Lab Manual to Accompany Problem Solving with C++: The Object of Programming

The book was in good condition and got to me in a good amount of time. I was disappointed when the disc that had the compiler used by the book (the CD in the back) was no longer available, so I ended up looking for a free one off the interwebs.

For a beginning programmer in C++, I don't know if you can find a better book. The author keeps things simple at first and doesn't overwhelm the reader.

This was my first foray into C++, and I used this text for both the Intro and Advanced courses at my school. It's a good text because he explains the concepts, shows examples, warns against "gotchas," and gives stepping-stone assignments to build skills. I don't recall any pap or filler material to waste time over. It's solid without feeling like it was written by a robot. Now that I've completed the book, I'm going to work back through it on my own and do more of the assignments to keep my skills sharp. Any book that helps one understand the concepts well enough to be kept for a reference is a good one. If you are an absolute beginner, I wouldn't recommend starting with C++. Otherwise, this book should be a good start for you, too.