I was able to learn Java (my first programming language) from this book by myself through distance education...so I guess it means it is good!
Note: Years later, looking back, I don't think it was very well-written. It needed to have a better structure for an introductory code book. As someone who didn't have any previous mindset regarding programming, it took me awhile before I "got it". I feel the whole concept of programming and how things are laid out and the basic elements could have been developed to aid the reader more easily.