Programming with Java - Second Edition

Reviewed by Mingming Du, Lecturer, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 1/1/26

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Programming with Java (Second Edition) by Ashik Ahmed Bhuiyan and Md Amiruzzaman is a well-structured, beginner-friendly Java textbook that works especially well for students with little or no programming background. The content progresses in a logical sequence—from core syntax and data types to control structures and foundational object-oriented programming—so learners can build confidence step by step rather than feeling overwhelmed.

As a lecturer, I particularly appreciate the clarity and teaching-oriented organization. Explanations are detailed without being unnecessarily complicated, and the frequent, practical examples help students connect concepts to actual code. A standout strength is that the book always shows program output alongside code, which is very helpful for beginners(Many programming textbooks did not doing so): it helps student to check their understanding, help debugging when run the example codes.

That said, the book’s treatment of classes and objects—especially the early OOP material (e.g., the “Introduction to Classes and Objects” chapter 6)—can feel a bit too light for today’s learners. In the AI era, students can get help quickly with syntax and coding errors; what they also need from a textbook is deeper conceptual training and more substantial practice with object-oriented thinking. I would love to see expanded coverage and richer examples emphasizing the pillars of OOP—inheritance, polymorphism, interfaces/abstraction, and composition—along with more design-focused exercises. More medium-sized, realistic projects (beyond small snippets) would make the OOP learning curve smoother and the skills more transferable.

Overall, this is a strong, accessible Java introduction that I would gladly recommend for entry-level programming courses—especially because it is openly available and easy for students to access. With a deeper and more example-rich OOP section, it could become even more effective as a modern “first Java” textbook.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The concepts are presented correctly and consistently, and the code examples are written in a clear, beginner-friendly way—simple, focused, and free of unnecessary complexity. Overall, I did not notice any technical mistakes or misleading explanations in the sections I reviewed.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is current and aligned with what students need in an introductory Java course, but it is not “trend-chasing” in a way that would make the textbook outdated quickly. The authors focus on durable fundamentals—syntax, data types, control flow, basic OOP ideas, and essential programming practices—so the material remains solid and useful over time for beginning programmers.

One important point: while Java has introduced a number of features after Java 16, many of these are largely “syntax sugar” or convenience-oriented enhancements. For a beginner textbook, it may actually be better not to emphasize such newer features too early, because they can distract from foundational thinking and potentially confuse students who are still learning core concepts. Keeping the focus on stable, widely used fundamentals is the right choice.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is written in lucid, accessible prose and provides appropriate context whenever jargon or technical terminology is introduced. The explanations are straightforward and easy to follow

From an instructor’s perspective, the examples also stand out as carefully chosen. Each example is focused on a specific learning goal, without unnecessary extra complexity, and helps students quickly “get the point” of the concept being taught.

Consistency rating: 5

The textbook is internally consistent in its terminology, instructional style, and overall framework. Concepts are introduced in a steady, coherent progression, and the authors use terms in a stable, predictable way.

Modularity rating: 5

The textbook is highly modular and easy to divide into smaller, manageable reading sections that can be assigned at different points throughout a course. Chapters are organized around clear topics, and the progression from basic to more advanced material allows instructors to align readings with weekly learning objectives, labs, and programming assignments.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are presented in a logical and clear sequence. The chapters build progressively from fundamentals (syntax, variables, and control structures) toward more advanced programming skills, which supports a smooth learning curve for beginners.

Interface rating: 5

I did not encounter any significant interface or display issues. Navigation is smooth, and the content is presented cleanly without distracting formatting problems.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not notice grammatical issues in the sections I reviewed. The writing is polished and professional, which helps maintain clarity and reduces unnecessary cognitive load for beginner students.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I did not observe anything culturally insensitive or offensive. The tone is professional and neutral, and the examples appear appropriate for a diverse student audience. Overall, the book is suitable for classroom use with students from a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

Overall, this is a very strong beginner-level Java textbook. It is well written, well paced, and highly teachable—especially for students who are learning programming for the first time.

My main recommendation for improvement is still the same: expand the object-oriented programming portion after the “Classes and Objects” chapter. Adding more depth and more real-world OOP examples—especially inheritance etc—would better reflect how Java is used in practice and would prepare students more effectively for intermediate programming courses and larger projects.