C++ Black Book: A Comprehensive Guide to C++ Mastery (Paperback)

by Steven Holzner (Author) "Welcome to the big book of C++..." (more)
Key Phrases: typedef implementation, void trumpet, using namespace std, Using Header Files, Bob Crachit, Ebeneezer Scrooge (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Written to give the reader the knowledge to master C++, from the basics to the most advanced material and include a Windows programming primer. A complete C++ reference and designed to work with all C++ compilers, this book is more comprehensive than any other book on C++ available today. Technically accurate and up-to-date, this book is designed to remain current without substantial updates for years. Illustrated with at least one example for every topic covered making it easier to learn the programming language.

About the Author
Steven Holzner (Cambridge, MA) is a former contributing editor for PC Magazine and has authored more than 60 books ranging in subject from assembly language to C++. His books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into 15 languages. Steven was on the faculty of Cornell University for 10 years, where he earned his Ph.D., and has also been on the faculty of his undergraduate school, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 832 pages
• Publisher: Coriolis Group Books (December 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576107779
• ISBN-13: 978-1576107775
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #951,483 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Problem Solver, June 12, 2001

By	David Koontz (Phoenix, Az United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Comprehensive Problem Solver." That's the subtitle on the cover and I think it just about covers my thoughts. The information within is presented in a very understandable fashion and with excelent cross references to other related sections making it an outstanding book for reference. I am an advanced programmer, not a beginner or expert so many of the early topics were very understandable to me while still being advanced enough to be of use to me and not so advanced that I got lost. One caveat however, someone with zero knowledge of basic programming (functions, variables, operators, etc.) might have a little trouble at first until they read on further. The book gets up to speed fast and that might throw some of the brand new programmers for a few chapters.

For those programmers transitioning from C to C++ (myself included) this is a wonderful reference since the author illustrates some of the basic differences between C and C++ even from the first chapter. The author uses only C++ code so you won't get confused by what is old C style code and what is the new (or even old) C++ way.

Each time I thought this book wouldn't get better, it did. I highly recommend this book to programmers moving from C to C++ or to beginning/advanced programmers looking for more depth than a "Teach yourself" book.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Must have for Beginners, January 19, 2001

By	Mark Drake "mad_darkstorm" (Drummonds / Memphis Tennessee) - See all my reviews

The C++ Black Book is one of the best learning books for any future programmer. It does a wonderful job on explaination and description on coding, lines, and everything else in the book. And, unlike some learning books, their are no errors in the coding in this book (as far as I have read their have been no errors: Pg. 465).

If you want to learn C++ and don't have time to learn 2 or 3 other languages, then pick up this book. It does not require you to have previous programming knowledge, so just pick up the book and you're ready to learn...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for beginners., July 27, 2005

By	James L. Fuqua "Jim" (Hendersonville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: C++ Black Book: A Comprehensive Guide to C++ Mastery (Paperback)

I have had this book for several years and am just now using it to learn C++. The book has an unusual style in that it repeats itself adding slightly new increments as it goes along. This is great for a beginner or an intermediate programmer with some bad habits. It would drive an expert crazy.
I have written this review because of the put-downs in several other reviews. Those reviewers are looking at the book from the perspective of someone who already knows it all. They obviously don't feel that they needed this book and perhaps they don't. I did and still do need the simplicity and patience exhibited by this author as I am trying to learn this difficult language without the help of a teacher or even mentor to answer questions. For this purpose the book is the best I have seen and I have half a dozen others.