Rating: 
Summary: A Gift from the Creator
Review: This reference book is from the creator of C++, so it is about as authoritative as it can get. It is also fairly comprehensive--probably the best single source of authoritative C++ information. It is also, unfortunately, difficult for people with little or no C++ knowledge to use, especially as a tutorial. Because although it attempts to be also a tutorial in addition to being a reference, the huge amount of information presented will leave the vast majority of beginners to the language bewildered. And for those that have never programmed before? Do not in your wildest alcohol-fuelled fantasies even think about using this book as a tutorial, unless you are a _very_ quick learner. A moronic imbecile's guide to C++ it is not. Buy _Accelerated C++_ if you want a tutorial and have programmed before. _Accelerated_ is part of a series edited by--you guess it--Stroustrup.Professional programmers fluent in another language expecting _The C++ Programming Language_ to be an easy read will also likely be greatly disappointed. If, however, these professionals are willing to work hard and have the right attitude, their chances of mastering the language improves. In other words, if you have difficulty understanding or using this book, please do not, like many of the other reviewers, blame the author for his so-called bad writing, disorganization, inability to teach, pride, etc., because the problem is you, not him: it will take many years for most people to master the language. _The C++ Programming Language_ is a gift only to those who are willing to put in the effort to master this challenging, general-purpose, widely-used language.
Rating:
Summary: The best source of knowledge on C++
Review: I've learned C++ from this book first, a few years ago, so my experience is the that of a novice.
On the writing style, I agree with those who say that it could have been written in a clearer way. The reading sometime had to proceed slowly, and sometime turn back a few pages and restart.
On the content, instead, I think that no other book brings the same knowledge in both quantity and quality.
It comes as no surprise that being Stroustrup the first inventor of C++, few people knows it better than him. Through this thousand of pages it is possible to learn plenty and plenty of details about the language. But should is stop here, it would be just another Kernigan & Ritchie. Indeed, the book brings much more. The language is explained through the use of a lot of examples that in reality are true insights on programming techniques. Perhaps you'll follow the classic path of buying this or some other big reference on C++, and then some other lighter book on tecniques and/or coding strategies. I did it, passing through exceptional books (Coplien, Koeing, Meyers). Now, looking back, I realize that much of the stuff I've learned through these latter books, could have been learned through Stroustrup's as well. All this stuff is there. The problem is that you learn them together with the language and the OO notions, so if you are a novice they could not receive the deserved attention (and perhaps they don't have the deserved space in the book. But, after all, I find they are "add-in"s, not the main subject).
And there's still something more. Through the chapter Stroustrup exposes his view on the OO subject. It's a personal view (that lead to the language development as a support), but it's a good one, on my opinion. One that, among the many, deserves respect and that can get a direct match on the most widely used language, together with C.
Rating:
Summary: "This is not music for the masses"
Review: Finally a book for the rest of us. A programmer
Rating:
Summary: Simply one of the best programming books ever wrote
Review: Not for beginners, who may want go from the "Accelerated C++" first. Stanley Lippman's the C++ Primer has been too verbose and slow, though you always need to read his "Inside the C++ Object Model". It's a hefty, comprehensive book, covering every aspect of modern C++ (hey, as far as last version of standard and thoughts :) For almost every topic and ideas written in C++, you can trace to it and get clarification from the father of the language. For example, it's actually a better tutorial of STL than many dedicated book of the its size. The vast amount of information in it rend many books so shallow and useless... The book is as elegant and as hard as C++. However, for C++, there are a few issues that prevented it from being more useful in current programming: 1. Compiler standard compliance. 2. C++ was invented when computers and operating systems were vastly underpowered. The standard didn't cover any GUI, threads, or network topics. Thus programmers has to rely on vendor specific libraries which are often not easily portable. These should be addressed to make C++ more competitive with newcomers like Java. 3. C++ didn't have standard ABI or bytecode/runtime either, leaving component frameworks to COM/DCOM and CORBA. Neither of them is really as good as Java in distributed environment. If the standard committee make bold actions and have vendors support, they can still steer C++ into new age of mainstream programming, otherwise it will retreat to the corners C currently is.
Rating:
Summary: if you can't understand it, don't complain, blame yourself
Review: my suggestion is, before reading this book, you not only need to have a lot of programming experience, but you'd better have knowledge about the theories of programming language and compiler too. I've seen people who already know C and Java and have read tens of thousands lines of code being frequently frustrated when reading this book just because the lack of the aforementioned skills. spending a whole night just to understand 3 pages is not uncommon for a not completely untrained beginner like the one mentioned above. so if you don't want your confidence to be quashed, think twice before reading it. but this is no way the book's fault.
Rating:
Summary: Worthy of the K&R legacy
Review: You know, after about twenty years, I continue to find insight, wisdom, and clarity in K&R. While C++ went through its protracted "fadish" stage (like all programming languages), and its implementation was a wreck in the hands of compiler writers, it stayed on the path toward industrial strength and greater efficiency. My copy of the 3rd Ed. is finally starting to get those filthy dark smudges along the edge of the pages, like my K&R.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing Content, Questionable Writing
Review: Stroustrup clearly shows that his expertise is in computing and not in writing with this book. If you comprehend everything that is in this book, you will definitely have an unbelieveable knowledge of this language. This book *might* work for a beginner to C++ but has significant expertise in other programming languages, but is certainly too advanced for a person that is new to programming altogether. His writing style leaves something to be desired. Stroustrup sometimes phrases ideas an an unnecessarily obscure/long-winded manner when concise wording is available. Sometimes his choice of adjectives/adverbs is questionable. This book can benefit from the input of someone with more expertise in writing. To his credit, I have yet to find anything actually *wrong* in this book, so at least the book is well-proofread (which, unfortunately, is not true for all C++ books....) However, his writing flaws are nothing that cannot be overcome by a technically competent reader with a reasonable amount of diligence, and I strongly recommend this book for someone looking to take their C++ skills to the next level.
Rating:
Summary: The Bible
Review: Guys, what can I say about this book... it is the bible...
Beginners can go through other (more simpler) literature, there are indeed many other books in the market who deal with learning C++... but this is the book you have by your desk when you are a professional programmer (why I hate the more politically correct "developer" word is a different story, and this is neither the time nor the place). In other words, if you don't have it already click on the buy button, have Stroustrup collect his well deserved royalties, and start thinking as a professional.
Rating:
Summary: A good book
Review: I agree with most of the folks that this is not a book for a biginner. But I would think this book should be a good choice for serious programmers.
Rating:
Summary: buy this book when u can program C++
Review: Not a newbie book, but when u understand the sytax buy this book u will learn so much that u will not regret it. I repeat dont be a newbie programmer and buy this book.
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