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C++ from the Ground Up, Third Edition Review by Mark Burrell
I don't recommend this book for beginners learning C++
In my quest to find a really good teaching guide to learn C++ from scratch I was quite attracted to the title of this book. I checked out the author's credentials and thought this book would be an excellent way to get started. I wanted to "Learn C++ from the Master", as is written on the top right corner of the book for me to plainly see. I personally do not think that the title "C++ from the GROUND UP" is an appropriate one by any means. I found it hard to learn the basics of C++ programming using this book. I didn't find much in the way of detailed teachings to go along with the code examples. As an example, when writing my first program it would have been nice to know something about "headers" other than just the fact that they are necessary or useful for the program. Many more pages of explanations are needed for this book to be "beginner friendly". After all, this book boasts on page XVII that no previous programming experience is required. Now, I have had prior experience albeit many years ago, with C and Pascal. I found this book quite tedious to work through. I think many essential explanations / examples were lacking before advancing to, and running, various types of program code. After struggling through this book all the way to chapter four I got frustrated and invested in C++ Primer Plus, Fifth edition after checking several reviews. It would have been helpful to have more practice exercises with answers. The cost of this book is too high for what you get, ( I paid $59.95 CDN on the date of my purchase, although I see the price has diminished ). There is much, better value out there for your money if you investigate. On a positive note, I think the code examples do demonstrate excellent programming syntax and structure. I also believe that the book's description is correct about the fact that the author is a Master Windows Programmer, etc. I will use the examples of code shown in this book eventually. I would like to get some more use out of it. To sum it all up in a sentence: Had I known back then what I know now about this book, I would never have purchased it.