A Java analog of "Accelerated C++"???

Question

I need a crisp, concise and serious book on Java to bring me up to speed with Java 6. I know bits & parts of Java 2, and basic C++. Online official Java tutorial is probably good, but I'd like to take my eyes off screen at times!!! The closest book of this kind I can think of is "Accelerated C++" by Koenig/Moo. All other books (e.g., Core Java, TIJ) are too heavy a tome, while "Effective Java" might be the best 2nd book.

Any ideas such a book exist? Google is of no avail! Ideas welcome!

Answer 1

I really liked Java in a Nutshell by David Flanagan (O'Reilly). It just covers java 5 but there is not that much difference with java 6 (it's more like java 5.1 in my opinion, java 5 was the big step forward). It is very well written, covers more that just what is new. It turns out to be a good reference book afterwards too.

edit: I haven't read Accelerated C++ so I can't compare though.