Rating: 
Summary: Great Reference for Intermedite to Advanced C++ Programmers
Review: Don't buy this book if you are new to C++ and want to start learning from the ground up. That's not the audience the book was intended for. However, once you do attain some C++ knowledge, this book will be invaluable. I'm an experienced C++ programmer and software engineer, and this is the definitive reference for both myself and my colleagues. I've bought 2: one for the workplace and one for home, and I always learn something new and useful whenever I read through it. If you're a serious programmer, you don't want to be without this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Piece for Master of C++
Review: Let me start out by saying what this book isn't. This book is not for people who do not have programming experience in C++ already. This is not a ground up tutorial on how to program in C++, and it is not a fast read. What this book is, however, is probably the best reference book on C++ in existance. Written by the most authorative man on the subject. It covers all the pieces of C++ in stunning detail while remaining mostly readable. Some of the tricks he plays with code are things that you've never heard of before. One thing that he does address in this book is the implications of the language features on the design of the software being written in it. He discusses how to implement certain object-oriented concepts using different capabilities of C++. In other instances he talks about precicely what the compiler does when it sees certain things, and gives a programmer a deeper understanding of exactly how the machine is carying out the requests that the programmer makes of it. This book is often compared the "The C Programming Language" by K & R and deserves the vaguely refencing title. Just a note, if you like learning by doing you'll have to do the exercies at the end of the chapters, because there aren't any "compileable as is" code listings in this book, just fragments for examples (about 5 code fragments per page on average). It will also help to have an understanding of fundamental computer architecture (assembly) and data structures for comprehension. Overall if you've done some C++ and you want to become more proficient and Master the language, this is the last book you'll need to read before you'll feel like one.
Rating:
Summary: Indispensable Book, I Like the New Binding
Review: Although this shouldn't be your *only* book on C++ and is suitable as a *first* book on C++ only for fairly experienced programmers, this is an absolutely *must-have* book for any serious C++ programmer. Ever since its first edition, this book has managed to strike a healthy balance between tutorial and reference material (the latter aided by a superb index, a feature sadly deficient in many books). Is this hardcover edition worth the extra price over the softcover 3rd edition? In my opinion, it is! As far as I can tell, the contents are nearly identical, except for two extra appendixes which are available for free on the web. However, for a book that one is likely to use as intensely as this one, the hardcover binding and especially the attached bookmark threads are very convenient.
Rating: 
Summary: Useful to people that don't need it
Review: I like books written by friendly people that want to share things they know with you. This is not one of those books. Stroustup doesn't even pay homage to Kernigan and Ritchie; on the contrary he essentially dismisses them and complains about the syntactical problems he ran into. Any C++ book should first tell you that of any language, C++ provides the most powerful and simplest way to [ruin] yourself. It should also tell you that because of short-sighted planning when processors had single digit mhz ratings, the language features no dynamic object management and so you're eternally worrying about copy constructors, tricks for passing things and smart pointers - none of which truly represent abstraction constructs which make you productive. And rather than risk badmouthing the language, the author suggests that no one could ever do productive programming work without using all of C++'s features which only the most senior 1% of C++ programmers really understand well enough to be productive and reliable with. Don't get me wrong; I like C++'s basic features. But I'm tired of this high-end C++ pajama party. At some point you have to ask yourself 'does this help you make better software or is it complexity for its own sake?' Instead check out Dattatari's or Eckel's books for a friendly, honest guide to the language.
Rating:
Summary: Definitive programmer's guide
Review: I am really happy with how useful and informative this book has been. I used the C++ Primer book in college back in the early 90's; it was my reference until I got this book. The way the topics and examples are presented makes it possible to just find what you need without having to read the previous 2 or 3 chapters. And Stroustrup knows object oriented programming. I can't remember how many times I would think of some obscure question, such as the use of a virtual constructor, or the use of a virtual base class, and the author addresses them in detail. What a find! I love the object-oriented way of organizing my thoughts. Having this book is like having conversation over dinner with an object-oriented programming guru, waiting for you to pick his brain. I definitely recommend this book to all the programmers out there.
Rating:
Summary: C++ Programming Language, 3rd Edition.
Review: Even though lots of people said this is a very good book. But my feeling about this book is kind of mixed: lots of material are covered in this book, however, the writing style is not quite accessible. It seems to me that Mr. Stroustroup is mumbling to himself! I learned C programming language by reading only "the book" by Kerninghan and Ritchie, and data strutures from Knuth's The Art of Computer Programming. But I just cannot learn C++ by reading only Stroustroup's book.
Rating:
Summary: Fundamental Book, but should be last read
Review: This book is written in the way creator Bjarne Stroustrup sees his language and how his language should be used. This book is not thin on material for the intermediate to advanced C++ software engineer. One word in warning to potential buyers: You better be sharp with your STL skills before reading this book. Stroustrup writes his implementations around the STL which is not covered from a tutorial style in this book before he introduces it, which tells you that he meant for this book strictly as a reference not as a readers book. This critism is constructive, not disruptive, but I have been programming in standard ANSI/ISO C++ for 9 years, this book is best understood if you read the following first, if not, this book for even an itermediate C++ program cannot be digested to the fullest and you will reading this book fooling yourself of how much knowledge you have attained, when in reality, all that you have accomplished is reading this book so that you can say that you read Stroustrup, which is foolish, so read these first: 1) C++ Primer 3rd Edition: Stanley Lippman Addison Wesley Books Strengths: If you are starting out with C++ with no C++ experience, this book covers every facet beginner to advanced topics, such as fundamental classes, class design covering nested class and intense class scoping rules, which Stroustrups book does not cover, there is no reference to nested classes and access privileges with nested classes with Stroustrup's book. The chapters on function templates and another chapter on class templates are the most complete and thorough beyound what you need to know for richness is explained brilliantly and better than scant coverage in Stroustrup's. The C++ Primer is long though, so if you want to learn C++ the right way, skills like this take time and effort, there is no free lunches here, but this is regarded as the best C++ book regardless of level: starter, intermediate, or very advanced master. It also serves a robust reference. This books covers the STL containers well in its own chapter and also two chapter on all the STL algoritms, plus an extended alphabetically ordered repitition in type out of the book and compile form. This book is not for the faint hearted or lazy, if you are ambitious, this book will make you a C++ king. Also get its companion C++ Answer book with all answers to the books exercise questions from author Clovis L. Tondo, also an Addison Wesley title. 2) C++ Algorithms 3rd Edition by Robert Sedgewick also Addison Wesley books. Why? You seriouly have to know your date structure skills, linked lists, stacks, trees, queues and its accompanying algoritms, such as: searching and sorting, merging and merge sorting. Stroustrups books assumes you know how these all come together, if you do not believe this, then look at his stark and algorithmically complex data structure examples, once this is read everything will be a piece of cake, believe this, do not fool yourself. 3) The C++ Standard Library Tutorial and Reference from Nicolai Josuttis, from Addison Wesley also, this book is the defacto bible on mastering the STL, which covers brilliant chapters on containers( vectors, lists, maps, sets, deques, and much more ). It also covers a huge chapter on standard IO streams, at least over 150 pages on this alone, as well a masterful chapter on STL strings. This should be read after Sedgewick's book. This book like all Addison Wesley books, is of the highest qualitiy and caliber of writing making it fun to read and plenty of type out of the book samples to bang in the concept. This books brilliantly also tutors you in function objects, iterators and all its variants, and STL algorithms. Last Word: Stroustrups book is definite worth in purchase and you cannot consider yourself a C++ software engineer, or C++ Software/Systems architect without having this book in your library, but patience and read books 1,2, and three first in that order. And wheh you do the above, and are ready to read Stroustup's book, one reminder, you must know your templates, know your templates, know your templates, also get the accompanying answer book, C++ Solutions, by Vandervoode also an Addison Wesley title. Good Fortune.
Rating:
Summary: The only book deserves six stars.
Review: The only book deserves six stars. Every programmer has a certain programming level, also a lot of senior programmers worked in IT industry for years might only have improved their coding skills from making the products they are assigned to. (A top senior in my company, who has over 15 years C/C++, required me to write a ¡°static modifier for non-static data member¡±. How? God knows. She really needs to go back to basic sometime.) So the appreciation to this book could fall in four different categories: 1. For senior programmer who has kept improving coding skills for years by working on project and by deeply studying excellent books such as this book, they have to be willing to really appreciate Dr. Stroustrup¡¯s outstanding effort of making such an easy-reading, non-mistake and just-precious reference to anybody (even a beginner who is brave enough to face the difficulty of C++). If a senior programmer does NOT appreciate it, then he needs to read the material he is interested at least once again. 2. For experienced programmer who has kept improving coding skills for years by working on project and finished some ¡°advanced level¡± books such as ¡°Thinking in C++¡± (even ¡°More/Effective C++¡±), will definitely appreciate this book a lot better just by comparing the same topics between these two books, such as virtual functions, constructor, multiple inheritance¡it is pretty easy to find out that who is doing the original creative work (I guess Dr. Stroustrup & Meyers) and who is doing copy & past & comments routines (I guess Mr. Eckel). 3. For some language freaks (such as me), will go crazy try to test any unknown language features mentioned in this book, and get irreplaceable satisfactions once truly understand them. Beside they may try to collect all Stroustrup¡¯s masterpiece books and enjoy the marrow between lines (I especially like his The Annotated C++ Reference Manual and the 2nd. Edition of this book for some reason.) 4. For normal intermediate programmers, it will look a little scary and disorganized (because of C++ ¡®s nature of complexity); it is not uncommon at all. Just keep it on your bookshelf and try to open it whenever you get a chance, you will not regret on the money invested for it, because it is truly a gateway to get into the secrete and beautiful programming world.
Rating:
Summary: Not my cup of Tea...
Review: This book may be the bible of experienced C++ programmer but definitely its not targeted for a beginner trying to learn the C++ language. This book has examples using templates when explaining Expressions in first chapters and a ton of similar things which always drives a person trying to learn the language. My advice for a beginner would be to read the complete reference series instead and come back to this book after some time.
Rating:
Summary: In Excellence
Review: Every C++ programmer should have this book. It covers stuff you will never find collected in one place.
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