Customer Reviews

C by Dissection: The Essentials of C Programming (4th Edition)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

C by Dissection, Third Edition is a great book. It is very easy to understand and provides a lot of information. The dissections of programs and explanations of the various features of the C language are very informative, clear, and consistent, which makes things very understandable and easy to follow. After explaining major features and terms in the chapters, the exercises that follow them let the reader put their newly learned knowledge to practice and further strengthen their coding skills.

This book can be useful for both beginners and experienced programmers. Things such as advice on coding style and structured programming, system considerations for code portability, and forewarnings of common programming errors to avoid, help the programmer develop good coding habits and increasing skills. For those who want to learn C++, there is a "Moving to C++" section available at the end of each chapter and near the end of the book, which describe the new features of C++ and how to use them. The appendixes at the very end of the book provide a complete reference of functions and macros in the standard library, communicating with the preprocessor, explanations on bitwise operations, a comparison of ANSI C to Traditional C, and other useful guides.

I've had a great learning experience reading this book, and recommend it to anyone who wants to learn C and C++.

-DVS01

I have read all of the reviews above. People either hate this book or love it. I teach C programming at a state university and use this book in a series of C class from beginning to advanced.

This book is not for the type of person that enjoys the "learn X in 21 days" concept. This is for those who wish to learn the subject in its entirety and understand WHY things work like they do. This book not only gives explainations in detail (such as short circuit evaluations) but it also gives several other options for coding the same solution.

This is a book to be studied not skimmed. It can be used a book for beginners and can be carried through advanced topics. If used correctly, it is a GREAT book.

One of the best intro C books I've seen.

Any hardcore programmer will tell you: the best way to learn is to look at somebody else's code. It helps if the source code is clearly designed, clearly written, commented, well documented.

C by Dissection does just that, by describing a concept, showing you example source for a program that puts that concept into practice, THEN, unlike so many other books, going over the example almost line-by-line, to explain what's going on, and why. Too many programming books briefly describe the concept, list a hundred or more lines of source code, then move on. This book walks you through the code and shows you both theory and practice.

The only regret I have about C by Dissection is that there isn't a companion volume, Advanced C by Dissection, or perhaps Data Structures and Algorithms (in C) by Dissection.

Note that two of the worst reviews above are from an experienced C/C++ programmer and from a Cobol programmer (presumably very experienced; I don't know many young Cobol programmers coming into the industry these days). I'm not surprised they didn't like the way C by Dissection approaches the topic. I'm not a beginner anymore (I read this book in 1992) but I still like this approach best - I came across this book on Amazon because I was hoping to find "Java by Dissection" by Kelly and Pohl! :-)

I needed this book for a programming class and thankfully I had a good teacher. This book starts to describe a point and then says something similar to "(See chapter 14.2)" or "Later discussed in 8.4" Can you not just tell me how to use the printf function now? The books examples are thorough and most of the programs written are dissected and explained, but they miss the part of actually teaching and explaining the function in the first place. The book also contains exercises at the end of each chapter to help reinforce what you should have learned in the chapter which can be helpful, but some are too complicated if you're just starting out. The book also has a section at the end of each section that explains how to move on to C++, along with a section of common programming errors, and an additional section for programming style. This book would be good for reference, but if you're just starting out, you should look for something different.

I am currently reading the book and I am lost. I am using it as a class textbook, and other students in my class have also voiced their dissatisfaction. Books like this that reference multiple sections of information found in much later chapters do not work well as textbooks. This approach of program dissection is a good one, but because the book is so poorly organized you lose out on its benefits. I am here at Amazon.com looking for a book or books to supplement, or maybe compensate for this one. Since it is my class textbook, I do not have the choice of whether to use it or not.

As a engineer for 20 years who has resisted C for a decade, I can say this book is the only reason I can write decent C programs. Engineers need tools that work and in our business (aerospace) FORTRAN has long been the workhorse language. Its finally changing despite massive resistance. Now, having learned a lot from this excellent book, I no longer fear what I always considered C's ugly syntax.

The chapters on strings and pointers, and on input and output (scanf, especially), and on the standard library, are tremendously impressive. I will now gladly read anything these gentlemen write. Bravo!

I had this book in an intro to C class. There is a lot of information between the lines; ie not spelled out. This book cannot be skimmed. You need to read slowly and think about what you read. A lot of new information is presented in the exercises. You almost need to do them all. This book is helpful for learning the Unix environment.

While most other C programming books in the market concentrate on teaching the basics of the language, C by Dissection 3rd ed. goes further than that. It not only teaches you the proper usage of every essential function defined in standard class libraries, but also teaches them in a platform-independent and pragmatic manner, meaning that a DOS programmer will benefit from the tutoring as much as a UNIX programmer would. Many useful examples, practical discussions and overviews on common problems, common pitfalls and general suggestions are included and all the actual code is filtered through a tight seive of 'dissection', which is an extraordinary way of explaining the subjectively cryptic nature of the code, only visible to the newcomer. Also, there's an extra treat for the object-oriented generation of today: a 'Moving to C++' -discussion after each chapter, which alone makes the book worth reading. Even though the general look of the book is dry and has a special academic ting to it, it does not make it hard to follow, and furthermore teaches you all the programming essentials from a computer scientific point of view, making it compatible with official tutoring material. Put together, this is by far the best reference on the C programming language I have read, and I'm sure it's king-status will be preserved for quite some time in the future.

I started my journey in C with C for Dummies Volumes 1&2. Having read the above reviews some have made me sick. And to those of you who have rated it one star I'd like to say that C for Dummies would be great for you because all you long for is a superficial knowledge. I have almost finished reading it and having the knowledge from C for Dummies I'm having little trouble grasping the concepts here. Computer programming is like a magic of sorts one can tell a computer to do anything. A computer can be bent to the will of its master with the correct tools. A programming language being one of them. Unfortunantly most are not in it for the exploration of knowledge most are looking for big bucks. For all of you who want the quick way out just go get C for Dummies and C in 21 days just stop there. You know a bit of C. Have a small working knowledge of it and you can probably even get a job. However don't plan on holding you job when one of the true wizzards comes along. There's always an opening in the professional wresteling industry. They can teach you to do that in 24 hours but then again if you want to do it well then ... probably not. For those who seek knowledge. For those who wish to become the Mages of the computer world. Read this book. Don't stop here but do read it it will lay concrete foundation for you. Then go on with more advanced books maybe socket programming or encryption. To you who seek to understand the magical art there is nothing you can't do. To the larger portion of mundane users. Why not start with a less complicated language like Basic? Or HTML? You can make good money as a Web-Designer who uses things like Front Page to do beautiful work with little coding at all. Why stay in a realm where you will be second? If you are not willing to work to understand the art then find something you are willing to work for, and stop whining about how hard it is and how it's hurting your small brains trying to comprehend this book. If you remain in it, when you drop your staves to the ground and they become garden snakes, they will only be swallowed whole by the Cobra created in the mind of a true master of the art. It discusts me to see such a good book get sorry reviews just because the majority of this great nation seek the EASY way out. To those who are willing to work, I salute you. You are the true magicians of this age you make things happen. It starts in your mind and becomes a reallity. I plea to the rest of you FIND the value of working for something. In short this is a book for someone who desires an understanding not someone who wants a quick fix it's a very informative work. Only if you want to be informed.
Good Day,
Fatal Error

Anybody trying to learn C, this is the best and probably the only book you will need.