Ivor Horton's Beginning C++: The Complete Language

This book is phenomenal! I was enrolled in a C++ Objects class, designed as a final 'weed out' course my last semester of college and was having a very difficult time following the professor and terrible text. Ivor Horton came to the rescue with this book. Easy to read, great examples that build upon previous concepts, this book helped me bring my grade up to a B, saving my GPA.Too many programming textbooks are written poorly, in an almost seemingly attempt to challenge/confuse the student. Schools and publishers should start thinking progressively and adapt Ivor Horton's approach to teaching.

I found this book at the public library, it was the only one there on C++, so I got it, thinking "Hey, its free, so I can't complain". As soon as I started reading, I knew this was the perfect programming tutorial, and decided to buy a copy for myself. I've tried all the expensive books by mainstream book publishers such as the "for Dummies" series, and the O'Reilly books. Personally, I never understood them, and ended up spending more time asking for help from people online then I would ever like to acknowledge. This book organizes the information in the perfect order, so you're never flipping ahead or back to look up something because it isn't explained in the right place. I can't say enough good about this book. Two words- BUY IT!!

Make no mistake: if you're considering learning C++ on your own, this is the single most important book in your library. Mr. Horton exhibits the rare skill of making a difficult topic almost absurdly simple. The book is replete with examples and exercises, and the number of typographical errors is extremely low. This is a book that was written by an individual with an absolute mastery of C++, and that mastery shows; the result is a book that is both utterly precise and extremely simple to comprehend. However, this is not a light 'once over' of C++; the first half deals with elementary language constructs, while the last half is devoted to building a solid foundation in Object Oriented Programming (OOP). There is a wealth of information here, and any individual who chooses to complete the exercises and really learn the material can count himself as a competent C++ programmer.What impressed me the most about Mr. Horton's book was the fluid, almost seamless way that one topic flows into another, each one reinforcing the last so that your skills build almost without your realizing it. Writing a book that is so expertly laid out simply cannot be done by most authors, and indeed there are dozens of examples of C++ primers that are terribly choppy and uneven in their presentation. Getting it right requires, not only an absolute intellectual mastery of the subject, but also that rare gift of being able to communicate your subject so clearly that learning becomes joyful. Mr. Horton enjoys that gift, and it is thoroughly utilized in this book.On the cover, Mr. Horton makes the claim that anyone with this text, an up to date compiler and some dedication, can thoroughly learn C++. Of course, a lot of books make that claim.This one's for real. Buy it.

If this book had come out 4 years ago, I wouldn't have stopped programming in C++. I took programming in high school but the books we used were so boring and stale, I hated programming.Now I pick up this book, wow, this book makes programming fun! The book is clear and has lots of examples and he fully explains every line in the examples too. He gives you a few projects to do at the end of each chapter which are interesting and fun to do.Since I used to program in C++, I can honestly say if someone asked me what a good book would be to buy to start programming I would recommend this one. It starts from the beginning and works upward at a good pace. My C++ knowledge had obviously rusted completely over after four years, however this book very quickly brought it back into focus. This book hands down is awesome.

Anyone reading these reviews is obviously just getting started in C++, and if you're like I was 6 months ago, you're probably confused by all the "starter" books out there. Don't waste your time! Buy this book (and only this one until you get your feet wet) -- you will not be disappointed. The format/layout and efficiency of each chapter will keep you well focused and keep you from yanking your hair out. I needed a crash course in C++ and of course, it just couldn't be done (21 Days? Don't even think about it!) -- other books got me nowhere, but Ivor's book allowed me to spring into an Advanced C++ course with no prior training and keep my head above the water. Keep in mind the new ANSI/ISO standard, which Ivor covers in great detail. Do yourself a favor and minimize the headaches...start here!