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Summary: Gives you an in depth look at the how's and why's
Review: Don't buy this book if you're looking for a book to teach you the whole C++ language. If you're a novice and you want to really understand what literally happens, step by step, from the beginning when programming in C++, you'll really enjoy this book. At first I didn't really know why Steve was going into such depth and repeating concepts from different angles, but about half way through the book I stopped being annoyed and really began to look at the book in a totally new way. If you slow down, read each sentence and really think about the concepts and questions the author and his stundent are discussing it can be a truely satisfying experience. I was rushing ahead and wanting to learn more about the language itself without realizing that the syntax of the language is far less important to a beginner than the concepts and foundations of good programming first, C++ syntax later. The most important thing I can say about the book as a whole is when I finished it, I felt confident I really knew the major concepts and I would have no trouble applying those concepts when reading more advanced C++ books.
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Summary: A Great Introduction
Review: This book serves its purpose well as being a great introduction to C++, I've loaned my copy to a friend who just finished reading it. It gives a general overview of your hardware, and then gives you a general overview of proggramming in C++ so that you can pick up any other book, or read through C++ code, and understand it... Most books just tell you this is this, but Steve Heller tells you Why as well. Also, the dialogs in the book help to clarify those things that don't make as much sense. Overall, if you are a beginner, and want to get started or even someone who has had some experience, and read some other books, but didn't have an "understanding" of it, like I was, then this book is for you.
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Summary: A pedagogical approach to learn c++ programming!
Review: I full heartly recommend Steve Heller's series of programming books - Who's afraid of ... including this one to anyone who has tried to learn programming, but felt insecure about it as well as to anyone that once joined a course, but really didn't grasp the basic concepts. Steve explains what's going on "behind the scene", and he does it in a way that makes it alot easier to learn. You don't have to "read 50% behind the lines" as in many other programming books. This book provides the reader with a good foundation for further studies of the c++ programming language. When you'r finished with this one, contiue with his Who's afraid of more C++. You won't be dissapointed! John
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Summary: This book is an interesting starting point
Review: The book honestly tells that it is an intro to C++. I purchased it because a different author told me it would be a better place to start than his own book. It's been written well and void of typos or confusing language. The book has kept me encouraged to learn more about the C++ language. As the author reminds you that not everything "is in the scope of this book." I like the historical facts especially the one about the C++ name. The average "Joe" could feel competent when talking to a real programmer after reading just a few chapters in this book. The book gives practical explanations of the C++ language covered. If you want a book to get you started in understanding programming and what it actual does read this book. I also recommend this book for those non-programmers that just want to know what C++ is. The author also gives good reason to learning this programming language ( C++ vs. Others).
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Summary: Too bad it reads like a novel.
Review: I had little C++ programming experience when I got the book, and found it more difficult than the textbooks that the CS department required of us. I bought it as a supplement, to 'dummy-down' what was taught in class. Now 2 years later, after a programming internship(C++), and hundreds of coding hours later (C/C++ and Java) I still find book difficult to follow. An introduction to C++ would be better done with a 'C++ for Dummies' and a Borland_C++/Visual_C++/whoever_else_C++ IDE.
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Summary: If you want to learn C++, skip this, and buy a good book.
Review: This book is best viewed as two halfs. The first half was actually not too bad giving the reader a quick course in computer rudements. Then something happened, I think the author did a word count and found he was half way through the amount of book he had agreed to write. The problem was that he was only about a tenth through the material he wanted to cover. The resulting chaos is a mix of too much detail, too little detail and great gobs of print devoted to his "reader" and her confusions. One is left wondering what the purpose of the book was. It was certainly NOT to teach anyone C++! The signal to noise ratio is incredably low. And at the rate the author uses you would need about 20 of these books to get the fundamentals of the language. The author himself admits that the book covers only about 5% of what one would need to program. Add all this to a writeing style that is at best, annoying, and this book is pretty much a waste of time and money. Ive read 5 books recently on the subject and this one is at the bottom. My recommendation to the determined student would be to learn the language elsewhere, from the ground up. To summarize: The first half is not too bad and should have been a seperate book on computer rudements. The second half is a chaotic mix of too quick, too slow and too much "reader". A waste of time and money.
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Summary: Finally, just what I have been looking for!
Review: If you are interested in self-tutoring, or simply expanding your knowledge of C++, this is your book. I'm the owner of several books on the C++ language, and I have been trying to teach myself how to use it. Up to now, all the books I have or have borrowed treat C++ as a slightly different flavor of C, or try to explain Object Oriented Programming in terms incomprehensible to me as a neophyte programmer. Finally, along came Steve and his novice, Susan, with this book. I appreciated (and more importantly, understood) the clear and concise coverage of the concepts of programming in general and the use of C++/OOP in specific. What's more it came with simple compiling and debugging tools. I can't wait to try the next level.
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Summary: THE BEST BOOK FOR C++ FOUNDATIONS
Review: The conversation between Susan & the author, explains the basic elements of C++ in a perfect way. This book is for novice programmers, and for those who switch to OOP. I promise you will love the book!
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Summary: An great book for those new to programming or just to OOP.
Review: A brand new idea for technical authors, why not actually get someone to read your book and find out if she can understand it BEFORE you release it to the rest of us. Im impressed. Heller's willingness to get into the nitty gritty of computers (as required) along with his student's 'reality checks' make this a good read. I particularly liked his approch to Object Oriented Programming. Instead of the (usual) endless discussions about zoo animals or vehicles with 2/4 wheels, Heller just brought up working, useful code and took off from there. With its included C++ compiler on CD-ROM, this book gets my personal "More Bang for the Buck" award. Well done!
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Summary: Amazing book for anyone who's afraid of C++!
Review: My dad bought the book because I wanted to learn programming in a language other than basic. When he got the book, he started reading it with me. After a while I decided to read the book. I am only 12 and I understanded it perfectly well. I am getting the Who's Afraid of More C++. Buy It!
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