Next Book To Read For Java

I've been programming Java consistently for about 5 months now and in this time I've learned lots. I feel like I've nearly mastered the basics, which includes Java Syntax, making my way around the API to find exactly what I want, and have read and used things such as Multi-Threading, Polymorphism, Inheritance and many more too numerous to mention. I finished the Head First Java book a while back and learned a ton. Honestly, that book is fantastic. Programming can be extremely dull and boring when learning how it all works and that book made my life less of a living hell when trying to understand concepts behind OOP. In addition, I've read a few chapters of Bruce Eckel's Thinking in Java which helped me understand things such as Concurrency. Along with this, I've read lots of posts here at Java Ranch and have learned things that I wouldn't have otherwise.

I need another book to read while I continue my own projects though. I feel that me trying code and playing is a great way to learn but I want to read what the "Java Pros" are saying too. That way I can learn from my mistakes and learn from a book that has already made those mistakes and knows exactly how to fix them efficiently. Any good books or recommendations on how I should proceed on getting better?

Some I'm thinking of are Design Patterns by HeadFirst and Effective Java by Joshua Bloch.

Both are good books. I also recommend you read a book about JUnit testing. "Test Driven" is very good.

"Clean Code" by Robert "Uncle Bob" Martin will definitely help set a good foundation on which to build on
"Growing Object-Oriented Software Guided by Tests" (GOOS) by Steve Freeman and Nat Pryce is a good guide on TDD - explains a lot of the motivations for doing test-driven development.

Edit: "The Pragmatic Programmer" is also a very good read for up-and-coming and experienced programmers alike.

Effective Java. You won't understand half of it. Never mind. Leave the bits you can't understand and read them next yeat.
Java Puzzlers by Bloch and Neal Gafter. You won't solve most of the puzzles, but it is fun to read.

Great! Thanks guys, I'll look into these.

I have another question, though. And this one applies to everybody so I encourage all to post with their experiences. How did it go, for you, when you were learning your first Object Oriented Programming language? Take a look back and compare yourself to when you first started and now. How much have you improved? And how did you ultimately end up getting to where you are now?

Skye Antinozzi wrote:How much have you improved?

Not as much as I would have liked but one has to balance and have a life, too.

Skye Antinozzi wrote:And how did you ultimately end up getting to where you are now?

Read! Practice! Read! Practice! Read! Practice! And attend some conferences once in a while. Trying to help/teach other people is also one of best ways to get better.

Thank you all, again. ^_^