How good are "..... for dummies" books for programming ?

[wolf2009]

right now reading beginning programming with java for dummies. Seems like it explains the concepts pretty nicely and in an interesting way.

What do you guys think ?

 

[Woosta]

Mostly horrible. I would rather recommend APress/Manning/Wrox/O'Reilly and other similar established publishing companies.

 

[brandonb]

I haven't read a "for dummies" book, but I've read Wrox and Orielly.

However, I wouldn't say those books are very good either.

I am still left at points with their books where I'm scatching my head at the end of the chapter thinking "wtf did they just try to explain to me? I will just have to keep this chapter in the back of my mind and try to play with this when I get in there and see if I can figure it out."

So if "for dummies" works well to explain it to you, and you gain understanding, then the book is accomplishing it's goal. I assume the "for dummies" books don't go very deep into knowledge and only scratch their surface, so that's probably why people might not go into it, but if it gets you going (as if you are a dummy) then that's cool, it accomplished it goals.

 

[irishScott]

The c++ "All in one Desk Reference" for dummies is a nice reference, and is the best c++ textbook I've come across, but I wouldn't recommend it for self-teaching. Then again, I wouldn't recommend any book for self-teaching. The best way to learn programming is to take a class IMO.

 

[Woosta]

Originally posted by: brandonb
I haven't read a "for dummies" book, but I've read Wrox and Orielly.

However, I wouldn't say those books are very good either.

I am still left at points with their books where I'm scatching my head at the end of the chapter thinking "wtf did they just try to explain to me? I will just have to keep this chapter in the back of my mind and try to play with this when I get in there and see if I can figure it out."

So if "for dummies" works well to explain it to you, and you gain understanding, then the book is accomplishing it's goal. I assume the "for dummies" books don't go very deep into knowledge and only scratch their surface, so that's probably why people might not go into it, but if it gets you going (as if you are a dummy) then that's cool, it accomplished it goals.

Uh? The majority of OReilly books are pretty damn good, I've read a lot of them. If you're looking for beginner-newbie friendly ones, O'Reilly has a Head First series, probably catered to the same crowd as the dummies books though I've never read either of these.. so in the OP's case I might want to go with:

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Fir...y-Sierra/dp/0596009208

Which OReilly book(s) did you try and not like?

 

[wolf2009]

Originally posted by: irishScott
The c++ "All in one Desk Reference" for dummies is a nice reference, and is the best c++ textbook I've come across, but I wouldn't recommend it for self-teaching. Then again, I wouldn't recommend any book for self-teaching. The best way to learn programming is to take a class IMO.

I took a java basics class last semester. Understood a lot of stuff.

Now I'm reading the for dummies book. it explains the stuff pretty well, and i got to know some of the finer points that were not told in class.

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: irishScott
The c++ "All in one Desk Reference" for dummies is a nice reference, and is the best c++ textbook I've come across, but I wouldn't recommend it for self-teaching. Then again, I wouldn't recommend any book for self-teaching. The best way to learn programming is to take a class IMO.

I somewhat disagree. The best way to learn programming is to do programming and to read what programming should look like.

C++ for dummies wasn't horrible IMO. it was a nice easy read that covered the main points.

 

[hans007]

I bought C for dummies when I was 15 (which was 13 years ago). It was well, really really confusing, but I am not sure if that is because i was 15, or not. That said, the "learning" o'reilly books are pertty good. At least the ones I have.

Learning C#, java, and perl are reasonably good i'd say, but it obviously depends on how much experience you have to begin with.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: Cogman

Originally posted by: irishScott
The c++ "All in one Desk Reference" for dummies is a nice reference, and is the best c++ textbook I've come across, but I wouldn't recommend it for self-teaching. Then again, I wouldn't recommend any book for self-teaching. The best way to learn programming is to take a class IMO.

I somewhat disagree. The best way to learn programming is to do programming and to read what programming should look like.

C++ for dummies wasn't horrible IMO. it was a nice easy read that covered the main points.

This does depend for most people.

I think some combination of a book to introduce the concepts, and lots and lots of examples of that particular concept implemented is the easiest way.

The longer i've been programming the more I've found just a bunch of examples is fine, but you still need a little explanation when its a new concept so sometimes a book is useful.

 

[drebo]

I like the Dietel & Dietel books, personally.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: drebo
I like the Dietel & Dietel books, personally.

my c++ book in college was dietel & dietel. And i'd agree its a very good book for people new to C++.

 

[EvilManagedCare]

Originally posted by: hans007

Originally posted by: drebo
I like the Dietel & Dietel books, personally.

my c++ book in college was dietel & dietel. And i'd agree its a very good book for people new to C++.

Another vote for Deitel & Deitel. The Dummies books are an easy read and entertaining, but I have found details lacking in several cases with these.

 

[troytime]

Aren't the 'for dummies' books usually written by different authors, which means some 'for dummies' books may be quality while others are lacking?

 

[wolf2009]

Originally posted by: troytime
Aren't the 'for dummies' books usually written by different authors, which means some 'for dummies' books may be quality while others are lacking?

exactly

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

Originally posted by: troytime
Aren't the 'for dummies' books usually written by different authors, which means some 'for dummies' books may be quality while others are lacking?

Same goes for every publisher, but it's all about standards. For example if the For Dummies series is willing to put it's name on crap, you'll find a lot of crap. However if Apress or other publishers wouldn't put their name on just anything, then you still have some gauge of quality to go along with the name.

 

[kyzen]

Another vote for Dietel & Dietel here.

I'm also a huge fan of the "Sam's Teach Yourself ______ in 24 Hours" books. The "10 minutes" versions are too short, and the "24 days" aren't as good as other more in-depth books (like the Dietel & Dietel's). But the 24 hour books are a great way to get a working knowledge of something, at least enough to complete a small project or two.

 

[Net]

leave the dummy book behind and get...

Head First JAVA

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Fir...y-Sierra/dp/0596009208

its a fun read

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

Originally posted by: net
leave the dummy book behind and get...

Head First JAVA

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Fir...y-Sierra/dp/0596009208

its a fun read

I read Head First C# which I would recommend to anyone starting out at programming.

 

[Krioni]

Yeah, I like the head first books as well.

What language are you looking into? And to what end? Are you in school (college)? Are you planning to do programming as a profession?

This would help us know to what depth you should learn programming principles and syntax.

Once you've learned a language (or many), I like the "pragmatic programmer" series of books to help you learn some of the points for becoming a good programmer (not just one that can get a system done, but one that can develop stuff that can be maintained... and one that can maintain stuff in a way that isn't just duct tape and bailing wire).

In short, some details about your goals would be really helpful.

 

[wolf2009]

Originally posted by: Krioni
Yeah, I like the head first books as well.

What language are you looking into? And to what end? Are you in school (college)? Are you planning to do programming as a profession?

This would help us know to what depth you should learn programming principles and syntax.

Once you've learned a language (or many), I like the "pragmatic programmer" series of books to help you learn some of the points for becoming a good programmer (not just one that can get a system done, but one that can develop stuff that can be maintained... and one that can maintain stuff in a way that isn't just duct tape and bailing wire).

In short, some details about your goals would be really helpful.

looking to get into C/CUDA/OpenCL/DirectX Compute, basically making things run on GPU but not related to games. Something like video encoding on GPU.

Right now in college. Took the starting course in computer science. They taught Java in there. So thought about learning a bit more beyond what they taught.