Reviews for C++: A Beginner's Guide, Second Edition (Beginner's Guides (McGraw-Hill))

1. Excellent for new programmers

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, January 12th, 2010

   I am really impress with this book as for first time (after years of trying and even paying for courses), step by step this book teach me how to program in c++. SLowly at my own speed, again and again until I go to the next chapter, this time I am really programming quite complex operation without even thinking on it. Thank you very much Mr. Schildt for teaching me. It is very well organize with very clear ideas on basic concepts and how does it works. Each chapter is a new concept, sometimes I need to repeat it again after few days, then I go to the next chapter.
   
   I suppose if you know already how to program in C++ it is a little bit basic, but excellent for begginers.
   
   Definetely this is one for my collection.

2. Excellent programming book, fun to read

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, October 12th, 2009

   This publication is truly outstanding. Most programming book I've read so far were either too scientific, incomplete or written as a non-sense. This book is interesting to read as it progressively explains all the abilities of the language giving useful examples and simple exercises to get into the habit of programming in C++. The pace of the book is relatively fast - it contains enough information what beginner needs to know about programming in new language without extensive content explaining all the details and history about computers, their way of operation etc. The author mentions this very briefly. The book also contains information which book you should use for further education.

3. An excellent starting point

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, July 12th, 2009

   Herbert Schildt's reputation is well deserved, and C++: A Beginners Guide (Second Edition) is yet another essential for anyone wanting to either learn C++ programming, or (in my case) RE-learn C++ (and expand upon existing knowledge).
   The book is divided in to easily digestible modules, each building on concepts learned in the previous module. Periodic "Skill Tests" (consisting of a few basic questions covering topics learned in that module) allow the reader to determine whether or not they have fully understood the material within that module.
   Naturally, there are plenty of code examples provided (as would be expected with a book such as this), but beyond simple demonstration, Herbert Schildt goes further to explain WHY certain operators and conventions are used, and equally important: How NOT to do it!
   
   Coupled with Schildt's more advanced "C++: The Complete Reference (Fourth Edition)", the Beginner's Guide provides all readers with an excellent starting point, and for people returning to C++ development (like myself) a nicely formatted "refresher course".
   
   A word of note: Whilst Schildt does his best to simplify explainations for people completely new to programming, it will be well worth keeping Google on stand-by to search some of the terminology.

4. ++C

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, June 12th, 2009

   A great book for absolute beginners like myself, it can often feel laborious learning c++ for some one who knows nothing about programming at all but if you are serious about learning and you want to be taught properly I would recommend this book. You will need to have strong determination to see it through but I dont think it is the book that makes it laborious it is just the subject matter which is difficult for new comers, the book itself I feel, certain now after finishing it, has made it much more accessible.
   
   It gives a thorough overview of the basic concepts of programming with c++ that will stand you in good stead to becoming a GOOD programmer. I stress the word GOOD because there is a vast difference between being a good programmer and some one who can just program. You need other people to be able to read your code quickly and clearly and be able to make changes if they want to, without spending weeks going through a poorly written program whether it actually works or not. To become a good programmer it is all about habits and probably one of the best aspects of this book is that it never shows you any bad habits so you are not likely to pick any up. All of the example codes are always very clearly laid out and easy to read which will make your own program writing style likewise, which means you will be a GOOD programmer.
   
   Besides form forming good habits which for me is the most important aspect the second is having a solid grasp on the very basics of c++ (and general programming) concepts like variables, data types, arrays, pointers, control statements(loops) ,etc, etc.
   
   For these reasons I must give the book 5 stars, apart from the book all you need to become a good programmer is determination to learn this difficult subject.
   
   Hope this was helpful, Happy programming.

5. Inaccesible and longwinded

   Rated 1 out of 5 stars, June 12st, 2009

   bought a couple of beginner c++ books to help me with some VST plugin designs, this one just didn't seem helpful at all and was rather poorly written. I recommend accelerated c++ by barbera moo it was far more intuitive and enabled me to get coding right away.