Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad C beginners guide!
Review: I had to use this book for a class I took my freshman year as my first C programming book and found it was extremely good (as far a computer-based books go). The book practically spoon-feeds you what you need to know and how to do it.
Rating: 
Summary: Read for Knowledge
Review: I have read all of the reviews above. People either hate this book or love it. I teach C programming at a state university and use this book in a series of C class from beginning to advanced.This book is not for the type of person that enjoys the "learn X in 21 days" concept. This is for those who wish to learn the subject in its entirety and understand WHY things work like they do. This book not only gives explainations in detail (such as short circuit evaluations) but it also gives several other options for coding the same solution. This is a book to be studied not skimmed. It can be used a book for beginners and can be carried through advanced topics. If used correctly, it is a GREAT book.
Rating:
Summary: Read for Knowledge
Review: I have read all of the reviews above. People either hate this book or love it. I teach C programming at a state university and use this book in a series of C class from beginning to advanced. This book is not for the type of person that enjoys the "learn X in 21 days" concept. This is for those who wish to learn the subject in its entirety and understand WHY things work like they do. This book not only gives explainations in detail (such as short circuit evaluations) but it also gives several other options for coding the same solution. This is a book to be studied not skimmed. It can be used a book for beginners and can be carried through advanced topics. If used correctly, it is a GREAT book.
Rating:
Summary: Magical or Mundane?
Review: I started my journey in C with C for Dummies Volumes 1&2. Having read the above reviews some have made me sick. And to those of you who have rated it one star I'd like to say that C for Dummies would be great for you because all you long for is a superficial knowledge. I have almost finished reading it and having the knowledge from C for Dummies I'm having little trouble grasping the concepts here. Computer programming is like a magic of sorts one can tell a computer to do anything. A computer can be bent to the will of its master with the correct tools. A programming language being one of them. Unfortunantly most are not in it for the exploration of knowledge most are looking for big bucks. For all of you who want the quick way out just go get C for Dummies and C in 21 days just stop there. You know a bit of C. Have a small working knowledge of it and you can probably even get a job. However don't plan on holding you job when one of the true wizzards comes along. There's always an opening in the professional wresteling industry. They can teach you to do that in 24 hours but then again if you want to do it well then ... probably not. For those who seek knowledge. For those who wish to become the Mages of the computer world. Read this book. Don't stop here but do read it it will lay concrete foundation for you. Then go on with more advanced books maybe socket programming or encryption. To you who seek to understand the magical art there is nothing you can't do. To the larger portion of mundane users. Why not start with a less complicated language like Basic? Or HTML? You can make good money as a Web-Designer who uses things like Front Page to do beautiful work with little coding at all. Why stay in a realm where you will be second? If you are not willing to work to understand the art then find something you are willing to work for, and stop whining about how hard it is and how it's hurting your small brains trying to comprehend this book. If you remain in it, when you drop your staves to the ground and they become garden snakes, they will only be swallowed whole by the Cobra created in the mind of a true master of the art. It discusts me to see such a good book get sorry reviews just because the majority of this great nation seek the EASY way out. To those who are willing to work, I salute you. You are the true magicians of this age you make things happen. It starts in your mind and becomes a reallity. I plea to the rest of you FIND the value of working for something. In short this is a book for someone who desires an understanding not someone who wants a quick fix it's a very informative work. Only if you want to be informed.
Good Day,
Fatal Error
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth it!
Review: I was required to get this book for a programming class I am taking and all it did was make me more confused.
If you are going to buy a book buy "The C progamming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie - it's a better book to learn from and more concise, straight to the point. It will actually teach you C in under 200 pages, which this book fails to do with twice as many pages.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth it!
Review: I was required to get this book for a programming class I am taking and all it did was make me more confused.
If you are going to buy a book buy "The C progamming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie - it's a better book to learn from and more concise, straight to the point. It will actually teach you C in under 200 pages, which this book fails to do with twice as many pages.
Rating:
Summary: Use the Source, Luke!
Review: One of the best intro C books I've seen. Any hardcore programmer will tell you: the best way to learn is to look at somebody else's code. It helps if the source code is clearly designed, clearly written, commented, well documented. C by Dissection does just that, by describing a concept, showing you example source for a program that puts that concept into practice, THEN, unlike so many other books, going over the example almost line-by-line, to explain what's going on, and why. Too many programming books briefly describe the concept, list a hundred or more lines of source code, then move on. This book walks you through the code and shows you both theory and practice. The only regret I have about C by Dissection is that there isn't a companion volume, Advanced C by Dissection, or perhaps Data Structures and Algorithms (in C) by Dissection. Note that two of the worst reviews above are from an experienced C/C++ programmer and from a Cobol programmer (presumably very experienced; I don't know many young Cobol programmers coming into the industry these days). I'm not surprised they didn't like the way C by Dissection approaches the topic. I'm not a beginner anymore (I read this book in 1992) but I still like this approach best - I came across this book on Amazon because I was hoping to find "Java by Dissection" by Kelly and Pohl! :-)
Rating: 
Summary: The very worst C book ever
Review: This book is nearly useless to anyone trying to learn C. All 16 students in my C class were unanimous in our dislike of this book. It may be OK if you already are trained in programming C, but it was confusing and caused the sales of other books to go up as we searched for a good manual on C.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: This book is the worst book on c I have ever read (I've only read 4 ofthem...) I had to use this book as a beginning c text for college andwe all voted that we chage the text for next semester not only ourclass but every c class at this school. This book has typing errorsprintf errors all kinds of errors in a hard to follow format thatskips over some important c concepts that totally degrade the clanguage it makes learning c confusing. I recomend that if you're newto c then 'Teach yourself c in 24 hours' is a lot cheaper and givesyou a lot more than what this book will ever give you. Then afteryou've read that book I recomend that you search for more advanced cbooks, but don't waste your time with this one at all!!
Rating:
Summary: Its now available with a CD
Review: This book subsumes my earlier books C++ for C programmers
and Object-Oriented Programming Using C++. It distinctly improves on both. It utilizes dissections more fully, so if you like this method of explanation- it is used throughout.
It is very up-to-date with all code tested on both g++ and Borland. A large number of cartoons and figures hopefully make it more lively. It is currently just out October 15th and comes with a very useful supplementary CD. regards Ira Pohl
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