Rating: 
Summary: You must have this book
Review: If you know some about C++ and want to reach the Big Leagues, then you must have this book because here Stroustrup explains at the same time both the language and why it is the way it is. C++ is full of startling features that 95% of programmers don't know how to use effectively, and this book is how Stroustrup's comments will help you to get to the top 5%.
Nevertheless, be warned, IMHO the author doesn't try at all to be easily understandable, the book is hard to read (dense, actually, which means that there is a lot of deep information in each page, something sometimes desirable), and full of cross references to itself.
This book has another good feature, which is FULL COVERAGE of the ISO C++ standard, i.e. it covers all of it: C, OOP (Classes, Inheritance, Multiple Inheritance, ...), overloading, Generic Programming (Templates, STL, ...), the Standard Library, ...
Also, this is the book we C++ experts use as reference when debating, still today in 2002.
Even if you don't understand all of it, it will surely be a valuable adition to your library. -= Ed =-
Rating:
Summary: Don't believe the naysayers
Review: This is, by far, the best book on the C++ programming language. As many reviewers have pointed out, the book is not intended as a tutorial or a "Teach Yourself" guide to the language. To someone with a good understanding of the language, the book is a masterpiece. Stroustrup covers every aspect of C++ in detail. This is precisely why the book is so valuable. There are many good books on learning C++ but this is the only, completely reliable and thorough book on the subject. The book can be read from cover to cover (if one perseveres) or used as a reference and therefore would be valuable to anyone who takes C++ seriously. A beginner would have to work hard to understand the book but, with a little effort, would be a far better programmer for it. If you really want to understand C++, buy this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Bible, but it's Bible
Review: This book is nothing but a reference for language lawers. Unlike K&R it is not interesting, valuable for C++ programmers. It is too long to read and find something you just want to know. Unfortunately, the book is a standard book for C++. If you need to understand accurately what is the standard of whether you wnat or not, you should stock this at you bookshelf. I can say this book represents the weakness of C++.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive but badly written
Review: The fact that Stroustrup's C++ is arguably the most comprehensive C++ book out there, does not hide the fact that it is one of the most longwinded, opinionated, and overrated academic books ever written. I like C++, have been using it for years, and have referred to Stroustrup a lot. Usually I find what I am looking for, but at the expense of having to go through a lot of cross-references and self-important speeches ("I did this and I thought of that"). Compare this with K&R C, where you'll find what you're looking for in little or no time, and which probably never uses the pronoun "I" (or even "We" unless including the reader). Brevity and humility are underrated and underappreciated. In my opinion, Stroustrup would have been 4-5 times better if it was 4-5 times shorter, and it would have lost none of its comprehensiveness in the bargain.
Rating:
Summary: The Camel book of C++
Review: This is to C++ what the Camel Book is to Perl. The true bible. The book of all books.
This book covers every nook and cranny of the C++ language, all of the standard library, and even has a section on OO program design, which is simple brilliant.
I recommend this to experienced C/C++ programmers wishing to utilize the full extent of the language. (Many times C++ programmers only know C with <iostream>, or C with <iostream> and classes. There's a-whole-nother world out there in C++! The STL is the most useful library ever!)
Rating: 
Summary: wast of time and money
Review: Considering the cost of computer textbooks, the quality of the writing is often shockingly poor. "The C++ Programming Language" by Bjarne Stroustrup is a prime example. The book is a complete waste of money and, worse yet, your time. Mr. Stroustrup must be very intelligent and he obviously knows what he is talking about. He just is not very good at conveying this knowledge to others. In my twenty years of working with computers this is the worst textbook I have yet encountered. I have seen better writing from sixth graders. It is the flow of ideas and concepts that is unusable. I found that if I already understood the topic I could follow what the book is saying; if I did not already understand it I could not. Unfortunately, the reason to spend your money on a textbook is to help you understand things you do not. One must conclude that the only reason this book is still in print is because the author is the creator of C++. That is not a good enough reason for you to spend fifty dollars. But don't take my word for it, read chapter 2 yourself. Or, before you buy this book, read the section on Enumerations in chapter 3 - then read the same subject in Deitel & Deitel's "C++ How to Program" or Eckel's "Thinking in C++".
Rating:
Summary: One of the best programming books ever written.
Review: This book is, in my opinion, one of the best written technical books, period. It covers not just the syntax of C++, but the reasoning behind the the language. The style of the sample code (and there is a lot of sample code) is a model for readability. Also, the book contains many exercises, and include a rating for their difficulty.
Rating: 
Summary: THE C++ reference book
Review: This book, written by Bjarne Stroustrup (the guy who invented C++), is the definitive reference. It is a compact, dense, authoritative reference for the C++ language. It is not a handholding tutorial. It won't explain what a compiler is, or feed you the basic topics one nibble at a time. Although it can be used by C++ neophytes, it is aimed more at intermediate to advanced C++ programmers. On the other hand, if you are a beginner and like reading a compressed, no-nonsense text, this book may be for you. This book has been on my desk for a long time, and I have periodically referred to it.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful for the expert
Review: Begone heathens! Bjarne Stroustrup is, of course, THE primary guru of C++, and his book shows it. THE C++ PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE is not for the faint of heart, nor for the inexperienced programmer, nor - I would hazard - for the novice C++ programmer. TCPL is best for the intermediate - wishing to become masters - or for the master - wishing to recall subtleties. Bjarne's writing style is clear, to the point, and full of cross-references. The book cannot, easily, be read cover-to-cover only once, as each chapter does NOT build sequentially on the reader's knowledge of C++; each chapter discusses a topic or two, making reference to other chapters (which may be hundreds of pages after) where necessary. It's obviously intended to be more of an encyclopedia rather than a digest; the simple-to-complex structure of the book is merely a surface convention. For the expert or even intermediate, this is not a difficult book to read, however the beginner would be best served with Prata's C++ PRIMER PLUS (a shameless plug - I am a contributing author and technical editor for the 4th edition) to wet his/her feet before plunging in. TCPL covers the "pure C++" of the 98 C++ standard. Don't expect user interface issues, or anything OTHER than straight C++ - it's all here - and coupled with Bjarne's own commentary on style and implementation. TCPL is a book certain to be pulled from your shelves for many years to come.
Rating: 
Summary: Good reference for the experienced C++ programmer
Review: See the Ioannis Vranos review. This guy knows what he is doing. This is probably the *worst* text to learn C++ from. If you are an experienced C++ programmer, this is a must have reference. DO NOT buy this book if you are looking for a book that will teach you C++. You will become very frustrated with this text. As a side note, C++ is NOT a first language, despite what some Universities think. C++ is HARD. Approach it with respect.
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