The authors of the "Head First" series of books take great pains to explain concepts in a fun and entertaining way, and paired with the similarities between Java and C++, you shouldn't have any problem following the book. It's also a great deal more fun to read than the original "Gang of Four" book, whose examples are C++.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.