Rating: 
Summary: If you only buy one, buy this one!
Review: After forgetting ALL of the OO that I had learned, due to lack of use, I needed to learn C++ immediately for a writing assignment. The beauty of this book is that it presents manageable amounts of information very clearly, and then not only presents snippets of very understandable code, but walks you through each example. You then can type into the free C++ IDE/compiler supplied with the book. It brings home each topic in a linear fashion - no need to read a chapter three times. Clear, concise, well done. After taking many courses in other OO languages, I'm only now really understanding some of the concepts I never really understood. Cogswell is a really good writer, and he knows his stuff!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent writer, GREAT book...
Review: Do NOT judge this book by the phrase "for dummies" in the title. Jeff Cogswell created a very comprehensive 800+ page book that runs all the way through C++. If you worked through this book from start to finish (and with his pleasant writing style, you could), you'd have the entire language at your disposal -- not just a beginner's knowledge. Also note that it begins assuming you have no programming experience, yet it does advance to the heart of C++ (and around it). I had some prior experience, so I started later on in the first "mini book." (see the table of contents.)Cogswell also walks the tight-rope of hard-core technical teaching and pleasant "conversational" teaching quite well. And being a "for dummies" book, you'll find the typical comic relief every now and then. If you're like most, you have more than one book on any programming language. Save time and money -- make this one your first. His writing style helps C++ go down a lot smoother.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent writer, GREAT book...
Review: Do NOT judge this book by the phrase "for dummies" in the title. Jeff Cogswell created a very comprehensive 800+ page book that runs all the way through C++. If you worked through this book from start to finish (and with his pleasant writing style, you could), you'd have the entire language at your disposal -- not just a beginner's knowledge. Also note that it begins assuming you have no programming experience, yet it does advance to the heart of C++ (and around it). I had some prior experience, so I started later on in the first "mini book." (see the table of contents.) Cogswell also walks the tight-rope of hard-core technical teaching and pleasant "conversational" teaching quite well. And being a "for dummies" book, you'll find the typical comic relief every now and then. If you're like most, you have more than one book on any programming language. Save time and money -- make this one your first. His writing style helps C++ go down a lot smoother.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for newbies! :)
Review: Great book! It starts as if you don't know anything, and then slowly takes you into advanced things. I highly recommend it, very much worth the purchase price.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book for both beginner and experienced...
Review: I am a software engineer with C for 8+ years. I have a certificate on C++ but do not apply it extensively. When I browsed this book just a few pages on design pattern, I was attracted by its easy-to-read and yet up-to-date knowledge. I plan to spare 15 minutes every night to catch up something new since I graduated from university.
Rating:
Summary: Simplifying Difficult Concepts
Review: I have been a computer programmer for a long time, working on IBM mainframes. I have been wanting to learn C++ and Object Oriented techniques, but have been intimidated by the complexity of them. This book presents in clear, easy to understand language everything I needed to know. The fact that it's entertaining is just a bonus. Do yourself a favor - buy this book and then go get a better job.
Rating:
Summary: Computer Science Students - You Need This Book!
Review: I have been struggling with the computer courses in a Computer Science Degree program that is completely online. I have read over 20 C++ programming texts and I wish I had read this one first. Along with the usual frivolities that accompany "for Dummies!" books, Jeff Cogswell is able to explain all those fun little things like polymorphism and UML and object-oriented in ways that no one else has been able to do.
I would buy another book by this author in a heartbeat. With no prior computer programming experience, the concepts in C++ had me pretty much beat. Jeff was able to bring my hopes of graduation back to life.
Thanks, Jeff.
Rating:
Summary: Don't let the title fool you... (Also great for students!)
Review: I have to say, I was a bit skeptical when I saw this book. (Not another YELLOW book.) But... when I started flipping through it, I was impressed with how much this book covers... Unlike a lot of other C++ books, this book didn't require that you already know another programming language. Yet even though the book starts out at the very beginnings, it pretty much covers the whole gamut: Unified Modeling Language (UML), Design Patterns, advanced stream programming, using a debugger, working with templates, and so on. If you make it through this book, you certainly won't be a beginner anymore. Also, one great thing about the book is that if you're developing on Windows, the CD-ROM comes with an entire compiler called Dev-C++ that lets you type in your code and build your programs. The examples use this compiler. (Although the version on the CD-ROM is slightly newer from what the author uses in the text, but the author has a web site explaining how to install the one on the CD to get everything going. Once I followed the instructions on the web site, it worked great.) I highly recommend this book, especially if you're a computer science student trying to learn C++.
Rating:
Summary: Great C++ Fundamentals
Review: I'm a 19 year old college student who's been programming since the C64 days. I've mainly focused on other programming languages that I've seen practical application for; Visual Basic, PHP, etc. I had dabbled with C++ now and again, but Visual C++'s MFC style had turned me off time and time again when it comes to building windows applications. If your looking to dive straight away into building windows applications, this book probably isn't the book for you. But, if your wanting to get a good working knowledge of C++, this is definately the book to get you to those other programming tasks. I bought this book with one intent in mind, to sit down and force myself to understand the advantages of pointers, classes, OOP and all this jargon these geeks keep talking about. This book covers all three with ease. It goes into enough detail so that all the techies know exactly "where it goes and what it does", but doesn't go into such much detail that the book becomes boring and dry. For the average individual with some previous programming knowledge, It's right on the mark with my expectations! I would highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent writer, GREAT book...
Review: Simply put: It's the most fun you can have learning C++. The author explains incredibly difficult concepts in a unique way which has you understanding & laughing at the same time. I will NEVER pick up another one of those dry tech books again.
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