The Definitive C Book Guide and List

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This inquiry aims to find the few gems amid the dozens of terrible C++ books that are released each year.

Unlike many other programming languages, which can easily be learned on the fly via online tutorials, few people can fast learn C++ without first studying a well-written C++ book.

It's just too huge and complicated for this.

It's so huge and sophisticated, in fact, that there are a lot of terrible C++ books out there.

And we're not talking about bad taste here; we're talking about things like displaying major factual inaccuracies and encouraging dreadful programming approaches.

Please modify the accepted answer to include excellent books and a rough skill level — ideally after discussing your contribution in the comments section.
Jun 14, 2022 in C++ by Nicholas
 • 7,760 points • 689 views

1 answer to this question.

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Introductory, no previous programming experience
Book Author(s) Description review
C++ Primer*

* Not to be confused with C++ Primer Plus (Stephen Prata), with a significantly less favorable review.		 Stanley Lippman, Josée Lajoie, and Barbara E. Moo (updated for C++11) Coming at 1k pages, this is a very thorough introduction into C++ that covers just about everything in the language in a very accessible format and in great detail. The fifth edition (released August 16, 2012) covers C++11. [Review]
Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++


 		 Bjarne Stroustrup, 2nd Edition - May 25, 2014 (updated for C++11/C++14)


 		 An introduction to programming using C++ by the creator of the language. A good read, that assumes no previous programming experience, but is not only for beginners.


 

Introductory, with previous programming experience

Book Author(s) Description review
A Tour of C++ Bjarne Stroustrup (2nd edition for C++17) The “tour” is a quick (about 180 pages and 14 chapters) tutorial overview of all of standard C++ (language and standard library, and using C++11) at a moderately high level for people who already know C++ or at least are experienced programmers. This book is an extended version of the material that constitutes Chapters 2-5 of The C++ Programming Language, 4th edition.
Accelerated C++ Andrew Koenig and Barbara Moo, 1st Edition - August 24, 2000 This basically covers the same ground as the C++ Primer, but does so in a quarter of its space. This is largely because it does not attempt to be an introduction to programming, but an introduction to C++ for people who've previously programmed in some other language. It has a steeper learning curve, but, for those who can cope with this, it is a very compact introduction to the language. (Historically, it broke new ground by being the first beginner's book to use a modern approach to teaching the language.) Despite this, the C++ it teaches is purely C++98.

answered Jun 14, 2022 by Damon
 • 4,960 points

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