I first picked up Java For Dummies when I was younger, hoping it would give me a good foundation in Java. However, after working through it, I found it didn’t really help me make much progress. The book offers basic explanations but doesn't dive into real-world applications or more complex coding challenges. It often feels like a money grab aimed at beginners who don’t know any better. If you're seriously interested in learning to code, I’d recommend skipping books like this in favor of online courses or resources like MIT OpenCourseWare, which offer much more depth and practical experience.
I’m only giving it 3 stars because the author, Barry Burd, is a UIUC alum, and I have to show some appreciation for that! But overall, this book doesn’t provide enough value for anyone looking to gain meaningful coding skills.