Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Introduction to C++ for C programmers
Review: Lippman's primer is the first book on C++ programming that I read. It happends to remain one of my favorites. The first part of the book is devoted to the "basic" syntax of the language. The differences with C are pointed out and for those unfamiliar with C programming this material is essential. The second half of the book coveres C++ specific topics like templates and object-oriented constructs. I find Lippman's examples superb. I would rate the book a 9 out of 10 for technical
content, but unfortunately C++ has changed appreciably in the 6 years since it's publication. Overall I'd have to give it a 7 since it does not cover the recent changes to the language, for example the Standard Library (STL). Of course, only one introductory text does cover STL anyway, so I have high standards.
Conversly, since the book was written about the time of the Annotated Reference Manual (ARM) it is a great introduction for experienced programmers who don't already know C++ and who might not want to know right away about the latest and esoteric features of the language.
Persons entirely new to programming might not want to start with this book.
I teach C++ programming courses to part-time graduate students at the Johns Hopkins University and of the 20 or 30 C++ texts on my shelf I consider C++ Primer one of the top 2-3.
Paul McNamee
Rating: 
Summary: Manager Likes C++ Primer for Completeness and Clarity
Review: Lippman's C++ Primer is the best introductory book on C++ I've read, and I was head of a C++ Framework development group. The prose is clear and well-motivated. It even approaches "bed-time reading". I recommend this book to all my C++ learning pals. This paperback costs more than others for good reason.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent reference on the fundamentals of c++
Review: I spend MANY hours a day working on program problems on the computer and it's impossible to remember everything, so, when I need a quick refresher on a core fundamental element of c++, one of the first books I grab is this one. It's not that deep BUT it covers a LOT! It is a definate must-have for your reference library
Rating:
Summary: Concise, must have, reference for beginner and practitioner
Review: I personally used this book to teach myself C++ after trying several other books from my local library. The material is very well organized. It is easy to misuse many C++ constructs when first starting out -- Lippman will help you avoid many of the early mistakes which are commonly made. His examples are concise and easily adapted to specific projects. He has done an excellent job of cross-referncing the topics which makes the primer invaluable as a reference.
If you have to learn the language and concepts quickly, I doubt there is a better book available.
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: For experienced programmers, C++ primer is a one-stop resource. However, the contents fall somewhere between a beginner level c++ books and the ultimate "THE c++ programming language" by the creator itself. Here is my breakdown of the book: (5=best) #1: Contents (5): This book is the most comprehensive tutorial style books available. The contents are presented in no-fluff, succit style. Instead of just explaining the concepts, the author focuses on the possible pitfalls and critical details. I also like the comments on compatibility issues. #2: Writing Style (3): I will give 3-stars for writing style because the book lacks the conversational tone. It presents a lot of details at once. ALso, the book is very "textbook" type and the style make it somewhat hard to follow inspite of its excellent contents. #3 Organization (1). I agree with most other reviewers who think that the book suffer from poor organization. The authors are trying to make their book a tutorial and a reference at the same time and it clearly fails to fit in either camp. The author jumps around alot with a huge number of cross references and presents many concept without explaining them. This make this book very unsuitable for beginners with a little programming experience. #4: Examples (4): C++ primer is one of the few books with decent practice problem. The examples are usually short and to the point and successfully avoid the unnecessary clutter. However, most are code snippets instead of complete working programs and usually donot touch realworld problems. #5: Audience (2): The book claims to be suitable for both beginners and experienced programmers. In my opinion, for beginners this book can be very frustrating. Overall (5): Inspite of its shortcomming, i give this book
5-star because its worth your money. This is one book that will become your all time favourite reference once you get comfortable with the language.
Rating: 
Summary: Complete reference, but exteremly disorganized
Review: I use this book all the time as a reference, but if you are learning C++, this is probably one of the worst books you can get. It is highly disorganized and would discourage any student of C++. The authors routinely refer to subjects that have not been discussed or are covered a few chapters ahead. But as a reference to c++, if you are already a C++ programmer, it is probably one of the best ANSI C++ books out there and subjects are covered clearly, that is if you already know C++. For a beginner I recommend Object-Oriented Programming in C++ (4th Edition) by Robert Lafore.
Rating:
Summary: Learn to become an efficient C++ programmer from the start
Review: The traditional way to teach programming, especially C++, has been to introduce the basics of the language and building on top the basics as the book progresses. Lippman, et. al. have diverted from the traditional way of teaching C++, which leaved the reader with a better understanding of the topic and the language as whole. Instead of creating yet another "C++ Reference Manual", which in turn gives the reader a very detail description of the language, the authors have focused on the effective and current best practices in C++ from the get go. The Standard Template Library is introduced early on in the book, and the readers begin to experience "how things are done in the real world" early on, instead of waiting until the end of the text.
C++ is a powerful language; more importantly, it is language that gives its users plenty of power. Enough power and freedom that if not tamed, could become very dangerous. Unlike some other "newer" programming languages, C++ has the ability to manipulate the lowest levels of the system: hardware and the operating system. The authors took this notion into consideration and wrote the book in such a way that proper programming techniques and methodologies are "forced" from the beginning. Programming in C++ also requires a different mind-set as well: objects, classes, inheritance, polymorphism, etc... These are topics best understood by example. The standard template library (STL) is the best way to show the users how the most powerful techniques in C++ are being utilized. Starting with the String and the Vector classes, the authors walk a very fine line of teaching the novice users about the ins and outs of the language and others how to best take advantage of the available libraries that are provided with the language.
To new readers of the language this approach might seem a bit difficult to grasp, but the fact of the matter is that C++ is not an easy programming language to learn. If you are serious about learning C++, what better to learn the language than learning the right way from the start? It might seem a bit overwhelmed at first, but that's ok. There is a glossary of introduced terms at the end of each chapter, along with a summary of topics covered. At the beginning of each section (part) of the book, the authors give an overall summary what's to come, and why these topics are covered when they are. The same goes for the beginning of each chapter: a summary of what's to come begins each chapter before the material is covered in detail. The authors realize that the approach might seem a bit unorthodox, and take extra care in making sure the readers are not overwhelmed with information. For people with C++ experience, you will appreciate this method of teaching a lot more. The readers are exposed to "important" C++ terms and phrases from the beginning instead of waiting until the last couple of chapters of the book.
Other than the format change, and updated material to comply with the latest ANSI C++ standard, this book has updated examples the source code for which can be downloaded from the book's web site. There is C programming coverage in this book, which is very good. The programming style is C and C++ are inherently different (procedural and object-orientation), and talking about C would simply confuse the readers. The book's focus from the beginning to the end is how to best utilize and write programs in the C++ programming language: how to become an efficient C++ programmer.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the C++ programming language. If you have used C++ before, this book is still a valuable addition to your library, as it covers C++ with efficiency and proper programming style in mind.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent but wait till early 2005...
Review: ...which is when Lippman will be releasing the 4th Edition. That will be a huge rewrite which will push the use of "modern C++" to the forefront. By "modern C++" I mean the emphasis will be much more on the use of the Standard Library and STL rather than low level constructs such as arrays and pointers.
BTW, do not confuse this book with Prata's "C++ Primer Plus" which is a completely different book and generally not in the same league as Lippman's.
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: For experienced programmers, C++ primer is a one-stop resource. However, the contents fall somewhere between a beginner level c++ books and the ultimate "THE c++ programming language" by the creator itself. Here is my breakdown of the book: (5=best) #1: Contents (5): This book is the most comprehensive tutorial style books available. The contents are presented in no-fluff, succit style. Instead of just explaining the concepts, the author focuses on the possible pitfalls and critical details. I also like the comments on compatibility issues. #2: Writing Style (3): I will give 3-stars for writing style because the book lacks the conversational tone. It presents a lot of details at once. ALso, the book is very "textbook" type and the style make it somewhat hard to follow inspite of its excellent contents. #3 Organization (1). I agree with most other reviewers who think that the book suffer from poor organization. The authors are trying to make their book a tutorial and a reference at the same time and it clearly fails to fit in either camp. The author jumps around alot with a huge number of cross references and presents many concept without explaining them. This make this book very unsuitable for beginners with a little programming experience. #4: Examples (4): C++ primer is one of the few books with decent practice problem. The examples are usually short and to the point and successfully avoid the unnecessary clutter. However, most are code snippets instead of complete working programs and usually donot touch realworld problems. #5: Audience (2): The book claims to be suitable for both beginners and experienced programmers. In my opinion, for beginners this book can be very frustrating. Overall (5): Inspite of its shortcomming, i give this book
5-star because its worth your money. This is one book that will become your all time favourite reference once you get comfortable with the language.
Rating:
Summary: Complete reference, but exteremly disorganized
Review: I use this book all the time as a reference, but if you are learning C++, this is probably one of the worst books you can get. It is highly disorganized and would discourage any student of C++. The authors routinely refer to subjects that have not been discussed or are covered a few chapters ahead. But as a reference to c++, if you are already a C++ programmer, it is probably one of the best ANSI C++ books out there and subjects are covered clearly, that is if you already know C++. For a beginner I recommend Object-Oriented Programming in C++ (4th Edition) by Robert Lafore.
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