ISBN0596007124

It's really wonderfull. Not only funny to read, the most important thing: you learn a lot with it.
If you know very much about patterns and object oriented design you may find it useless... but even then you'll admit it's a great book for beginners and for people (not only beginners) who's been working with Java (or other OOLanguage) but haven't learnt subtle details. It makes you realize how many things can be always done better. It takes enough time to explain everything well. And finally, it doesn't only teach patterns but a bit of OODesign in general.

The "Head First" book series is the best product that O'Reilly makes and Head First Design Patterns is a perfect example of the quality and innovation inherent in this great series.

If you only need to learn the main design patterns or if you want to find out what the deal is with this whole 'design pattern' thing then this book is the easiest way to get started. For those who need to know all 23 design patterns then you might be stuck with the famous "Gang of Four" book which is not as easy or entertaining as this book but good none the less.

The promise they make on the preface of the book is true. The knowledge really sticks to your brain, part due to the examples and part due to the language the authors use along the text. Just one thing to record, the authors were too humble declaring it can't be considered a reference guide, yes it is, although fun, the book is an excelent reference guide.

Finally, a book that explains the basic design patterns, in Java, in a way that makes sense.

I love this book. It is my first Head First book and I intend to buy more. It is really a fun way to learn. Though the book deals with some advanced topics, the way the material is presented makes it easier to get into your brain.

My suggestion is to pick up one of these books in a book store, skim through it to get the idea of where they're coming from, then buy the book from Amazon. (It's cheaper.)

They use a lot of graphic characters, conversations amongst characters, crossword puzzles, etc. It's not just a text book but a way to learn new technical material. They take a potentially dry subject and make it tasty and exciting.

I hope to see more Head First books in the future.