Effective C++: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Design (2nd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Save years of debugging time!
Review: Memorize this book and it will take less time than all the wasted hours you spent debugging your C++ code. Read this book to prepare for a job interview, and you will look like a Guru. I have read this book three times, and it is emminently practical for making you a better programmer.

The C++ programming language can be characterized as a language that gives you enough rope to hang yourself with. Sometimes I wonder why I program in it at all. But at least this book exists to help you do it right.

The only criticism I have seen of the book is the often cited example of using the "this" pointer to have an object delete itself. Okay, lots of people don't agree with Mr. Meyers attempt to justify this, but that is a small issue. There is a ton of good advice.

Rating:
Summary: An essential if you are a C++ programmer
Review: This is one of the most useful and knowledgeable books on the pitfalls of developing in C++ that I have ever read. This book is not for the beginner developer since most of the items covered here refer to advanced topics such as customer memory management and C++ object oriented best practices. I'd recommend reading some basic C++ syntax based books such as "C++ How to Program" or "C++ from the Ground Up" and then reading some OOAD conceptual books such as "The Object-Oriented Approach: Concepts, Systems Development, and Modeling with UML" or "The Rational Unified Process Made Easy: A Practitioner's Guide to Rational Unified Process" to get introduced to concepts. This book goes great with its follow-up book "More Effective C++".

Rating:
Summary: Deserves more than 5 stars.
Review: Simply put, one of the best, if not THE best, books I have ever read on C++ (or any language). Assumes the reader knows the basics of the language. The writing style is engaging and witty. The material is immediately useful in any C++ development and is quantized into easily digestible chunks. I have been reading one or two sections ("items") each day at work. I look forward to reading Volume 2.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I have to say, I only started reading this book the other day and already I can see the enormous value of it. Scott certainly knows what he is doing and most importantly knows how to put it on paper. I would recommend this book to any C++ programmer. You can't go wrong with this book.

Rating:
Summary: A++
Review: I have found this book has improved my code and that of my team greatly. We have resolved many problems in implementation and design by applying the ideas in this book.

Well worth the cover price.