Books
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Computer Books
Here are some of the best computer books I've read recently and recommend.
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Alur, Deepak et al Core J2EE Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies, Second Edition.
Although I'm not excited about pattern books, this one is well-organized, cross referenced, and has good examples.
Browse at Amazon
Browse at Amazon
Bentley, Jon. Programming Pearls and More Programming Pearls.
These books have lots of good advice and little brain teasers. Put it by the toilet. Browse at Amazon. See also More Programming Pearls
Bloch, Josh Effective Java.
Although it doesn't compare to the Annotated C++ Reference as a brain buster, but clarifies things you weren't even sure you were unclear on, and highlights many of the subtleties of the language.
Brooks, Fred The Mythical Man-Month.
If one woman can have a baby in 9 months, why can't nine women have a baby in one month? This splains it all.
Browse at Amazon
Browse at Amazon
DuBois, Paul MySQL.
An excellent, complete walk-though of not only MySQL, but most of the features of SQL as well. It is complete and also has all the access APIs from various languages. Very well written, and I felt like an expert when I was done.
Browse at Amazon Knoernschild, Kirk Java Design: Objects, UML, and Process.
This book has a bit of everything concerning Java, UML, design, processes, etc. Attempting this much could be a recipe for disaster, but it's not. Since it's written so well, I recommend this book. I have searched for a good UML book: all I've read and bought are disasterously complete and academic, and most written without any style. This one gets it right: it gives you the right amount of information in the right amount of detail, presented with clear, relevant examples. If you can read only one book on the state of the industry (before your interview), this should be it.
Browse at Amazon Seth Ladd Darren Davison Steven Devijver Colin Yates Expert Spring MVC and Web Flow.
You can struggle with the online documentation, but you don't have to. Despite the title, this is an excellent book to take you from a newbie to an expert.
At Apress
Meyer, Bertrand Object-Oriented Software Construction.
The classic book on basic object-oriented concepts and "programming by contract". Once I read this, I was disasterously frustrated with everyone who hadn't read it. Long, but a page-turner.
Browse at Amazon
Browse at Amazon
Purdy, Gregor N. CVS Pocket Reference.
This is all you need. It's got all the same information as all the other books, but it's smaller!
Browse at Amazon
Browse at Amazon