[.ca] Thinking in C++: Introduction to Standard C++, Volume One (ISBN 0139798099)

From Amazon.com:
Fully revised and beefed up with plenty of new material on today's Standard C++, the new edition of Bruce Eckel's Thinking in C++: Volume I is an excellent tutorial to mastering this rich (and sometimes daunting) programming language, filled with expert advice and written in a patient, knowledgeable style. The effective presentation, along with dozens of helpful code examples, make this book a standout. The text first sets the stage for using C++ with a tour of what object-oriented programming is all about, as well as the software design life cycle. The author then delves into every aspect of C++, from basic keywords and programming principles to more advanced topics, like function and operator overloading, virtual inheritance, exception handling, namespaces, and templates. C++ is a complex language, and the author covers a lot of ground using today's Standard C++, but without getting bogged down in excessive detail. The emphasis here is on practical programming, so there's basic advice on using header files, preprocessor directives, and namespaces to organize code effectively. Each chapter ends with exercises (usually about two dozen), and the entire text of the book is available on the accompanying CD-ROM. (So is the second volume, which tours Standard C++ classes and other advanced topics.) Whether you have read the first edition of this book or not, there is much to mine from Thinking in C++. This new version continues to set a high standard as an approachable and thorough tutorial. --Richard Dragan Topics covered: Introduction to objects, inheritance, composition, polymorphism, exception handling, analysis and design fundamentals, advantages of C++, transitioning from C, compiling and building programs, writing C++ functions, flow control, C++ operators, data types, casting, debugging tips, pointers to functions, designing reusable C++ classes, conditional compilation and header files, access specifiers, constructors and destructors, function overloading and default arguments, using const and static effectively, inlining, namespaces, references, copy constructors, operator overloading, using new and delete for dynamic objects, virtual functions, abstract classes, introduction to templates, and iterators.

GET IT NOW!!!:
I have been wanting to learn C++ for about 8 years now, but have never found any really spectacular books for getting me to where I need to be, starting from the ground up and introducing concepts in small coherent chunks. So, I just stuck with the languages I knew, and kept putting c++ to the side. Oh, and making the excuse that "java can do everything I need", not true as I'm am delving into the dsp world. Thanks to this book, I'm further than I have ever been before in understanding C++!!! The book along with the supplemental answer guide (for a small fee from bruce eckel's site www.mindview.net) have proven invaluable! Making C++ easy to understand is no easy task! It is obvious to me that bruce not only has a profound understanding of programming in multiple languages, but also a great teaching ability. It is rare to find someone who has both of these traits. This book isn't specifically geared towards java programmers by any means, but this book combined with my java experience has made learning c++ painless, not to mention interesting and enjoyable. I know there are other great c++ books out there, but if you are transitioning to c++ from another language or are a programming newbie, I would say this is the book to get. It would also make great reference. GET IT!!!

Excellent starting point:
If you really want to understand C++, and have some time on your hands, then this is the book for you. Eckel presents the information in an easy to understand format, making it easy for the reader to grasp the ideas. My only gripes are that he expects the user to already know C, and he uses struct instead of class throughout most of the book. Another beginning book to look at would be Accelerated C++, by Andrew Koenig.

Excellent book!:
As far as I know, this is the best book available on this subject at this time. It's been the best read I've had in quite a while (that includes fiction). It's very well written, introducing new concepts to the reader in a very smooth and natural way. If you've ever wondered why 'C++ is the next logical step', then you should read this book. I have also read 'C++ inside & out' and 'Thinking in Java' from Bruce Eckel, and I must say his educational and writing skills are getting even better and better. He clearly knows what he is talking about, and, more importantly, he also knows *how* to talk about it - not always a given. My C++ was getting a bit rusty, but TICPP has got me back on the C++-track in no time, and after reading it I feel ready to take on the world - well, almost.. In short: buy this book and read it. Then go on and show it off to your friends..

Not what I expected:
This book is for those that have an understand of the C language as stated in the preface "I decided to assume that someone else had taught you C and the you have at least a reading level of comfort with it". I would recommend Sam's Teach Yourself C++ over this book if you are like me and looking to jump into C++ and have no programming experience.

Awesome Book:
I am about to graduate from college, and although I got an A in my C++ class, which was way back in the first year, I really didn't learn the language. Recently another student came to me, she had flunked several classes and is retaking C and C++. The college is still using Deitel, and the professors still refuse to teach, so she knew there was no way she was going to pass these classes and graduate. I have been looking for a book to help me learn C++ on my own: Dummies helped, but..., then I found Thinking In C++; AWESOME. I got it today and I am already in chapter three. Bruce Eckel starts off explaining how to go about planning the creation of the application: Use Case, UML, etc... Other courses that I got A's in, but didn't really understand (I am good at memorizing things). But now, thanks to Bruce Eckel, I truly believe I am making progress, and I know I will be able to help my friend pass her classes and graduate on time. If the rest of the book, and Volume Two are as good as the first three chapters, I will get his book on Java.