Thinking in C++ [Paperback]

Bruce Eckel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0139177094 | ISBN-13: 978-0139177095 | Publication Date: February 10, 1995 | Edition: 1

Practical book aimed at C programmers who want to learn how to program effectively in C++. It is for intermediate or advanced level courses. New edition available in Spring 1999.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Despite C++'s syntactic similarities to C, the two languages are fundamentally different in nature--a fact that can complicate the task of learning C++ if you already know C. Thinking in C++ explains C++ to C programmers not just from the perspective of writing code, but from the perspective of software engineering and design--how do you conceptualize programs that exploit C++'s capabilities? With readable prose, Bruce Eckel offers a compelling explanation of what object-oriented languages in general and C++ in particular have to offer and teaches you how to apply it. The book covers not only introductory topics but advanced ones such as multiple inheritance and templates.

From the Publisher

Assuming a basic grasp of C, Eckel guides students from understanding C to actually "thinking in" C++, so that they eventually write code in a total C++ mindset. His goal is to teach students the language so well that it becomes their expressive medium of choice.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr; 1 edition (February 10, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0139177094
• ISBN-13: 978-0139177095
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #455,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book for beginners., April 4, 2000

By 

Larry Leonard (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thinking in C++ (Paperback)

I've been writing in C++ for about five years now (and in C for about ten years before that). Reading this book changed me from a C programmer writing code that the C++ compiler would (eventually) accept, to a programmer who "thinks in C++".

If you seriously want to learn C++, and you know "C", read (and re-read) this book, and you'll know more than 90% of the people out there who call themselves C++ programmers. I can say that, because I've "tech screened" many, many dozens of alleged C++ programmers; about 5% were competent. Work your way through this book, and you'll never be embarrassed during a code review!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book for those C++ sceptics, August 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Thinking in C++ (Paperback)

As a reasonably experienced C programmer faced with learning C++ I was very impressed with this book. Bruce Eckel takes each C++ feature and demonstrates not only how to use it but how it makes your code better and your life as a developer easier.
He takes every opportunity to explain how to get the best use out of C++ and how to make sure your code is efficient as well as elegant.
Every C++ feature is covered in this book, from simple improvements like references and constants to multiple inheritance. Where relevant the way C++ compilers implement these features is also explained, which can often help cement your understanding.
Aside from the technical merits of this book, Bruce Eckel also has a great writing style and knows how to keep this material from becoming too dry or too intense to keep up with.
In summary, if you want to know why C++ is better than C this book is superb for the job. Not only does it make that clear, it will make you into a good C++ programmer.

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ego Destructor, February 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Thinking in C++ (Paperback)

Faster than a Scottie Pippen steal, Eckel the Bruce will leave you in your wake. Bruce Eckel was not elected to the C++ Standards Commitee for being a boob, but after reading this book you will still be one, if you forsee yourself Thinking in C++. The Red Alert is that the examples in the book are crafted from Mr.Rogers Neighborhood and there are absolutely no diagrams in accompanying King Kong explanations that maze into an black hole of nothingness. He is extremely intelligent and his explanations are perfect for those who want the indiosyncratic cracker jack tricks that most authors never talk about, such as iostreams manipulation, constness, encapsulation, references, and multiple inheritance are not lacking, but his examples are irrelevant in the working community. Thinking in C++ is suited for Research and Development experiments to push each language construct in what it can and cannot do, but this is not the ideal reference tool nor is it a book that can be easily comprehended by the beginner or an intermediate C++ programmer and applied to project code. This book is certainly worth its price, but if I were to recommend the best C++ book right now on the market, it would be C++ Effective Object Oriented Software Construction by Kayshav Dattatri. This book is far better than Eckels, it teaches OOP that Eckel does not, it teaches UML, which in the working world you will have to diagram for project modules anyway, and it has countless diagrams with real working code that is bubble numbered to cross reference the explanations. That book is also for beginners to advanced C++ gurus, and that will certainly make you a C++ guru guaranteed and the second best book if not the first is James O. Copliens Advanced C++ Styles and Idioms, which has the best code examples and teaching style ever written, even applies to beginners, despite misnomer of title. Be on the lookout for Eckel's 2nd Edition due for publication this year, but his material is rehash of his Thinking in Java Book, plus pointers and multiple inheritence.