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Rating: 
Summary: Worst book on C++; thank god I did not have to read it!
Review: A novice C++ programmer was forced to use this book to learn C++ (some silly course requirement). As an experienced developer and C++ user I was frequently asked for help with the programs in this book. I was aghast at the ridiculous premise of the book - try to make C++ look like Java! The author uses his own classes to make C++ programs look like an easier OO language. Of course, this bit of information is not passed on to the reader. So the unfortunate victim painstaking types out the program into the compiler (in this case VC++ 5.0) and of course nothing works (the fact that he uses the latest ANSI standard which is unsupported by all but the latest compilers does not help!). The book keeps the reader in the dark about the fact that there was a world before ANSI.What a waste of a good many trees. I'm sure the book is useful to more advanced programmers, but my friend picked up Stephen Prata's book and finally began to understand the language. Do yourself a favor and drop this book immediately, if you happen to pick it up.
Rating: 
Summary: Never Judge a book by it's cover
Review: I am currently in Engineering at the University of Waterloo, and forced to take a C++ course. I was nervous at first, but the cover of this book helped me a little. The cover is kind of cheasy, but the cover holds the best written programming book I have ever read. The ideas are simplified and analogies used wisely. The questions were even good enough for the teacher to give on the assignments! If you are learning C++, or want to refresh then this book is a MUST!
Rating: 
Summary: It's alright...
Review: This is a very academic book. So beware. We used it in our C++ course which followed along with fine. The teacher kept the pace going by doing his own created examples and lab assignments and towards the end the pace heated up a bit as we went on to OOP, which in the book is a bit weak, so you had to basically take full-on notes. What the book does is basically set out the structures in C++ over a series of long explanations. I'd say it waffles on a lot but that's the nature of a lot of academic books regardless of subject. It's better explained as a good read from cover to cover but not as a stop and go source of reference. If your angle is more "teach yourself" go for one of the wrox or o'reilly titles. If you're completely new to programming there are easier languages to learn first. C++ is a bit of a sledgehammer because it is hardcore.
Rating: 
Summary: Will teach conputing concepts..not C++
Review: This is not the book to buy if you wish to learn C++. If Dave in Ohio read the preface, the author clearly states that "the purpose of the book is to teach computing concepts, not C++, which is just a tool toward that end." We are using this book in my Intro to Programming class and it has proved to be both well-written and useful.
Rating:
Summary: Will teach conputing concepts..not C++
Review: This is not the book to buy if you wish to learn C++. If Dave in Ohio read the preface, the author clearly states that "the purpose of the book is to teach computing concepts, not C++, which is just a tool toward that end." We are using this book in my Intro to Programming class and it has proved to be both well-written and useful.
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