Sure, C++ and Java are both Algol based languages. I agree that a different paradigm is a better way to go for learning - LISP as I mentioned or Haskell as you

Sure, C++ and Java are both Algol based languages. I agree that a different paradigm is a better way to go for learning - LISP as I mentioned or Haskell as you mentioned. I have done a little Haskell and Erlang, but not enough to say that I know those languages. LISP I value chiefly for making me think differently which I guess is what you are going for in your comments. Although, I do still assert that Java is an inherently good language. I knew C before C++ and I would rank C and Java as 'better' languages than C++ from a design perspective. C and Java for being simple. C++ is good in other ways - it is arguably 'powerful' although the bang for buck over Java is reasonably low in that regard these days. My point is, I know several Algol languages and in my opinion C++, C# are the 'worse' ones and Java, C are the 'best'. I completely accept that other people will view this entirely differently and that this is largely a matter of taste.