C++: A Beginner's Guide, Second Edition [Paperback]

This book is exactly what it purports to be....A Beginner's Guide. It's not written as an extensive reference nor does it completely cover every topic addressed in the book. What it does do is it gives beginner's a way to get started in the language. C++ is a huge language and very complex. This book is an introductory text to be used by any beginning programmer, even if you've never had experience programming in any language before.

This book will probably not appeal to programmers that are already familiar with C++. If you are a programmer in another OO language like Java, then you may find this book helpful but I think there are better alternative.

When I was beginning my CS degree, I had no prior knowledge of C++ and this book saved me because the writer's style is very laid back and verbose. He explains most topics adequately but not completely so often I found myself turning back to the course text book for additional information. However, his style of writing is very easy and non-patronizing. He doesn't expect you to already know what a function is nor the difference or similarities between a pointer and an array. He explains this all for you and doesn't require the reader to make leaps in logic to assimilate the concepts. Those leaps can come later....beginners need to learn how to solve problems and build up their confidence in programming....this book does that.

The value of this book lies not in it's complete coverage of the language, the value comes from how the author presents at least one solution to most programming problems and then moves on to other topics. It does weigh in at around 550 pages, including the index so it's not a pamphlet by any means.

The chapters are laid out in a very organized fashion that really helped me assimilate the information. In order, they are:
1. C++ Fundamentals
2. Introducing Data Types and Operators
3. Program Control Statements
4. Arrays, Strings, and Pointers
5. Introducing Functions
6. A Closer Look at Functions
7. More Data Types and Operators
8. Classes and Objects
9. A Closer Look at Classes
10. Inheritance, Virtual Functions, and Polymorphism
11. The C++ I/O System
12. Exceptions, Templates, and Other Advanced Topics.
Appendix A. The Preprocessor
Appendix B. Working with an Older C++ Compiler
Index

Through out the chapters there are also projects where you can try out what you've just learned and if you get stuck, there's a step-by-step walk through of the solution. There are also progress checks that question you about what was just covered. This constant reinforcement/repeating of the material is what really helped me learn the subject.

I used this book through both my beginning and advanced C++ classes and data structures class. I still refer back to it from time to time but not as much anymore...I've since found other, more complete references.

I highly recommend this book to any newcomer or anyone that's tried other C++ books and still doesn't "get it". I do not recommend this book to those that are already familiar with the language as it's likely to be too long winded for them.

I really like Herb Schildt's style. He makes a complex subject extremely understandable. We've all had to labor our way through "beginner" books that were either too basic or that required a PhD in computer science. This book is neither. It covers C++ thoroughly but in an understandable way. It also explains object-oriented programming in a way that helped me better understand what OOP is all about. I highly recommend this book.

Very good book. I don't know anything about C++ but this books presents it in a clear and easy manner. Also, the price was really good compared with the amount of information this book has to give and all examples of codes work with visual basic and borland...However it doesn't provide enough exercises and when you reach the end of a chapter it feels rushed, the exercises they give you is relatively hard. If this doesn t phase you then add one star because the explanations are really clear

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