ... I'm taking a 400 level course at Rochester Institute of Technology (in NY) .. its in Database and requires Java (although the pre-req. said simply a two course sequence in programming) .... I've had VB (6.0 not .Net)several years ago and most recently OS scripting in linux as well as several other courses in programming many many years ago - all academic not practical (as in paid work exp.) ... the quarter at RIT has already started and lasts 10 weeks (9 left to go) so I have to learn quickly! I would like to go out and buy the book today if poss. You can reply directly to beagle3six@yahoo.com
Regards and Thanks,
Lee

Why, Head First Java, of course!

Welcome to JavaRanch, Lee!
We prefer to keep conversations here in the forums, that way lots of people might learn from it.
Here is a list of free on-line Java tutorials and books that I have found useful:

Sun's Java Tutorial

Introduction to Computer Science using Java by Bradley Kjell

Introduction to Programming Using Java by David J. Eck

Dick Baldwin's Java Programming Tutorials

Interactive Programming In Java by Lynn Andrea Stein

Bruce Eckel's Thinking In Java

Thanks to you both for the replies and I certainly understand your wanting to keep replies in the discussion so everyone can learn ....
Greatly Appreciative,
Lee

Originally posted by Lee Maico:
Would you recommend a beginning book ... I'm taking a 400 level course at Rochester Institute of Technology (in NY) .. its in Database and requires Java (although the pre-req. said simply a two course sequence in programming) .... I've had VB (6.0 not .Net)several years ago and most recently OS scripting in linux as well as several other courses in programming many many years ago - all academic not practical (as in paid work exp.) ... the quarter at RIT has already started and lasts 10 weeks (9 left to go) so I have to learn quickly! I would like to go out and buy the book today if poss. You can reply directly to beagle3six@yahoo.com
Regards and Thanks,
Lee

Hello All,
I have to second, getting Head First Java. It may not be for everyone, but I found it to be incredible. Funny, informative, and very thorough.
Good luck,
Elton

This is always a good topic. In addition to the beginning Java books you mention, since your course is a database course, you might also want to take a look at Java Database Best Practices which contains a good overview of various Java Database technologies, including JDBC.
All that said, this discussion really belongs in the Bunkhouse Porch forum, so I'm going to move this there.