Customer Reviews

Object-Oriented Programming in C++ (4th Edition)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I took several C++ Program In Computing courses while in college, and I must say, this book did a fantastic job of turning the what was then "clear as mud" concepts to something I could understand.

Since those courses, I've learned C and a few other languages, but this book does a fantastic job of introducing OO concepts to a programmer, or a beginner who was otherwise doing procedural programs, or was just starting fresh. Lafore goes over the benefits of OO, and slowly builds on top of concepts throughout the book until you get a good overall understanding of the theory and the practice.

Two things I didn't like about the book:

1. There was very little discussion about doing things the "right way". By this, I mean, Lafore didn't really mention how certain methods of writing programs were less efficient than others. It looks like he was using the best practices in the book, so maybe that would have been overkill, but going a bit more in depth about why to do certain things certain ways would have been nice. While this is a beginner book, it certainly doesn't hurt to have sidenotes of this nature for those interested.

2. While the majority of the code in this book was portable to most platforms, it's still assumed that you're going to be on a Windows plaform, and Lafore uses several Windows-only graphics libraries to illustrate some points. Being a UNIX guy, I would have preferred that he stick to a platform neutral explanation.

This book is used as a text in a number of college venues and it's not hard to see why. It's well-written, explains difficult concepts in reasonable language, it doesn't try to talk over the reader and it presents the concepts of C++ in a logical and sequential manner. I particularly liked that LaFore decided to get into structures relatively early in his book (in chapter 4) because, as he rightly points out, an understanding of structures is useful in the path of learning from the basic sequential and structured programming to the object-oriented concepts and programming that are illustrated later on. Of the many books that I have had a chance to review for use in an academic environment, it's hard to go wrong with this one; and it edges out my other favorite, Prata's "C++ Primer Plus," mostly because of his sequence of concepts and he doesn't spend a lot of time talking about what some of the older and, frankly, less used compilers are doing with respect to the inclusion of headers and library files. I also liked the exercises that appear in this book. Learning to program is like learning math and another language at the same time - the only way to learn it is to do lots of programs and apply the language. However, I find fault in that solutions are not provided for all of the exercises, which takes away from the usefulness of this book as a tool for self-teaching. Still, that and a couple of editing misses are the only flaws. Highly recommended!

Concerning OOP in C++ and Data Structures and Algorithms in Java

I've been a software engineer for roughly two years now. I was fortunate to have learned C++ and Data Structures by books written by Lafore. In my time in the field, I've noticed that I have a much stronger understanding of C++ and Data Structures than many of my senior programmers. It appears that the books they learned from in college were so esoteric and academic (Introduction to Algorithms (MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science))that they actually fear opening the book, let alone creating binary trees, heaps and weighted graphs. Of course they are also C spaghetti programmers and they have no problem with global variables.

When I was in college the required C++ text was Deitel and Deitel's C++ How to Program. The book was just plain boring to me, fell apart and looked like it was written in some sort of linux text editor. Although the other half of C++ programmers prefer this book over any other, I eventually used Lafore's Object Oriented Programming in C++ to learn the material. OOP in C++ is actually fun to read compared to the snoozers the old guys used to read.

In my opinion, there is no other technical writer that compares. He makes the material so easy you are convinced that you are missing something. When I hear a senior programmer talk in fear about data structures and that scary "Object Oriented Programming" I always have to question if they know something about OOP and DSA that I don't know about? Is there? Cuz I'm still questioning it. I'm ok with the OPP but that spegetti code scares the daylights out of me.

Drawbacks: Lafore only brushes the surface of Big O notation and pseudo code in his data structures book. He also worded the book so nicely that many of my senior programmers have made degrading comments about how the book was written for grade schoolers, yet they use my Lafore's Data Structure book 10 times more than they do their "MIT algorithms" book. That's got to say something.

If your taking a college course, use Lafore's books as backup text books. You'll be thankful you did.

I like this guys writing so much I wait for his next book as if it he was Stephen King. I feel like a groupie.

Well anyway..
Thanks,
Dave

I teach CSci at a community college in Minnesota. I've used Robert Lafore's texts before in my classes and currently use this text in my C++ class. It is an outstanding book. Robert Lafore explains difficult concepts better than any other programming language author. In particular, his illustrations are *extremely* useful in understanding important C++ concepts. His writing style is easy to understand and the programming examples are excellent. There are few typos or mistakes in his books and the end of chapter exercises are very good. My students uniformly like his book and agree that it really helps them learn a difficult topic. C++ is a very complex programming language. This book is your best ticket to gaining an understanding.

It has always been my firm opinion that Robert Lafore's book is the best book to start learning C++. Although people use and talk about other books like C++ Primer, or the C++ programming language by Bjarne, or the book by Deitel.
Lafore seems to be an excellent teacher and uses many diagrams to illustrate his thoughts. I had the third edition of the book, and I had read it so many times, that I used to revise this book in just two three hours when I wanted to refresh my C++ basics. The fourth edition is similar but has the latest keywords and updates. It removes the chapter on C++ graphics which is welcome change.
I must also advice that this book is for beginner and not advanced level. It's also not a reference book. Its for learning, for starting onto object oriented programming. Its not that expensive too, and I would highly recommend it to be the first book to start learning C++.

First off I am only 24 years old so I guess you could say I am a beginner. If you need a more expert review, look elsewhere. I have been reading Lafore's texts for about the last 14 years (and programming in C++ about as long). I learned to program in C++ reading his books after having only a couple years experience with GW-BASIC (line numbers suck). I also used his books to get an early start on Windows 3.1 about 10 years ago. I read about a programming book a week (averages about 500-1000 pages) so I guess I have about an average idea of the literature out there. I always highly recommend Lafore's texts. They are the best introductory C++ books I have ever seen. He always is very good at covering everything from the basics to the portions of the C++ specification a person needs to start coding modern C++ code(Stroustoup is good too but a little harder to read - not beginner books.. Wait til you have been writting code about two years so can appreciate the other).His books teach you how to write C++ code the way it was meant to be written now not 5 years ago. Lafore's books were teaching use of objects (unfortunately not quite modern (2003)OOP at the time) when everyone else was using C++ as a base to write good functional (procedural) code. He is very good with explanations. Many students I have run into spend hours and frustration before reading his books for a couple minutes. His abilities of explaining programming concepts should set a goal for anyone trying to be a good technical writer or just working to communicate with normal people. I am tempted to buy this volume just for the nostalgia.

First off, I am only about half way through this book. However I can tell you just from that, that this book is good if you have expierence in OOP and atleast a basic idea of how it works. Robert Lafore does a great job of explaining how syntax works and when to use it.

It's really a disapointment though to see his explanations of OOP not live up to his syntaxtical (if thats a word) explanations. For someone who has NEVER programmed before then you'll be lost as to what exactly he is talking about. His examples to the real world are often to bleak and he doenst give enough detail explaining his relations.

I am not saying the book is down right terriable. I am just saying if you have never programmed before and are looking to go into C++ I would atleast recomend browsing the first few chapters of other books or read online tutorials so you can atleast get the basic idea of how OOP works then you can move onto this title and be very successful in learning C++.

What I like most about Robert Lafore's book compared to others I have read is that he also talks about style and sytnax. He talks about setting up your code in a manner that is easy to read and widley used by other programmers so that the newbie to programming won't spend his time learning code only to be using a wierd or unusual style thats hard to read in comparison with other programmer's styles. I also enjoy how he takes a new concept and begins teaching you in a simple example so you can see how JUST that one concept works and then shows you how it works in the big picture. I also agree with Lafore that learning C is not nessisary to C++ and am glad to finally see an expierenced programmer who feels the same way I do about it.

In short. If you have programmed before and understand OOP but just want to move on to C++ then I would recomend this book for getting started in the syntax and console commands. If your a totally newbie then read up a little more before considering this title.

I have been a C programmer for many years but had stepped away from it. Recently decided to jump to C++/C# and took a University course on OOP that used this book. The ideas are presented well, examples are great. Even as I take advanced courses I find myself refering back to this book for its examples and clear explaination of OOP theory as well as some of the gotcha's C++ can throw your way. I highly recommend this book, this book is used a lot in into C++ courses and there is a reason. Its Great!!!

after you got Complicated idea from C++ lessons and weak understanding try this book

I have tried so many books to start understanding the programing languages also video each time I stop coz of the bad explaining and hard examples also there freak ways to explain the subject, I heat the stupid jumping every where inside the subjects and there unknown style of format, like talking to Machine.

But this book give me every thing to start with easy explaining and nice examples you just need to focus little bit. it get deep slowly.

Take a moment with each example and let your imagination fly inside the code and how you could use it, you will have good feeling each time you pass the features of the C++. don't give up try to complete the book there is no need to write the code just understand it. if you can't then you could try to code it.

The book Explains all most every thing you need for the first step in C++ in many ways and in very consistent steps until you reach the highest level of the chapter, if you don't get the idea from the code there is explain after the examples explain the results one by one .

some times you could feel boring and try to pass some pages don't do that there is notes you should take care of it. What I can't understand it in 2 years I found it in 1 month with this book really this is Wonderful book I can't stand without appreciate it ..... It changing the image of the C++ in my mind form someone scaremonger to friendly person help me every time in (((((his rules))))

try to be patient you will get the target soon with this book ..... by the way this is the first item I reviewed ever, it just to tell you how much I appreciate this book, to be honest really this book make me feel pride and intelligent it's full of treasures.......... forgive me for my broking language ^_^ i use google translate to share

I'm new to C++ and have many books. This is the best book I've read about C++ for beginning/ intermediate level. The author takes the time to explain the material in a very clear manner. The books includes review questions with answers in the back of the book... very helpful. The only thing I could suggest, is to have a website with an interactive questions/ answers to study.