Rating: 
Summary: Exceptional book!
Review: "Exceptional C++" is a really exceptional book! I was able to finally understand some subtle issues in this language. However it is not an intermediate C++ book, the reader should have substantial foundation on C++ and understand internals of C++ object model. The book is so deep in detailed C++ class design that no other books can be compared to it.
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Summary: An excellent addition to my C++ library
Review: Are you sure that you know how to write exception safe code? How good are you at the details of writing classes? How well do you know C++ memory management?You will find many interesting, if not surprising, answers to these and other questions in "Exceptional C++" even if you have years of C++ experience. If not, maybe you should consider writing your own book. The book is thorough and fresh. Some solutions are not an easy read (although the author has succeeded in making the book reasonably entertaining), but digging through them is a very satisfying experience. In the hierarchy of the quality C++ reading, this book will find its place next to Sroustrup's "The C++ Programming Language" and Scott Meyers' books. The book is NOT for a C++ novice, but rather for a mature developer who strives to excel in C++ design and coding styles. It focuses on the complexities and subtleties of using template libraries, C++ language itself, and the elements of good design. The book is written in the problem-solution style to illustrate many of not so obvious questions. As the author dives deeper in each solution, he delivers along the way very concise and useful programming tips. This book is an excellent and very satisfying read!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the few that shows how to use C++ exceptions
Review: As a professional programmer I find the Guru of the Week questions annoying, because they usually point out that I don't know some dang thing about C++. (I don't know too many people who appreciate being pointed out how dumb they are weekly.) Then someone who appears to have nothing better to do than solve C++ puzzles jumps in with a 6 page submission on how to solve the problem, which is usually wrong. Then six more self appointed guru's jump in and fill pages of discussion, Then after filling my head with all the wrong answers to a particular problem, Herb smuggly answers the question with the real answer. Anoints another guru and the process repeats. In the meantime I've lost total interest in the discussion. Thank you for Deja news where I can read the first and last postings(The puzzle and the solution). That said, this book is full of those got ya! puzzles. Fortunately Herb is a kind writer and you don't feel too dumb when he points out why a particular puzzle has a problem and what it is. And like Deja news you can skip all the wrong answers, arguments about the arcane and get right to the meat of the problem. Herb also got a chance to make the puzzles more clear, where the language of the original puzzle confused the issue unnecessarily. The best reason to buy this book is that its the only published text so far on how to use C++ Exceptions. There are some articles in C++ Report but not many on the traps and pitfalls of their usage. Stroustrup's book "C++ Programming Language" tells you how the mechanism works, and makes some suggestions. Herb tells you what it will cost you if you don't use them, only partially use them, or totally abuse them. And he shows you how a minor misuse can make you have major problems. I can see why Scott Meyers likes this book. Its just like his books, "Effective C++" series only the format is not in a lecture topic but in a question/puzzle answer format. I prefer the Meyer's approach but you can still glean the necessary information, and while you are reading the answers to the puzzles, say to yourself "Yeah I knew that!" One other reason to buy this book, you can use these puzzles as tests for interviews. First, it will help you know the skill level of the applicant, Second it will teach you something you probably should have known anyway, Thirdly if they get the answers right off it will tell you that the applicants at least read the texts and are trying to stay on top of things. This is not to say you should make applicants take an all day C++ grammer test but by asking a few puzzle questions you can see how they react under a bit of pressure. After all at some point everyone comes up against a problem they haven't seen.
Rating:
Summary: If you like Scott Meyer's books, you'll like this one
Review: Clearly, this book is for good C++ practioners, but you don't really need to be a guru to take advantage of it. Like very good (C++) books, hard (exceptional) C++ features are very well explained. The structure of the book is based on few pages items. Because each item begin with a quizz-like example, the reader is not passive, but invited to "play". It makes the learning very effective. Last but not least : A lot of pieces information given in only 200 pages ! Great !
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book !
Review: Excellent book ! Provides a lot of great example of "tricky"(yet common) C++ code that could stump developers for hours ! A must book for any serious C++ developer !
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book !
Review: Excellent book ! Provides a lot of great example of "tricky"(yet common) C++ code that could stump developers for hours ! A must book for any serious C++ developer !
Rating:
Summary: Broad and Deep
Review: Gosh, this is a nice book. It is based on Herb's "Guru of the Week" column in the comp.lang.c++.moderated Usenet forum: nontrivial C++ issues presented as questions around one or a few code fragments. The electronic column was popular from its inception, but the book raises the quality of the discussion to new heights. A fair number of problems covering a very diverse range of topics (physical code organization, exception safety, const correctness, etc.) are treated in much depth. The focus appears to be mainly on pitfalls to avoid, and how to avoid them, though various creative C++ programming techniques are also taught. As a result, the book contains many "recommended practices", that are nicely emphasized using boxes and icons. The discussion is generally up to date with the C++ standard, and some fluency in C++ is required to get the most out of this book. However, the details of how things work are expounded with sufficient detail and clarity that you don't need to be a "Guru of a Week" to understand the issues in their entirety. Despite the considerable breadth and depth of the volume, it weighs in at only about 200 pages: a welcome break from the giant C++ tutorials (this is not a tutorial, mind you!). Herb's technical writing style is lucid, and the typography/layout is actually attractive.
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Summary: Industrial Strength C++'ing
Review: Herb Sutter is well known in the C++ programming community for his attention to detail, sound software engineering principles and solid coding techniques. This book gather together in one place an extension of his "Guru of the Week" work that has appeared in comp.lang.c++.moderated for the past few years. What leaped out to me while he did the "guru's" all these years is how much thought he put into them. Now imagine that he revisits them for an additional sharpening! Furthermore, he writes clearly, consisely, and to the point. Herb's writing skill and C++ knowledge, combo'd with C++'s maturity, is really having your cake and eating it too. Programming/design/etc., in/with any language is hard, complex, and challenging. There is no place for haste and never a substitute for thinking. Sutters slaps this in our faces, as a needed wake up call. It is rare for me to recommend a book. But "Exceptional C++" challenges your problem solving skills to a new dimension. This is not just the kind of book that I label "industrial strength", but it's what I call an "expert book", a book I've been waiting for since 1985! Yipee! Get ready for many plainly stated guidelines, insights, portability issues, techniques, and coding idioms. It's easy to see "Exceptional C++" becoming a new classic as it covers topics such as exception handling, templates, class design, inheritance, and memory management. It's all there.
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Summary: This is the best book.... about C++
Review: I don't need to say anymore.... Get this book...! If you are real C++ programmer... I think... I was advanced C++ programmer.. But.. This book...is more advanced... ^^; plz.. Get this book... and joy ! All topic is very very very interesting and helpful ! Really Exceptional.... ! Did you read Scott's Effective C++ and More Effective C++ ? This Book is MOST Effective(?) C++ ! I was read every C++ book..(I think.. ^^ about 40 ) This book is UNIQUE ! I like this book more than design patterns !
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Summary: exceptional book, this book raised my programming abilit 5%
Review: I have read more than 50 c++ books since I got involved in programming in 1980 when I was a teenage. two month ago (June 2000), a friend informed me this book and suggested me to take a look at. I bought this book from bookpool.com at $23.95 (I guess now bookpool.com may seel this book to you at $15 or less). Immedately I liked this book when the book reached me. The things the author show his excellency are that he can show the concise and safe way to perform trivial coding. What I think most intermediate c++ programmer will not like is that no much deep explanation about why. this book is for advanced programmer, not for intermediate ones, let alone beginners.
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