Rating:  - This IS a real C++ book!
C++ How to Program is in my opinion the defacto standard for learning and referencing the C++ language. The thoroughness of the text and the myriads of examples places this reference at the forefront. The excellent transition explanations from structured to object oriented programming is so important to both the amature and professional developer. One very useful bonus to this text is the introduction to UML modeling and how it fits into object oriented programming through the use of a case study.
If you are going to be a serious C++ programmer, this text will be on your shelf.
Rating:  - The clearest reference I know
This book is well organized, and gives clear, readable descriptions of the whole C++ language - and that covers a lot of area.
There's a lot of thud factor here, well over 1K pages. A lot of that is taken up with sample code and with programming advice that seems to help beginners. If you just want a language handbook, that's way more than you need or want. I tolerate it, though, because of the clarity of the rest of the presentation.
(If my emphasis on clarity seems excessive, that's because you haven't experienced Stroustrup's "stream of conciousness" style.)
This book gives only minimal and incidental descriptions of the standard C/C++ libraries, the STL, and all the other necessaries of the C++ world. Well, you can't have everything. Not if you want to be able to lift the book, too. This picks a topics and covers it - you'll need additional references for the rest.
This does what I want: it gives me the language, all of it, without requiring a linear search through the whole text. Until I find something better, I'll use this for my C++ reference.
//wiredweird
Rating: - Great Book
I have 5 books on C++, but this was by far the best. It was easy to understand, clearly written, and very thorough. Each time a question started forming in my mind, I'd find the answer in the next sentence or paragraph. No book will ever be a "one stop shop", but this one comes pretty close. If you need to teach your self C++, I'd highly recommend this book.
Rating: - A good place to start.
I used this book for my first college programming class and still use it as a reference today. It starts with basic procedural programming and quickly introduces objected oriented programming with an interesting elevator simulation. It provides full programming examples unlike many other text books. The colorful code highlights and icon coded notes enhance learning and make this book a joy to use. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to learn C++.
I have only one beef with this book. The binding doesn't hold up well to constant use. I have large sections of pages falling out of my copy. To be fair, I have used this book a lot, but I have also tried to take good care of it to no avail. At this price, I think Dietel should provide a hardcover with a solid binding.
Rating: - Outstanding resource for students and professors
This is by far the best introductory computer science book I have ever used. In addition to clear text and numerous code examples, the book comes with Visual Studio C++. Also, if you read the introduction, you'll find you can download the PowerPoint classroom presentations from the publsher's Web site. These presentations have a lot of notes in them that may help clarify the code examples further. Also, if a person has a specific question, they can contact the Deitels via email. Astoundingly, the Deitels will respond within a very short time. I've been amazed at all the "flames" directed toward this book; I've been in the software industry 23 years, and NO book is perfect, but this one comes darned close.
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