As a fledgling Java user who has not, to this date, landed a job in that capacity, I'm nevertheless indebted to this book and its author. Outdated it may be in some parts, but the basics are explained very well and it's aided my understanding a great deal.
The Premise
Java SE 7 Programming Essentials is a book with the professed goal of preparing the reader for the Java SE 7 Oracle Certification Exam. Never having taken such an exam, I couldn't say how effective it is in that regard. What I can say is that the book appears to go above and beyond the call of duty.The Aesthetics
Visually, with a predominantly blue-and-white theme, the book is cleanly divided into sections within each chapter and locating these sections is simple and effective.The words aren't cluttered together and it's pretty easy on the eyes.
The Experience
Reading this book was straightforward, and digesting each chapter even more so. Even at a beginner's level, I had very little trouble figuring out what the author was trying to say.The Interface
After each chapter, there are Additional Exercises and Review Questions, to which the answers may be found in Appendix A.Appendix B mostly covers the Oracle Certification Exam and its list of objectives.
The margins occasionally host side-notes which feature tips and additional information.
The margins are sometimes marked by an icon to denote that the section it is appended to, is of particular importance to certification.
What I liked
The style of writing. Ernest has a way of explaining a concept that not only appears comprehensible, but actually makes sense. Take this beauty:Regarding infinite loops,
Or even at the Introduction,
The Review Questions after each chapter, especially the answers at the Appendix A. Michael Ernest takes pains to not only provide the answers, but also to explain why the answers are correct, in the process reiterating the concepts covered in the relevant chapter.