Reviews for Effective C++: 55 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs (Addison-Wesley Professional Computing Series)

1. Brilliant

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

   Fantastic book. plenty of tips and guidelines to follow for someone interested in becoming a better programmer ranging from details on the best implementations of operator functions, to general design strategies for your classes. Useful both to people very familiar with C++, and to those just starting and wanting to make sure they get things right from the off.

2. Best book to learn C++ techniques

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, February 12th, 2008

   I am working in C++ since last couple of years and I purchased this book few months back. I found this book very useful as it contains most of the do's and don'ts in C++. This book does not waste any time in making you the basics understand it just directly hits the target by talking about how you can make your program more efficient. So a prior good knowledge of C++ is must for this book.
   I recommend that this book is for every C++ programmer as it will tell you the things that you should not be doing and explains why also so it does not leaves you wondering why I should not be doing this way. On top of all this book is written in a very simple way so its very easy to understand.

3. Bought three editions and read them all

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, June 12rd, 2007

   There are very few technical books that I have read more than once. I can count on one hand the number that I have read three times. Scott Meyers' Effective C++ is one that I have not only read more than once, but have bought three separate editions and read them all more than once. This latest edition is not just a minor updating of previous editions. It contains far more information than earlier editions, and even goes beyond what libraries provided with common compilers currently deliver, making use of the tr1 (Technical Report 1) stuff that will be the future. That's not to say it cannot be used right now - learn from Meyers and use the Boost library (downloadable free) until tr1 becomes commonly available.
   
   In my opinion this third edition is no longer suitable for people new to C++, but once developers have some C++ experience under their belt this becomes a must have. That's not just because most interviewers get their technical questions from Meyers' books (they really do!), but because the content is genuinely useful.
   

4. not bad

   Rated 3 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2007

   Should really be called "55 specific ways to make your programs more complicated". Interesting read but much of it I disagreed with. Still glad I read it though.
   
   
   

5. The legend

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, February 12st, 2007

   This is the definitive second C++ book, the one you should read after you've read a good introduction. You need to be familiar with the syntax of C++, then this book will teach you about using C++'s features in a non-trivial way.
   
   C++ is not short on books that provide bite-sized mini-essays on the best way to use some feature of the language, but this is the ne plus ultra. It cuts through the bewildering complexity of C++, providing simple guidelines about what to do and what never to do. For example, you may understand the difference between pointers versus references, const versus non-const. But their various combinations as function parameters and return types may be bewildering. Don't worry - Meyers dispenses his wisdom clearly and efficiently. You'll wonder why it confused you in the first place. Then he repeats the trick another 54 times, taking in all of C++, including some template issues, and finding time to mention TR1 and Boost, too.
   
   Like the GoF Design Patterns book, you need to read this or people will think you're an amateur. Fortunately, Meyers is a witty and pithy writer and his examples are always very well judged. Make this the first book you read after you've finished learning the basics.