C for Dummies

Prior to reading Dan Gookin's book, I tried several other tomes in my numerous attempt to conquer this great language. However, this was the only book that didn't put me to sleep with all the tecno-babbles that the C guru's love to dispense while writing introductory books on this great language. I think Dan Gookin is one of the few authors who have a clue as to what does it take for average people with average intelligence to learn something as complicated and dry as the C language. Not only does he come down to your level and uses snippets of program codes that most programmers use one way or another, he makes the entire learning process amazingly painless and keeps you entertained with his very effective humourous style. This is a book (along with volume I) that someone with absolutely no C programming experience can pick up and start writing C programs in no time. Don't get me wrong. This is not the book that's going to make you a C guru or help you to secure a job as a programmer (at least not right away). But there's enough materials in this book to get you started in the right direction. I think Dan Gookin is one of the premier authors of technical books and more publishing companies should seek his service to fully take advantage of his rare gift of writing. In his web site, Dan Gookin wrote that IDG publications is unwilling to publish a third volume of his C masterpiece because the second volume didn't sell as well as they expected. Well, I think Mr. Gooking should have little difficulty finding another publisher given the previous two volumes' near classic status.I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in venturing into the world of C with little or no prior programming experience. This is the only book in the market (from what I've seen so far) that truly addresses the need of the absolute novices. No beginning C programmer should be without this rare-of-a kind gem.

i'm 15 and i started c a few months ago. i'm done with both volumes of the book and i have to say that i'm very satisfied with what i've read so far. but i guess its just not enough. what book would be good to read after [email protected]

I just go through about 3/4 of the first book, and I love it. I am a beginner on C and although I have some knowlegde with FORTRAN and BASIC, I feel this book is for me. The author is kind of slow on some topics, but overall I do not feel lost like other books. I compile the program in Visual C++6 , and I have no problem!! Recommended! I refer to the 2 volume paperback edition.