Hey folks! I'm on the hunt for a Java book that really digs into the language itself, beyond frameworks like Spring Boot or general architecture concepts. With about 10 years in the field, predominantly using Python, Elixir, and C#, I've dabbled in Java too. I'm quite comfortable with it, having written production-level code, but I'm eager to deepen my understanding. I'm looking for something akin to *Fluent Python*, but specifically for Java. Most recommendations I've seen seem a bit outdated or too basic for my needs. Any modern, in-depth resources that explore Java's idioms would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a ton—sorry for any language slip-ups; English isn't my first language.
6 Answers
Just to add to the list:
- *Advanced Design and Implementation of Virtual Machines* by Xiao-Feng Li is great; it covers how generic VMs work and applies to the JVM nicely.
- *The Garbage Collection Handbook* dives into GC algorithms.
- *Java Performance* by Scott Oaks is solid for performance engineering.
- Also check out *100 Java Mistakes and How to Avoid Them* by Tagir Valeev!
- And if you really want a deep dive, *The Art of Multiprocessor Programming* is a more intense take on concurrency, but be warned—it's pretty advanced!
Looking through books for the SCP and OCP certifications can also provide some deeper insights into Java. Even if you’re not after the certs, they’re filled with interesting content!
You should definitely check out *Effective Java* by Joshua Bloch! It's a fantastic resource, and there's a new edition coming out in late 2025, too.
Same here! It's a must-read for any serious Java developer.
For concurrency, *Java Concurrency in Practice* by Brian Goetz is a standard must-have. If you want deep dives into Java SE or EE, the official specifications are quite detailed. Also, I recommend *Inside the Java Virtual Machine* by Bill Venners—though it's a bit older, the core concepts still apply well!
Don't overlook *Core Java* by Cay Horstmann! It's comprehensive and a solid read for getting more in-depth with Java.
You might like *Modern Java* as well. It's quite fresh and covers a lot of the latest features.
I've read the first three editions and plan to grab the fourth one when it comes out!