Who's Afraid of C++: Programming Primer for the PC [Paperback]

Author Unknown (Author)

Book Description

Series: Who's Afraid Of? | Publication Date: July 10, 1996

This book teaches you to program in C++, assuming no prior knowledge of programming. The methodology used is to explain the principles of good programming, and then illustrate each of them in the context of a realistic, although simple program. This approach differs from that of the vast majority of C++ books now available, which assume facility with C progamming.
From the Foreword by Edward Yourdon:
"...This is the best technical book I've read since 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' appeared in the mid-1970s." Computer programming isn't really mysterious, or at least it doesn't have to be when it is explained as clearly and simply as it is in this book. You don't need any prior background in programming to follow Steve Heller's gentle step-by-step path to programming in C++--even experienced programmers can read it without feeling patronized.


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* Training wheels approach makes a difficult topic far more accessible, with a C++ class library designed specifically for teaching the language
* C++ compiler enclosed on CD-ROM, along with examples from book and C++ 'Training Wheels' class library
* Foreword by Ed Yourdon

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is an extraordinary book on C++ written as a dialogue between a world-class expert and a complete novice. Probably the very best book for programming novices first tackling C++, and arguably one of the best technical books ever written.

Product Details

• Paperback: 486 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press (July 10, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0123390974
• ISBN-13: 978-0123390974
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #829,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish all technical books were written as clearly as this., April 15, 1999

By 

Marcos A. Campos - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Afraid of C++: Programming Primer for the PC (Paperback)

From now on, whenever someone asks me how to learn C++, this is the first book I will give them. I've read several books on learning C++ and this is by far the best I've encountered. Definitely worth the price of admission!

The book is well written and contains lots of examples. The tone is very casual, which I found made it an easy read. The book includes questions and comments from a person named Susan, who acted as a "test reader" for the book. (Susan had no previous programming background.) Throughout the book there is an ongoing Q & A style dialogue between Mr. Heller and Susan. I found this to be a great way of reinforcing the material. Also, the dialogue is rather entertaining at times.

I might add that I've been programming on and off in various languages for the last 17 years. And although Heller's book is written for the novice, he covers things so thoroughly that even programming concepts that I've known for years became more clear to me. For example, the brief explanation on how programs are converted from a high level language to machine instructions is one of the clearest explanations I've ever read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A real book for real people", November 27, 1999

By 

Kirk Callesen (Copenhagen Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Afraid of C++: Programming Primer for the PC (Paperback)

It seems that books written for 'newbies' in C++ fall into two categories. One, books written for those who already have a working knowledge of the C language, and two, those books who assume that after a few terse examples one attains a fluency of the subject mater. Mr. Heller's book on the other hand presumes nothing; that is to say no prior knowledge is assumed. This is a real advantage for people like me who often find it hard to grasp new or abstract ideas, without questioning the concepts behind them. He does this in a new and novel way by inserting in the text a real, living 'newbie' who questions everything that most C++ programmers and teachers take as givens. I found the book immensely informative as well as educational and use it quite a lot to help me through the rough edges in the learning process in the language of C++. But make no mistake about it; C++ is a whole new language that must be learnt from the ground up. I heartily endorse this book, and even though I'm only three quarters of the way through it, I have already ordered the 'more of' sequel to he first book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book!!!!, June 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Who's Afraid of C++: Programming Primer for the PC (Paperback)

You will not be sorry with the purchase of this book. I have spent considerable money on many 'Teach Yourself' titles, only to find myself giving up half-way through, or still feeling bewildered at the end. Most books really only teach you the constructs of a language, and really do not delve into the basics of programming. Here is one exception. Steve Heller makes no assumptions of the reader's experience, except that they have a willingness and desire to learn, and can at least issue commands at the DOS prompt. The journey takes you through the inners of your computer, looking at programming firstly at its lowest, then its highest level, using C++ as the language. What makes the book even more unique is the inclusion of an email tutorial between Steve and his now wife Susan, who was a complete novice. She often becomes bewildered with Steve's explanations (even though they are very clear), and he draws out the explanation until she understands. In this way, no reader should finish the book without a fundamental grasp in programming. The book does not make you a C++ programmer - it merely acts as a starting point, giving you enough to be able to go onto more advanced material. If you have any interest in programming yet have found it difficult to get started, do yourself a favour and buy this book - you won't be disappointed.