subject text I got <a href=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0805311912/qid=1073091860/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-6683210-6107252?v=glance&s=books>this book</a> for Christmas and have found it to be pretty good. It introduces most of the important concepts and gives good quick overviews of a lot of different languages. The languages are chosen for the perspectives they present, instead of their popularity. I was disappointed not to find a discussion of actors in the concurrent programming chapter, but overall, I recommend it. password