Rating:  - Just like "Thinking in Java"
Quite some time ago I have learned Java from "Thinking in Java"
what I have enjoyed a lot.
Recently I have decided to learn some C and C++ and so I have started to read "Thinking in C++". I'm quite amazed how programming in general becomes clearer to me while I'm learning both C and C++. It even helps me to improve my understanding of Java.
Just like "Thinking in Java" this book is very easy to read and entertaining.
Rating: - Excellent C++ and general programming introduction
Easily one of the best introductory C++ books I have read. Read slowly the book provides not only a good introduction to the syntax of the language, and in some ways the applications written with it, but also the thought process which should go into the use of the language, the actual skills of programming applications. That being said the book puts understanding the syntax first and is written and edited in such a way as to be educational.
I recommend the book to those looking to understand the fundamental of C++ and the core set of system libraries. For those unfamiliar with C++ you should understand that unlike VB, C# and Java the platform specifically libraries are held at arms distance in C++. So you won't find any information in here about the Microsoft Foundation Classes or any other platform specific libraries. You will need to get another book to get into those. This is not a fault with the book or the language, you just need to make sure you get both a book on C++ (probably this one) and a book on your specific platform.
Rating: - Excellent book.
Not especially a book for beginners, but a joy to read for anyone that has at least some knowledge of C++. Much like many of Bruce Eckel's books, Thinking in C++ makes the learning experience both interesting and enjoyable.
Rating: - An excellent book, but only in the right circumstances.
Personally, I found this to be the best C++ book for me, as I am a self-taught and language-independent programmer. When I found this book, I was amazed at how simple C++ could be. When I had first learned C++, it was taught to me in a way that prevented me from understanding the advanced concepts, which are quite beyond the skills of the advanced programmer. I recommend this book very highly, but be very careful of your reasons for buying this book.
1. This is NOT a book that should be used as a teaching tool in a class - it is self-paced.
2. This is NOT a book that should be used by the beginning programmer - only people with some programming experience should purchase this book
3. This book is NOT for the expert for use as a reference, as it is instructional in nature.
Some people have strange ideas about what the author intends his work to be used for, which are contrary to what the author himself explains in the preface. Be sure to read the preface online at the author's website (http://mindview.net) before purchasing this book.
Rating: - A great starting point.
I have been struggling to enter the programming world of C++ for a while now. It's been a difficult task, partly because of the daunting aspects of learning something as large as a new language, but mostly because the literature available has proven difficult to attract my attention. Most publications I have read, either skipped the point and forced exercises upon the reader(Teach yourself in blah blah days) or flooded the reader with too many details at once, overlooking the reasoning behind the language. I enjoy teaching myself new things and developing my own syllabus is sometimes difficult.
I recently came accross "Thinking in C++" in a forum and I have got to tell you, it reached me. The author writes about the language the way I want to learn it, and I feel like new doors are opening. Bruce is the first writer I have come accross that could sum up pointers in less than 5 pages let alone 5 paragraphs. Perhaps a programmer who writes a book tends to write it just like a program, and in a lot of cases it wasn't planned thoroughly but rather piecemealed. That makes it extremely difficult to follow. This book is crystal clear.
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