Assembly Language: Step-By-Step (Coriolis Group Book)

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant insight into computers and how they work
Review: I was very impressed with the way that the author started his book by introducing those who didn't know them to the bare basics of computer hardware and how they work. I enjoyed it thoroughly and it helped me a great deal in getting through the beginner level of programming this language

Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!
Review: I wore this book out. I'll probably buy another just to have a good copy. No doubt the best assembly language book for absolute beginners. Tom Swan's book is the next logical step. I wish Jeff Duntemann, Tom Swan, and Michael Abrash would get together and write a nice great big fat book for Turbo Assembler 5.0 that includes extensive coverage of object oriented assembly, the debugger and Windows Assembly Language programming. That would be the ultimate book for those of us that just LOVE pain!

Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!
Review: I wore this book out. I'll probably buy another just to have a good copy. No doubt the best assembly language book for absolute beginners. Tom Swan's book is the next logical step. I wish Jeff Duntemann, Tom Swan, and Michael Abrash would get together and write a nice great big fat book for Turbo Assembler 5.0 that includes extensive coverage of object oriented assembly, the debugger and Windows Assembly Language programming. That would be the ultimate book for those of us that just LOVE pain!

Rating:
Summary: An EXCELLENT book for newcomers and as a reference
Review: Out of the 5 assembly books I own (beginner to advanced), this is one of the better ones. Duntemann's book is EXCELLENT. I read over my copy of Mastering Turbo Assembler and still I wasn't getting it. I read over Using Assembly Language and had the same problem. Too many authors just mention things and leave it at that figuring you already know what they are talking about. This book is not like that. He starts out at the foundation of the computer, at the CPU. He doesn't jump into programming, but rather, explains how computers work, about hex, decimal, how the processor works with code, and so on. It is actually interesting because that's exactly what assembly language is, right down to the metal. Then he takes it one command at a time and explains it very well. His examples are clear and he explains how all of it works. I was having trouble with a couple commands and couldn't find help in several other books. After I read Jeff's book, all those commands made perfect sense. He doesn't teach EVERY assembly language function, but he gives you an EXCELLENT foundation, one that is mandatory to learn assembly. In other books I've owned the authors put stories in there they try to make fit with the lessons, but they never make sense. At the beginning of some chapters, he does the same. His story makes sense, but once you read the following part on assembly, you can put the two together and understand just how things work. A perfect example is how the stack operates. If you are a complete beginner to assembly, someone who hasn't used it in a while, or need a general reference, I couldn't recommend any book more than this. Jeff is truly an excellent teacher. Keep in mind this book covers the 8086/8088 (and briefly the 286-486), so if you plan to move on, you MUST have base knowledge. You can't program the 486 (or such) without knowing the 8086/8088. So don't take that like "oh no, I'll only learn the old stale PC." You have to learn to walk before you can run. Overall, I would recommend this book! to ANYBODY wanting to learn assembly language. It lives up to its name.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent (Absolute) Beginners Book
Review: That's it, if you already know Assembler even somewhat do NOT get this book! You'll be dissapointed. But if you have no idea what Assembler or Machine Language is (e.g. what is a register or code segment?) DO get get this book! This book is good quick read and review for students to read before entering a Assembly/Machine Orginzation class in college. It provides you a excellent overview of what you will be getting into. In my own experience I read it before I started class, it has helped me tremendously in class because I didn't have to struggle with the basic concepts.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent (Absolute) Beginners Book
Review: That's it, if you already know Assembler even somewhat do NOT get this book! You'll be dissapointed. But if you have no idea what Assembler or Machine Language is (e.g. what is a register or code segment?) DO get get this book! This book is good quick read and review for students to read before entering a Assembly/Machine Orginzation class in college. It provides you a excellent overview of what you will be getting into. In my own experience I read it before I started class, it has helped me tremendously in class because I didn't have to struggle with the basic concepts.

Rating:
Summary: Great book - but only the basics
Review: This book is an EXCELLENT starter book, teaching the foundation of assembly - however, that's all. It's a great jumping off point, and is VERY well written - plus, it's fun to read. I suggest buying this book along with a technical manual for assembly, and transitioning from one to the other.

Rating:
Summary: Very good book to help understand Assembly language.
Review: This book is excellent at what it's for. It is to help you understand the mechanics behind assembly language. No, it doesn't go into machine cycles for all commands, or explain the minute details. What it does do is explain the Intel proccesor and how it reacts to machine code and memory. After reading the book you can write your own program, though it would not be to useful. But as he says in the book, you'll have a clear understanding when you pick up a more advanced book. You won't be thrown off where others left out detail. He uses alot of metaphores, and even asks some obvious questions for you. It is truly a good book. My only criticism of this book is all the mistakes as the book progresses. There is a example where he wants to explain LEA, and he does, but the program that the sample is from uses OFFSET instead! None-the-less the snippet mentions LEA. Also, an embarrasing mistake, the reference for PUSH gives examples of POP. There are a few more as well. If it wasn't for the mistakes I would give this book a 9 on a scale of ten. The last point being withheld because I thought a few areas could have used more clarification. However, most of these things can be figured out by yourself. Please, don't get me wrong, it is an excellent book, and you'll be very happy that you bought it.

Rating:
Summary: Nice introduction
Review: This book is great. It is a book that will take you step by step to get you started. Not like those other begginers books that assume that you know how the computer works, this one will take you from the basic inner workings of a computer to a level where you can start creating very basic programs. From this book, you can go out and get a normal beginners book and be able to understand what you are trying to learn.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book - Only the bare basics to get you started.
Review: This book is great. It is a book that will take you step by step to get you started. Not like those other begginers books that assume that you know how the computer works, this one will take you from the basic inner workings of a computer to a level where you can start creating very basic programs. From this book, you can go out and get a normal beginners book and be able to understand what you are trying to learn.