Which book to learn C++?

Hey there, I've come to the decision to attempt to master a programming language and after some thinking, I've decided to try and learn C++. My question is, to those of you who have a good understanding of the language, how did you learn it? If you learned it by reading a book, is there any you would recommend? I was tempted to buy "Sam's Teach Yourself C++ In 24 Hours" but I've heard bad things about the series.

I really don't fancy buying a book on C++ just to find out that it isn't aimed at beginners and is too difficult to start off with, then to find myself £20 out of pocket. Thanks.

Edit: Sorry if this would be better placed in a different forum.

- b0red

your profile shows you as a student ?

use the library either at school / college
or the public ones, they are free for students IIRC ??

Use Amazon, and buy from the 'used' section

Not answering your original question viz-a-vie 'which' book
as I am not capable of knowing just how your head absorbs data

for me, I like the SAMS '24 hr' books
and I like Sybex books too

each to their own

but as I stated at the start, get a copy from a library and try it first
if it DOES work
used section in Amazon

MY prefered options :)

and welcome to AO
as a new member
although you COULD be anyone
and we DO get a few older members re-cycing themselves every now and again :eek:

http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/

This site is amazing.

If you do everything they have and get a good understanding, you'll know enough to be able to google for anything they don't specifically mention.

Thanks for all your replies, I was going to see if there was a book in the school library on it but we've broke up for summer holidays and the school is shut for the next 4 weeks, I think. I'll probably follow the link gave by The Grunt, then once I've gone through it and have a better understanding of the language, maybe get a book. I'll take a look on amazon as well see if there are any cheap books I could buy.

Oh and by the way, I can assure you I am a new member here and not just "re-cycing" myself :p

- b0red

I actually am in a similiar situation that you are in, I need(ed) to learn C++ damn well!

Well, interestingly enough, there are opensource books that teach it! :eek:

How to Think Like a Computer Scientist is great if you don't all ready know another language (it's still great if you know another language, but it will be boring in the beginning).

If I my suggest, learning C++ may be intimidating at first. You may want to learn Java first to get your feet wet, get comfortable programming, then you can expand into C++. Just a suggestion ;)

There is also a depository of free online books on C++, there is also Thinking in C++ and C++ in Action. I'm the scourge of free books :p

Also, you'll want a C++ compiler and whatnot. If you are using windows, you can get Microsoft Visual C++ Express Edition free (most of the times you'll be making a "Windows 32 console program").

Good luck, it's a hard but rewarding language!

The C++ Programming Language, by Bjarne Stroustrup, inventor of C++

That book is a necessary addition to any, and I mean pretty much ANY programmer, regardless of language. It's expensive, but if you get serious about learning the language (which i was always too lazy to do) then you should shell out the cash, as it's honestly worth it.

as for compilers on windows, i'd get devc++... http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

Thanks for the links Arkimedes, I'm looking into the "How to Think Like a Computer Scientist" book right now, seems pretty good. I've took your advice er0k and I'm using Dev C++ right now, love it :)

I'll keep y'all updated with my progress :p

- b0red

I got C++ for C Programmers by Ira Pohl..

But that is not really a beginners book... It does help out with the whole OOP stuff..
If you know and like C you might like that book..

I'm surprised this one hasn't been mentioned: Accelerated C++

It is an excellent beginner's book and, although I left C++ fairly early on (I wanted to learn PHP), it taught me the basics very well. I can't recommend it any more! In fact, it was recommended to me (here on AO) when I asked the same question several months/a year ago. If my opinion is not enough, check out the Amazon reviews as well ;)