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Who's Afraid of More C++?

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** NOTE: If you are a beginner, this book is not for you just yet, read "Who's Afraid of C++?" first. **

Steve Heller has done it again! This is C++ for the masses. Imagine having a personal C++ expert teaching you and answering every C++ question you have... in real time! Well, this book is the next best thing -- and not too much different. "Who's Afraid of More C++?" (like its predecessor) is written more as a novel than a technical tome, every page taking you deeper into the intricate world of C++ and revealing the mysteries of this powerful language. Once I opened my copy of the manuscript, I could hardly put it down!

However, at the core of the this very readable book is a technical masterpiece! I found each page packed with indispensable hints, tips, and revelations. Some books teach C++, while others specialize in "Effective" programming techniques -- this book does BOTH superbly. Save some money and get this DOUBLE WHAMMY! Last year I thought "Inheritance" was just something I wasn't going to be getting from any of my relatives; no longer!

What makes this book so special is that Steve's wife, Susan, is the C++ student that Steve is teaching throughout. As you read, you can imagine her reading, too, because just as you read something you're not so clear on, Susan pipes up and asks the question for you. Her knack for doing this is uncanny! What ensues is a dialog (originally Email-based) between Steve and Susan. Steve answers Susan's questions until she understands the topic thoroughly -- and by that time, I did too. Steve's style will appeal to the C++ novice, as well as those C++ gurus looking to tune up their skills.

By the way, this is much more than just a book. Steve answers his Email! So if you have a question that you can't find an answer to, help is just an Email away. Better yet, there is a mailing list (see the link on Steve's home page) for readers to discuss C++ and object oriented programming topics. You can't go w! rong!

The genius of Steve Heller has created a masterful sequel to his original work "Who's Afraid of C++." His treatment of complex topics like encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism demonstrates an understanding of the difficult process of learning advanced C++ concepts. Steve's goal is to help the reader understand how to create his or her own class as opposed to simply referencing classes created by others. His writing style, which includes using a student-teacher dialogue, is unique in the world of C++ instruction. All of the topics covered follow a logical progression of thought. His in-depth treatment of memory addresses and program instructions enables the reader to see at a glance the complex workings of the execution of a C++ program. The highpoint of the book has Steve teaching a unique method for the creator of a class to hide pointers from the user of a class in order to prevent many of the common memory-allocation problems associated with C++. As he did in the original "Who's Afraid of C++", Steve encourages the reader to build a working example of the techniques covered in the book. The software included with the book has the source files used and a C++ compiler on CDROM. There is also an e-mail discussion group that allows the reader to contact other readers and Steve himself regarding issues covered in the book. In addition to all the C++ covered, Steve offers his thoughts on the Y2K problem and its consequences. If you really want to understand C++ and develop your general programming skills, you can't go wrong with this volume.

This is the long-awaited sequel to "Who's Afraid of C++?," in which Steve Heller introduced the unique idea of not just teaching, but learning by example, inviting the reader to follow along with Susan, a total novice to programming. By the end of that volume, we had gone from the basic mechanics of writing and compiling simple C++ programs to an understanding of classes and object-oriented programming. Steve and Susan showed that these "advanced" concepts, approached from the standpoint of a novice, were really no more difficult than other programming issues like data types and flow control, usually regarded as more "basic." Tantalizingly, the first volume seemed to end just when the story started getting really good - when the reader just started getting a glimpse of the full power of C++.

This second volume immediately plunges ahead into new conceptual territory, laying out in the first three chapters what will become the core of the book - the ideas of encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. Building upon the classes developed in the first volume for the "grocery store inventory" scenario, the conceptual leaps from object-oriented classes, to inherited classes, to virtual functions and polymorphic objects occur so fast I almost felt assaulted by them. In fact, by the end of the third chapter, I had to put the book down, go back and reread the last 100 or so pages of "Who's Afraid of C++?" and then come back to the beginning of chapter 3. On the second reading, it clicked!

The remaining four chapters flesh out the ideas presented in the first three, showing the development of a small home inventory application, with some interesting digressions on the Year 2000 problem and on the nature of software development in general.

Although much of this material is somewhat tricky and even elusive, especially when objects begin "morphing" into one another, I never found a line of code in the many listings that I could not understand for want of adequate explanation. (In fact, some apparently simple lines generate many pages of explanation.) The intricacy of this, in fact, lends this book a very different flavor than that of "Who's Afraid of C++?" Whereas that volume was more of a wide-eyed learning adventure, in the sequel, we find out that there are indeed plenty of pitfalls, tricks, and subtle errors to be afraid of in C++. Instead of the almost playful banter between expert and novice in which the expert learns as much as the novice (after all, by the beginning of this book Susan isn't, strictly speaking, a novice), here we are led, gently and carefully, by a mentor through some complicated and treacherous passages. Heller is even at great pains to present a method of using polymorphism in which pointers are "hidden" from the user of polymorphic classes (as opposed to the more usual "dangerous polymorphism").

As a result, I feel that should I ever want to retrace the steps of this journey and develop applications using these principles on my own, I have in "Who's Afraid of More C++?" an absolutely indispensible road map. Although this might make it sound more like a textbook or reference work than a "technical novel", the presentation is not dry or academic. Heller states his intention is to provide the reader with a solid foundation for using C++, and he uses his obvious wealth of "real world" programming experience to do so. If, like me, you were intrigued by the first book enough to want to embark on this more demanding, but rewarding journey, I highly recommend "Who's Afraid of More C++?," with only one qualification - be sure to bring along your copy of "Who's Afraid of C++!"

Michael Evans

Following the lead of the first book, "Who's Afraid of C++?," this latest volume does not skip a beat. While most books _show_ you how to write _code_, this one _teaches_ you how to be a _programmer_. The two are not synonymous. Through the object-oriented development of a realistically sized application, the reader is engrossed in the software design process. Features of the C++ language are introduced as their need arises in the program, giving the reader a great perspective on why they exist and how they are used effectively in real programming situations. You will learn how to truly utilize C++ as the tool for solving problems and designing great software. At the end of this book, you will have the tools necessary to advance in the world of C++ with great confidence. Without reservation, enthusiastically recommend the two "Who's Afraid of..." books to anyone interested in truly learning C++. I pity those who have to learn it any other way!

I've read some of the more technical language references for C++, but I'd always end up just using them to look up stuff when I got stuck. This book (and the first Who's Afraid...) both have a casual and clear tone that makes complex and abstract concepts seem to make perfect sense if you slow down and especially if you read the questions asked by the "student". About 1/2 to 2/3 of the time I had the same question. Some people won't like the fact that it's not purely a technical book, but a little story goes a long way in making a book interesting enough to read through instead of wade through.

Heller follows up his unsurpassed C++ intro book, "Who's Afraid of C++", with an even finer text. This book continues the great dialogue between student and teacher that was so original and important in the first book and takes you further into Object Oriented Programming and the C++ language. The dialogue is always helpful and often serves as a review of previous material, enhacing the learning process while the book overall has a a more refined feel to it. The book also sets the standard for follow up books providing excellent continuity from the first book. You'll pick up this book and feel you haven't missed a beat. It was an excellent choice to have a two part tutorial because more experienced C++ programmers can start right here, although I would urge anyone to read both books, regardless of experience, since there is much more here than syntax and looping constructs. How about a 3rd installment Steve? A MUST READ!

Steve Heller does it again, this time pushing the envelope. It continues where his Introduction to C++ left off in Who's Afraid of C++, and gets into more complex topics. The book provides another great stepping stone into the world of C++ programming. Its a great book, and worth the read if you are a bit more than a novice, or you have read the previous one. It not only tells you how to program in C++, but explains why you do certain things, something which other C++ books skip on because they assume you've already learned C. You don't have to learn C to program in C++, this book proves it, and if you know C++, then its a snap to do a little C programming.

1. Steve writes VERY well. 2. The interplay between Steve, and Susan is very engaging (it ought to be, ... they got married) 3. Steve uses iterative improvement to demonstrate how software really gets written. 4. He admits to his mistakes, at least some of them ;-) 5. He presents the material in a way for the reader to add new knowledge to a solid foundation.

Steve, you done good!

Although I have not read too far into this book, I can tell that is a great success, just the same as the previous book, "Who's Afraid of C++". If you are a beginner, I strongly recommend that you read "Who's Afraid of C++" first. Then move on to this book. It will make much more sense. If you have already read "Who's Afraid of C++", or you know a decent amount of c++, then you must read this book. When you read reviews on the cover of it, it says that it starts off just where "Who's Afraid of C++" left off. This is nothing but truth. It even continues using the same example that it had left off with. Steve Heller explains everything in great detail. If you still don't understand it, Susan, his official test reader will come in and ask the question for you. The entire dialogue is written out in the book, so you are sure to understand it. It strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to advance his/her C+! + knowledge. If you want to e-mail me, remove the "nospam." in my e-mail address.