C for Dummies, Volume One & Two Bundle

Rating:
Summary: Good for Getting Your Getting Your Feet Wet
Review: I found this book quite slow but it is quite good for the begining programer who knows nothing about programing. It's also a little funny.

Rating:
Summary: What a good C book!
Review: I can't find any words to describe how good it is. If you want to know what is C, read it. :)

Rating:
Summary: The BEST beginners C book bar none
Review: I've tried several beginners C books but this is the only one that WORKS! Buy it--it should come with a guarantee because it really delivers the goods

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant launching pad for would-be programmers.
Review: This book follows the rules of learning a new language (programming or otherwise). It introduces new concepts one at a time, gives an example, an exercise for practice, returns to the explanation of the original concept, and finally gets you to complete another exercise to make sure you REALLY understand! If you follow the chapters thoroughly from start to finish you can learn the basics of C almost without trying - the only programming book I've ever been able to understand. My only complaint... Volume 2 is way ovedue and I've been left in the lurch without it

Rating:
Summary: It really assume that you are a real dummy
Review: If you want to spend some good time laughing that's the right book for you, but if you really want to learn C you should read another book . The author of this book spent too much time to explain too simple things (actually it takes 1 or 2 chapters just to explain how to print something on the screen). But if you are a real dummy you may enjoy it

Rating:
Summary: satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the siupport of IDG.
Review: My review of Dan Gooking's book is that it makes C a very understanable computer language. I was affraid of C until I read his book. The only problem that I have found with Dan's book is that both SWITN-CASE, and WHILE DONE programs will not work as they should when the program is executed. With SWITCH-CASE the default is the only code that is execuited. In executing the WHILE-DONE the program will except anything that I type on the screen which is not suppose to be the case. Although IDG books has answered my EMAIL they have not given me any support for my Visual C++ programming problem. IDG has just lost a loyal buyer. a coustomer.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, Pure Pleasure
Review: Pleasure and learning are usually not synonymous, but Dan Gookin has found the secret. Extremely user-friendly, funny, and informative, this book lays a firm foundation in the C language. I would never have learned as much about the C language were it not for this book. A must-have for you fellow teach yourself programmers

Rating:
Summary: A god laugh and some learning too.
Review: A book that actually keeps you awake. Surprise! I give this book a 10 becuase not only does it teach you some C but it keeps you awake to digest it. Most books I'll fall asleep on but this one I didn't. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn a basis for C and have fun. Believe me once you read this book you'll want all books to be like it! Remember though that if you want to get highly into C it will require some added reading but its worth it.

Rating:
Summary: How I got started
Review: C for dummies was the first book I purchased (several years ago) to teach myself something about programming a computer. Dan Gookin is a great writer and he even took the time to help with some questions via email as I went through the book.

This book is light weight in tone but a solid heavy weight in content and is a fun read. But don't underestimate this book. If you want to know the basics and have a sold understanding of the basics then this is the book for you. One of the most important things a beginning book must have is lots of "fully coded" examples. Many books will give you a snip-it of code that does't help a beginning programmer. It was great fun, I learned alot and what I learned from Dan Gookin I was able to apply towards learning C++ and Visual Basic.

I would suggest working through this book, practice practice and practice some more. The key is to apply yourself. I worked every project and even combined them. Adding my own twists here and there to make up my own little programs as I worked through this book. When you finish, start working through C for Dummies 2 as it picks up right where the first book ends. Sadly, I had to wait for the second book to be written!! It was worth the wait.

It is all about the desire to learn, no matter how great a book is, without the desire to apply yourself you will not learn. Dan helps break down the resistance barrier and you will find yourself laughing and learning and wanting to learn more the Wambooli way.

I enjoyed this book. I passed it on to my teenager for his first programming book. This book is great for learning the fundamentals of progamming and believe me they apply to all programming languages.



Rating:
Summary: Good for people who "just want to learn C AND ONLY C"...
Review: I got this book back in 1998 but had no time to learn it until 2004 fall. -.-'

I had covered vol 1 and is reading vol 2 now and had browsed over the 2nd edition and the all-in-one companion in Borders. The comments are made after my browsing on ALL 3 BOOKS.

Gookin has a way to teach newbies on "hard stuff" but there are good and bad about the book:-

1. Readablity:

The good:- Fun and easy. Definitely a good book for those that feels programming is hard and boring. Dan makes it really enjoyable.

The bad:- Too drag and like some of the reviews had said, waste of time when something that could be explain in 1 page he used 6-8 pages (and more in some topics) to talk it out. Beginners != Idiots.

2. Assumption:
Not good but not very bad either... below satisfatory?:- The author had over assuming about the reader. The book stated that it is a beginner to intermediate level book. When I first open the book, I realised that I have to have a C/C++ compiler readily installed in the computer. Damn! I wouldn't know what a C/C++ compiler if I am a total noob! I ended up spending time finding out what is a compiler and where to get one before I really start learning from the book.

I suggest that a section be devoted to telling where to get a C/C++ compiler will be good. I am currently using Bloodshed's Dev-C++ compiler for Windows. I am learning Linux now and naturely it comes with a C/C++ compiler.

3. Coverage on different Operating Systems:
Bad:- It covers programming in DOS prompt only. Forget about programming in Windows environment, Mac, UNIX and Linux. I got to know how to compile the source codes in Linux in another C programming book (don't bother to ask about that book. That sucks even more!).

Perhaps Dan was devoted to focus on teaching C only but the truth is that some of the examples (those that called for BIOS functions) could not be compile in WinXP environment. I tried on Linux but in Linux, it does not have conio.h and linux.h file. So then again, what are the alternative header files are we going to use if we are Linux O/S users?

Even if Dan is limited by the pages he is allocated to write the book or by whatsoever limitation for not explaining C programming for Windows. I think an introductory lesson should be taught and then recommand the users to read more by buying other books on Win Programming. He did the latter but flopped the formal.

I am currently at a bottle neck of my learning of C due to the BIOS function thing and have to get another book on programming C for windows to continue my learning on C. Kind of suck! I hope I can find a good book. -.-'