[Home Page] - [Reviews Main] - [Reviews by subject]

Please note that C++ has changed significantly over the years, so a book that was recommended three or four years ago may no longer be current.

Advanced C++ Programming Styles and Idioms by James Coplien [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Over all the book is a tour de force and well worth working through if you want to improve your fluency with C++.

Algorithms and Data Structures in C++ by Leendert Ammeraal [Recommended with Reservations]

Alec Ross writes:
In summary then, this is a very good treatment, well worth the price--but add your own thoughts on the use of exceptions and STL if you are going to use these techniques in your applications.

Annotated C++ Reference Manual, The by Margaret Ellis & Bjarne Stroustrup [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you need to know what constitutes C++ then you need to have a copy of this book on your shelf.

Best C/C++ Tips Ever, The by Anthony Porter [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is a book that needs to be worked at if real benefit is to be gained, but it is worth the money if you have the will to invest the time.

Borland C++ Developers' Bible by Mark Peterson [Recommended]

Mike Burton writes:
...remember that the paperless office is as unviable as its bathroom counterpart.
The author covers a lot in a small space and its good to have it all in a book I can lift!

C & C++ Code Capsules by Chuck Allison [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Are you serious about C++? Do you think you are already a C++ programmer? If the answer to both questions is 'yes' then I think you should invest some time studying this book. A chapter a week for the next five months should be about right.

C Elements of Style by Oualline [Recommended]

Adrian Wontroba writes:
Overall, a worthwhile book which should help to reduce the incidence of 2 am debugging sessions.

C++ Answer Book, The by Tony L Hansen [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I have reservations but I believe that this book is good value for money and works well even with the updated version of Stroustrup's book.

C++ Communications Utilities by Michael Holmes & Bob Flanders [Recommended]

Chris Hills writes:
If you need a comms program and want to learn about comms you could do much worse. A novel idea that works. Recommended.

C++ For C Programmers by Ira Pohl [Highly Recommended]

Alastair Gill writes:
highly recommended.

C++ Gems (Programming Pearls from the C++ Report) by S Lippman [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
There is such a wealth of material in these 600 pages that I can do very little more than suggest that serious C++ programmers should either have read the originals or they should invest in this book and read an article a day.

C++ IOStreams Handbook by Steve Teale [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Those seeking to impress others with their knowledge of C++ will find that a covet reading of this book will allow them to greatly enhance their reputations.

C++ Object Databases - Programming with the ODMG Standard by David Jordan [Recommended]

Burkhard Kloss writes:
If somewhere in your future you see the words 'ODMG', 'Object Database', 'OQL' and C++, you should probably have a look at this book.

C++ Programming Language 3rd ed, The by B Stroustrup [Highly Recommended]

Brian Bramer writes:
I liked the structure of the book with part one taking the reader through traditional procedural programming techniques and then moving onto OO in part two. This enables readers to use and appreciate objects without having to plunge into the implementation details of classes.

C++ Programming Language Special Edition, The by Bjarne Stroustrup [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
When your current copy of The C++ programming Language falls to pieces replace it with a copy of this edition.

C++ Programming Style by Tom Cargill [Recommended]

Gary Thompson writes:
Overall the book makes a lot of sensible suggestions and pulls them together in pithy rules of thumb.

C++ Programming Style by Tom Cargill [Recommended]

John Washington writes:
Authoritative, readable (preferably more than once), yet never patronising, never boring and not a single example of those jokey gee-whizz "Haven't you done well, go and get a cup of coffee!" lines so beloved of many American authors.

C++ Standard Library, The by Nicolai Josuttis [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I find it hard to see how anyone else will manage to better this book.

C++ Standard Library: A Tutorial & Reference, The by Nicolai Josuttis [Highly Recommended]

Mark Radford writes:
Highly recommended without reservation to all C++ users.

C++ Strategies and Tactics by Robert B Murray [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Get a copy, read it and pass it on. Get your own copy if you want to keep ahead of your colleagues.

C++ Windows NT Programming by Mark Andrews [Recommended]

Ian Cargill writes:
In summary, I think C++ Windows NT Programming is well written and contains a lot of useful material.

C++ and C Efficiency by David Spuler [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have ambitions to being a craftsman rather than just someone who knocks up a solution then this is a book that you should read and pass on.

C++ for Engineers by Bramer [Recommended]

Chris Hills writes:
This is a good C++ book with a slightly different perspective to that of the usual flood of C++ books. I find it a refreshing change, but then I started life in hardware as well.

Creating Lightweight Components with ATL by Jonathan Bates [Recommended]

Lawrence Dack writes:
If you need 'Lightweight Components with ATL', buy the book, because it explains how to link several different technologies together to achieve a worthwhile end

Data Abstraction and Problem Solving with C++ 2ed by Carrano & Helman & Veroff [Recommended]

Mike Ellis writes:
This book is intended to teach young programmers, perhaps still at university or early in their careers, techniques that will be valuable for a long time.

Data Abstraction and Problem Solving with C++ by F Carrano [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
There are many professional programmers who would profit from reading this book, if only they could find the time to do so (and in too many cases, the humility to admit that they still have much to learn).

Data Structures in C++: Using the STL by Timothy Budd [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you do anything but the simplest of low level programming you should have access to this book. Either buy your own copy or ensure that your workplace has a copy available.

Data Structures, Data Abstraction by Mitchell L Model [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to learn about writing data structures in C++ this is definitely a book that you should seriously consider.

Database Developer's Guide with Borland C++ 5.0 by Mike Cohn [Highly Recommended]

Ian Cargill writes:
The book is well structured and well written. The editors and authors have done a good job of seamlessly integrating the contributions of five co- authors...
If you are looking to create database programs with Borland C++ 5, I can strongly recommend this book as a top tool to help you on your way.

Design and Evolution of C++, The by Bjarne Stroustrup [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Bjarne Stroustrup's book is a carefully worked description of his view of the development of C++.

Designing Components with the C++ STL by Breymann [Recommended]

Sean Corfield writes:
...as a reference manual for STL and a good jumping off point for applications built on top of it, this book deserves a very solid recommendation.

Designing Components with the C++ STL by Ulrich Breymann [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have already got a start with the STL by reading something such as Leen Ammeraal's excellent STL for C++ Programmers this book would make an excellent study to take you on to higher things.

Designing and Coding Reusable C++ by Martin Carroll & Margaret Ellis [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you haven't already guessed, this is one of the books I chose to review because I want the book on my reference shelves.

Develop a Professional C++ Application in 21 Days by Mickey Williams [Highly Recommended]

Eddie Boyle writes:
This is an excellent general book about the development process...
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone using Visual C++ and also to most other developers.

Developing C++ Software by Russel Winder [Recommended]

Alan Lenton writes:
I enjoyed using this book - though it was by no means light reading - and it will certainly find a permanent place on my bookshelf. Recommended.

Draft Standard C++ Library, The by P J Plauger [Recommended with Reservations]

Chris Simons writes:
This type of book will be a welcome addition to any C++ programmer's book shelf. Unfortunately, the author appears to have gone to print too soon...

Effective C++ 2ed by Scott Meyers [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I was delighted to see that this book is now in a second edition. The original was an excellent study for C++ programmers...
...Unless you are sure you understood the first edition, you can probably benefit from reading this new one.

Effective C++ by Scott Meyers [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I thoroughly recommend this book.

Efficient C++ by Dov Bulka & David Mayhew [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think this is a book that should have been read by the majority of serious C++ programmers.

Enough Rope to Shoot Yourself in the Foot by Allen I Holub [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
From time to time he had me bouncing up and down with fury shouting 'idiot, you cannot do it like that' but at other times I found myself purring to find someone who agreed with me.

Essence of OLE with ActiveX, The by David S Platt [Recommended]

Mark Kuschnir writes:
I would recommend seriously looking at the book as a course book for a University course or self-study for getting into OLE/ActiveX.

Evolution of C++, The by Jim Waldo [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The papers are often about contentious proposals about the language and are part of a continuing debate about the way that things should progress.

Exceptional C++ by Herb Sutter [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I chose to make this a joint winner of 'FG's C/C++ Programming Book of 1999'.

Exceptional C++ by Herb Sutter [Highly Recommended]

Alan Griffiths writes:
Let me save you some time: if you are interested in making effective use of C++ then this is a good book, buy it!

From Chaos to Classes - Object-oriented Software Development in C++ by Duffy [Recommended with Reservations]

Sean Corfield writes:
I think the detailed treatment of the example problems provides many insights into the difficult early stages of the software lifecycle.

Garbage Collection by Richard Jones & Rafael Lins [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Those interested in management of (dynamic) memory should read this book. To the best of my knowledge there are no competitors.

Generative Programming by Krzysztof Czarnecki & Ulrich Eisenecker [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
you owe it to yourself, to your employers and to your customers and clients, to read this book, to study it and to try to grasp the gestalt

Generic Programming and the STL by Matthew Austern [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I will just conclude by re-iterating my belief that this is the C++ programming book of 1998.

Industrial Strength C++ Rules & Recommendations by Henricson & Nyquist [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is about coding style for C++. As such it should be on the reading list of every professional C++ programmer, and it would serve as a good basis for a coding standard for your programming group.

Mastering Windows Programming with Borland C++ 4 by Tom Swan [Recommended]

Peter Wippell writes:
Fully recommended to anyone, like me, in the early stages of OWL 2.

Mastering Windows Programming with Borland C++ 4 by Tom Swan [Recommended]

Jon Lacey writes:
A well-presented text that starts, quite sensibly, at the beginning and then goes on to cover a variety of topics in an in-depth and systematic way.

Modern C++ Design by Andrei Alexandrescu [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
By the time you have finished reading and thinking about this material you will wonder why you ever doubted the power of C++ templates.

More Effective C++ by Scott Meyers [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I could go on at length, but those who have already bought 'Effective C++' will be lining up to buy this volume.
...Scott knows his subject and the clarity of his writing is an example to all.

Multi-Paradigm DESIGN for C++ by James Coplien [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to broaden your perspective and are willing to risk facing a world in which OOP is not always the best then you should take the time to read this book.

Multi-Paradigm Design for C++ by James O. Coplien [Highly Recommended]

Ian Bruntlett writes:
This book provides the reader with an informal, pragmatic approach to software development.

No Bugs, Delivering Error Free Code in C and C++ by David Thielen [Highly Recommended]

Ian Cargill writes:
I cannot recommend this book too highly. Go out and buy a copy NOW, it is worth every penny of the price.

Object-Oriented Multithreading Using C++ by Cameron Hughes & Tracey Hughes [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is, without doubt, the best and most comprehensive book I have read on the subject of multithreading. If you view yourself as a programmer rather than a component assembler then you need to know about this topic.

Portable C++ by Patricia Giencke [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...If you can do this and need to write applications either for many platforms or for a long lifetime reading this book will quickly repay the cost in time and money.

Practical C++ by Mark Terribile [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The author is one of the very few real experts on C++ and there are very few professional users of C++ who would not benefit from reading this book.

Practical Data Structures in C++ by Bryan Flamig [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The author knows more than most and his chapter on Data Structure Design in C++ is considerably above the average.

Practical Data Structures in C++ by Bryan Flamig [Recommended]

Peter Arnold writes:
I enjoyed reading this book. It is one I will revisit as a reference, and I recommend it as a very accessible and stimulating addition to anyone's bookshelf.

Professional MFC with Visual C++ 5 by Mike Blaszczak [Recommended]

Richard Blundell writes:
If you are using MFC and/or VC++5 at work I would recommend you get a copy for the office. If you are tinkering at home then you may have to justify the price; although used in conjunction with the on-line help it is the best reference I have seen on MFC.

Professional MFC with Visual C++ 6 by Mike Blaszczak [Recommended]

Asad Altimeemy writes:
In conclusion, this is a good, solid reference book

Ruminations on C++ by Andrew Koenig & Barbara Moo [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I am not going to say anything more about this book because I think it should be read by every C++ programmer. You will be a rare person if you neither enjoy reading it nor learn anything from the process.

STL Tutorial and Reference Guide by David Musser & Atul Saini [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about your C++you need to work through the first part of this book and have a compiler that provides you both the STL and proper support for it.

Secrets of the C++ Masters by Jeff Alger [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
There are many more specialist topics on the use of C++ but this book is an excellent starting point for those who have ambitions to becoming master technicians with C++.

Serial Communications in C and C++ by Mark Goodwin [Recommended]

unknown writes:
This aside, it is a very good book for the sadist wishing to play with communications on the PC.

Software Development with C++ (Maximising Reuse With Object Technology) by Kjell Nielsen [Recommended]

Selvyn Wright writes:
To summarise, this is a book which should be on the bookshelf of any one who is serious about software development.

Standard C++ IOStreams and Locales by Angelika Langer & Klaus Kreft [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you feel ready to take the plunge into learning about how to use 'Standard IOStreams and Locales' this book is an excellent source to study.

Taming C++ by Jiri Soukup [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you think you are a good C++ programmer you might give yourself a shock by reading 'Taming C++'. If you think your self- esteem can stand it, go for it.

Turbo C++ Bible by Naba Barkakati [Recommended]

Chris Hills writes:
Thoroughly recommended, I would buy it.

Visual C++ 5 Bible by Paul Yoo & Richard C Leinecker [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I would recommend this book as a first introduction to Windows programming with VC++. Actually it would work pretty well with other development packages that use MFC as it is surprisingly free of IDE specifics (perhaps that is why I like it).

Writing Compilers and Interpreters by Ronald Mak [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are looking for something to hone your skills between contracts, while unemployed or to take you that extra step as a student then this book would be a worthwhile investment.

Please note that opinions are those of the individual reviewers.

At about the time that I was making my choice for 1998 James Coplien's new book 'Multi-Paradigm DESIGN for C++' (0 201 82467 1) landed on my desk. Any book by Jim has got to be a contender and this one fully lives up to its promise. If you are one of those who think 'OO == good, non-OO == bad' you need to read this book. If you already have a broader perspective the book will help refine and develop your insights.

Great, I thought, a clear winner. I was about to put fingers to keyboard when there was a ring on my doorbell and I found myself signing for a red-hot copy of 'Generic Programming and the STL' by Matthew Austern (0 201 30956 4). Every now and again new books provide a new view of potential (Barton & Nackman's Scientific & Engineering C++ comes to mind). Sometimes these books are reasonably readable. Generic... is a highly readable and very informative book on Generic (not to be confused with Genetic) Programming and shows how the STL forms the kernel for this paradigm in C++. It also gives a clear exposition of how to develop and extend the STL for yourself. This is a book you must read if you think yourself a serious C++ programmer.

The clear winner in a vintage year is Matthew Austern for his 'Generic Programming and the STL' and my thanks for the very generous email from Jim accepting second place and congratulating the winner.

BTW competition in 1999 is going to be even more intense because I know of several outstanding technical authors who have books in preparation.