How Head First Helps You Learn

(For a more in-depth explanation of how Head First works, check out the Head First Formula.)

Learning isn't something that just happens to you. It's something you do. You can't learn without pumping some neurons. Learning means building more mental pathways, bridging connections between new and pre-existing knowledge, recognizing patterns, and turning facts and information into knowledge (and ultimately, wisdom).

Here's how we help you do that:

Puzzle We tell stories (PDF) using casual language, instead of lecturing. We don't take ourselves too seriously. Which would you pay more attention to: a stimulating dinner party companion, or a lecture?

Ready Bake We make it visual (PDF). Images are far more memorable than words alone, and make learning much more effective. They also make things more fun.

Barbell We use attention-grabbing tactics. Learning a new, tough, technical topic doesn't have to be boring. The graphics are often surprising, oversized, humorous, sarcastic, or edgy. You might not expect a girl in a bathtub discussing key object-oriented principles, but there she is. Or the woman pulling a duck from an ATM machine. Or the disembodied head on a table. The page layout is dynamic: no two pages are the same, and each one is crafted to keep the right mix of text and images. Examples are usually fun, strange, or both.

What can I Learn?

The Head First Series is growing! Our current topics include Java, EJB, Servlets & JSP, Design Patterns, HTML with CSS & XHTML, Object-Oriented Analysis & Design, Ajax, SQL, C#, JavaScript, and Software Development, and we'll be adding to this list all the time. Keep an eye on this site for news and developments about Head First titles.

What People are Saying...

It's fast, irreverent, fun, and engaging. Be careful; you might actually learn something!
— Ken Arnold, former senior engineer at Sun Microsystems, and coauthor of "The Java Programming Language," with James Gosling

I feel like a thousand pounds of books have just been lifted off my head.
— Ward Cunningham, inventor of the Wiki and founder of the Hillside Group

I literally love this book. In fact, I kissed this book in front of my wife.
— Satish Kumar, Head First Design Patterns reader

Who are the people behind Head First?

The O'Reilly Team

  Laurie Petrycki, General Manager
  Brett McLaughlin, Series Editor
  Catherine Nolan, Sponsoring Editor
  Sanders Kleinfeld, Development Editor
  Louise Barr, Development Editor
  Caitrin McCullough, Web Producer
  Brittany Smith, Production Editor
  Keith McNamara, Editorial Assistant

Series Creators

Bert Bates
Kathy Sierra

Authors

  Bryan Basham
  Bert Bates
  Lynn Beighley
  Elisabeth Freeman
  Eric Freeman
  Jennifer Greene
  Brett McLaughlin
  Russ Miles
  Michael Morrison
  Dan Pilone
  Gary Pollice
  Kathy Sierra
  Andrew Stellman
  Dave West
  And more to come...

Press Room

For review copies, contact Kathryn Barrett, Publicist

Do you belong to a User Group or Professional Association? We have resources for you! Or contact Marsee Henon, O'Reilly User Group & Professional Association Program