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Head First C: A Brain-Friendly Guide 1st Edition
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Also, like a college course, the book features labs: projects intended to stretch your abilities, test your new skills, and build confidence. You'll go beyond the basics of the language and learn how to use the compiler, the make tool and the archiver to tackle real-world problems.
We think your time is too valuable to waste struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First C uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.
- ISBN-109781449399917
- ISBN-13978-1449399917
- Edition1st
- PublisherO'Reilly Media
- Publication dateMay 8, 2012
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions8 x 1.31 x 9.25 inches
- Print length632 pages
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From the Publisher
About 'Head First' Books
We think of a Head First Reader as a Learner
Learning isn't something that just happens to you. It's something you do. You can't learn without pumping some neurons. Learning means building more mental pathways, bridging connections between new and pre-existing knowledge, recognizing patterns, and turning facts and information into knowledge (and ultimately, wisdom). Based on the latest research in cognitive science, neurobiology, and educational psychology, Head First books get your brain into learning mode.
Here's how we help you do that:
We tell stories using casual language, instead of lecturing. We don't take ourselves too seriously. Which would you pay more attention to: a stimulating dinner party companion, or a lecture?
We make it visual. Images are far more memorable than words alone, and make learning much more effective. They also make things more fun.
We use attention-grabbing tactics. Learning a new, tough, technical topic doesn't have to be boring. The graphics are often surprising, oversized, humorous, sarcastic, or edgy. The page layout is dynamic: no two pages are the same, and each one has a mix of text and images.
Metacognition: thinking about thinking
If you really want to learn, and you want to learn more quickly and more deeply, pay attention to how you pay attention. Think about how you think. The trick is to get your brain to see the new material you're learning as Really Important. Crucial to your well-being. Otherwise, you're in for a constant battle, with your brain doing its best to keep the new content from sticking.
Here's what we do:
We use pictures, because your brain is tuned for visuals, not text. As far as your brain's concerned, a picture really is worth a thousand words. And when text and pictures work together, we embedded the text in the pictures because your brain works more effectively when the text is within the thing the text refers to, as opposed to in a caption or buried in the text somewhere.
We use redundancy, saying the same thing in different ways and with different media types, and multiple senses, to increase the chance that the content gets coded into more than one area of your brain.
We use concepts and pictures in unexpected ways because your brain is tuned for novelty, and we use pictures and ideas with at least some emotional content, because your brain is more likely to remember when you feel something.
We use a personalized, conversational style, because your brain is tuned to pay more attention when it believes you're in a conversation than if it thinks you're passively listening to a presentation.
We include many activities, because your brain is tuned to learn and remember more when you do things than when you read about things. And we make the exercises challenging-yet-do-able, because that's what most people prefer.
We use multiple learning styles, because you might prefer step-by-step procedures, while someone else wants to understand the big picture first, and someone else just wants to see an example. But regardless of your own learning preference, everyone benefits from seeing the same content represented in multiple ways.
We include content for both sides of your brain, because the more of your brain you engage, the more likely you are to learn and remember, and the longer you can stay focused. Since working one side of the brain often means giving the other side a chance to rest, you can be more productive at learning for a longer period of time.
We include challenges by asking questions that don't always have a straight answer, because your brain is tuned to learn and remember when it has to work at something.
Finally, we use people in our stories, examples, and pictures, because, well, you're a person. Your brain pays more attention to people than to things.
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
David Griffiths began programming at age 12, after being inspired by a documentary on the work of Seymour Papert. At age 15 he wrote an implementation of Papert's computer language LOGO. After studying Pure Mathematics at University, he began writing code for computers and magazine articles for humans and he is currently an agile coach with Exoftware in the UK, helping people to create simpler, more valuable software. He spends his free time traveling and time with his lovely wife, Dawn.
Dawn Griffiths started life as a mathematician at a top UK university where she was awarded a First-Class Honours degree in Mathematics. She went on to pursue a career in software development, and has over 15 years experience working in the IT industry. Dawn has written several books, including Head First C, Head First Statistics and Head First 2D Geometry.
Product details
- ASIN : 1449399916
- Publisher : O'Reilly Media; 1st edition (May 8, 2012)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 632 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781449399917
- ISBN-13 : 978-1449399917
- Item Weight : 2.6 pounds
- Dimensions : 8 x 1.31 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #575,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #88 in C Programming Language
- #362 in Computer Programming Languages
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

David Griffiths began programming at age 12, when he saw a documentary on the work of Seymour Papert. At age 15, he wrote an implementation of Papert's computer language LOGO. After studying Pure Mathematics at University, he began writing code for computers and magazine articles for humans. He's worked as an agile coach, a developer, and a garage attendant, but not in that order. He can write code in over 10 languages and prose in just one, and when not writing, coding, or coaching, he spends much of his spare time travelling with his lovely wife and co-author Dawn.

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It's akin to learning how to drive with an automatic before graduating to a manual transmisison. I'd recommend learning something simple like perl/python and then coming back to C.
Anyway, great book. While not as in-depth or comprehensive as K&R is, I much prefer the teaching style. That being said, there's a lot more to C than what's in this book, so if you have a very specific application in mind, there's lots more out there to discover.
But beginning Computer Programmers should love this book too ..
o The authors are both mathematicians
o They write well
o They describe some of the deep connections between C and Unix
o They seem to know a lot about C
o The target audience is beginners
o And the pictures and diagrams are fun,
and unusual, for a computer language book
Top reviews from other countries
So I was very excited to receive this Head first C book.
But I find this book a little confusing at times.
It reminds me of the school teacher who would often digress and when you're dyslexic digression in text form is tedious.
Updated my review from 3 to 4 stars & now 5 stars. Mainly because is full of useful information, presented in an odd way at times, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as the information does seems to sink in.
This book goes into a good level of detail.
The more you read of this book the more you understand why it's written the way it was.











