Teach Yourself C++ (Teach Yourself (McGraw-Hill)) [Paperback]

Herbert Schildt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Teach Yourself (McGraw-Hill) | Publication Date: October 1, 1997

This text provides a mastery learning approach to C++, including objectives, minimal discussion and examples. It also gives readers the opportunity to test their understanding with multiple exercises. Readers can test their knowledge of individual concepts, and then test their comprehension of the topic in a larger setting. This edition contains updates and changes to nearly all areas of the book. Two new chapters have been added to cover the Standard Template Library (STL) and the Run-Time Type ID (RTTI). It contains material on programming for Windows. The Windows environment offers some challenges for the C++ programmer and these are explained in the book. The "Teach Yourself" series uses the following formula to ensure a reader's comprehension: chapter objectives which highlight topics to be covered in each chapter; concrete examples of concepts; exercises based on real-life programming situations; keyword lists in every chapter; and mastery-skills check to ensure a reader's comprehension before moving on.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Most Effective Way to Learn C++. Programming luminary Herb Schildt is back with a fresh, new edition of his best-selling C++ tutorial! In this third edition of Teach Yourself C++, Herb's proven plan for success has been thoroughly updated, expanded, and enhanced. Whether you're a C programmer moving up to C++ or an experienced C++ pro looking for coverage of this language's hottest new features, there truly is no better way to learn. Written with uncompromising clarity and the attention to detail that has made Herb Schildt famous, Teach Yourself C++, Third Edition begins with the fundamentals, covers all the essentials, and concludes with a look at some of C++'s most advanced features. Along the way are plenty of practical examples, self-evaluation skill checks, and exercises with answers at the back of the book so you can easily check your progress. Several new elements have been added to C++, such as namespaces, runtime type ID, the new casting operators, and the Standard Template Library. Herb covers them all and because Herb teaches Standard C++, you can be assured that what you learn today will still apply tomorrow. Inside you will: Learn the principles of Object Oriented Programming (OPP); Understand the structure of a C++ program; Explore classes, the building blocks of C++; Work with constructors and destructors; Understand function- and operator-overloading; Learn about inheritance; Investigate the C++ I/O System; Discover the power of virtual functions; Work with templates and exception handling; Understand runtime Type ID and the Casting Operators; Utilize namespaces; Explore the Standard Template Library (STL). Clearly structured and guranteed to bring you successful results, Teach Yourself C++, Third Edition is the hands-down, easiest way to master one of today's hottest programming languages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies; 3rd edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0078823927
• ISBN-13: 978-0078823923
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,016,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best introduction to C++ I've ever read, August 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Teach Yourself C++ (Teach Yourself (McGraw-Hill)) (Paperback)

I must say that I get a kick out of the number of people who trash Herb Schildt. Even in newsgroups, there are quite a few who say nothing but trash about him.

I own about 12 of his books, and I have NEVER seen an author cover as much as him. In the front of virtually off of his books, he includes his office phone number to call him if you have any questions, or to order the source, although you can download it from osbornes site.

I have never, ever seen another author do that. Most of the time you have to write to their agent or something. Personally, I do not care how many people might dislike Schildt. He is strictly the reason I now use C and C++. I have tried Tom Swan who is an excredibly poor teacher (only own one of his books), Microsoft books (do we need to go there?), Bjarne Stroupstup who makes no sense to me, Robert LaFore who's book Object Oriented Programming did NOT compile, and I have the exact same compiler he used, and many others.

Herb Schildt's Teach Yourself books do two things that I have never seen another author fully explore. After each chapter, and sub-chapter, he gives you exercises. If you can't figure it out, the full source code is included.

He gives excellent teaching and plenty of examples. I figure it this way: if everybody else wants to trash him, go right ahead. If he is such a horrible author, why have his books sold over 2 million copies? Forget what others have to say, try his books for yourself and make YOUR OWN decision.

I reference his books CONSTANTLY.

One thing to remember, his Teach Yourself books don't show you how to write large scale applications, but rather, teach you the language, so when you pick up another book to write a large program, you will know what the syntax is.

This book has it all. C++ I/O, to classes, private/public/protected members, operator and function overloading, inheritance, constructors and destructors, and much more! Very well done!

Try it for yourself. You've got nothing to lose.

Just remember that you need to have the desire to learn. The book will not teach itself to you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!Easy to read and understand!, August 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Teach Yourself C++ (Teach Yourself (McGraw-Hill)) (Paperback)

This book is my favourite among all the books of C/C++ I ever got,the author is expert on what he is writing,I have read 6 chapters in one day,believe it or not,this was because it's so interesting,and even after I finished the course I kept reading it,now after 2 years of graduatuion it is there on my desk,I read from it very often,I advise everybody who wants to learn and enjoy C++ to go for this book (Excellent!!)

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a good book for serious programmers, October 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Teach Yourself C++ (Teach Yourself (McGraw-Hill)) (Paperback)

While Schildt's book is very readable and understandable, it's necessary to warn readers of his bad programming style. In one example class he uses a copy assignment without a copy constructor. He also uses exit() which no good C++ programmer uses.

Schildt did NOT help create the ANSI C++ standard and his code most definately proves it. This book assumes a knowledge of C since it goes right into classes in CH 2 so it wouldn't be very helpful for those with no experience in C.

This book is fine for those only wanting a superficial knowledge of C++, but I can't really recommend it for those wanting to know more of the language. Especially because of the glaring errors.