This book is too basic, I regret buying it. One step up form the "Idiots" books. I am not sure why the U that I used to go to prescribed it. Sorry, but not every one that worked on java at some level (technical writing is one eg) should be whipping up books on a serious technology like java! I don't see any details that I am looking for - modifiers for inner classes, in-depth info on GC etc. This book is so lame, it just touches upon very basic things and skips anything that a tad bit advanced!