Customer Reviews

Thinking in C++

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

To this beginning-intermediate programmer with experience in Visual Basic, Pascal, and C I found this book interesting and it's emphasis on abstraction and the big picture helpful and very classroom-like. However, many of the reviews here critique it for being too complex and inappropriate to novice C++ programmers. I extend an invitation to ANYONE to recommend a GOOD or GREAT intro C++ book that teaches you everything you need to know to get going. I find that the intro books are too facile and show you gimmicks and tricks rather than guide from day one through advanced techniques. There seems to be no medium between these pat-yourself-on-the-back books and high-end, experts-only tomes.

Please e-mail me at mattoneill@pdq.net if you have any suggestions.

In the meantime, the first chapter of this book is an EXCELLENT intro in the world of OOP.

Thinking in C++ patiently and methodically explores the issues of proper use of the C++ langauage. Thinking in C++ is the one C++ book you must have if you¡¯re doing serious development with C++.¡±

+AH4-This is a good book to learn C+-+- -- specially if you are new to the topic; it has code examples and long discussion of topics (some of which frankly is based on author's opinion). The writer is knowledgeable and well cited. He certainly has good friends giving him excellent reviews, but I found the book very very lengthy. The Stream chapter is about 70 pages. Many paragraphs, can be succinctly summarized in a sentence!

Code examples are helpful (and proven in studies to be the best way+AH4-+AH4- to learn programming), specially if you are new to C+-+-. But if you already know C+-+- and want a good, solid, discussion try C+-+- Distilled by Phol (about 200 pages! as opposed to 800). Reading this book is like pulling tooth! agonizingly long and cumbersome. Now I understand he has written a 2 volume book for the second edition!

I also disliked the organization of the book. No section or subsection numbers to easily partition the topics. Some topics like function overloading or ...+AH4-+AH4- who knows what ... are delayed to later chapters but are then referenced upfront!

Again if you want to start learning C+-+-, definitely get this book -- I think it is good start. If you already know C+-+-, Eckel comes across as someone who likes the sound of his own typing.+AH4-

A good book for beginners and average C++ people, it discuss C++ major features and teach you the rules of C++ programming.However if you aim to learn how to develop applications certainly you do not find some aid within this book.Unfortunatly information in this book does not help you design your application using C++. BUT you can use this book as a REFERENCE and I think it is quite good for such purpose.

I bought this book for a class but quit using it when I found it did not have the information I needed to complete the first assignment. The examples roll all the code up into a single file, a style of programming rarely used in the industry. He devotes space to topics not related to C++ such as Extreme Programming. The book contains annoying typos even though it is in the second edition. The explanation of the use of try, throw and catch is extremely cusory.

On the plus side, he has a good and lengthy discussion of programming style and good programming practices. If you like involved, wordy explanations, buy this book.

I would have mentioned its value as an intro to object oriented programming in my summary, but ran out of space. I've investigated many languages, and never has the learning process been so intuitive and clear as with this book. 5 kudos here.

This is definitely one of the best books I've ever read. It covers basic as well as some advanced topics. It would even suffice for quick reference, if you are looking for specific topic. But I would recommend reading this book from page one to the end if you're really looking to hone your C++ skills. It helped me brushing up my skills while working on a large-scale C++ project. Enjoy!