I am a novice/intermediate programmer. I have been programming in javascript (lol), visual basic, and C. I've been wanting to learn C++. As books are usually a $40 investment, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on some good books. I would prefer some more practical books. For example a book on C I recently purchased told me how to program strings in 21 days. So I'd like a book that explains a bit about making programs with GUIs, graphics, stuff like that.

Thanks,
SimpleSam7

P.S Any good game programming book suggestions?

The only C++ book I've used is C++ How to program, by Detiel and Detiel (or something like that). While it doesn't cover GUI's or graphics or such. It does get into the STL (Standard Template Library) and other various 'specialties' of C++. And it also covers some of the changes implimented in the ANSI C++ standard.

A very recommended book is Thinking in C++ by Bruce Eckel. [Forgive me if I get the spelling wrong]. It teaches you a lot of *real* object oriented programming. The most important thing is to learn real oo programming if you want to get anywhere with GUI's or graphics]. The best part is, its available for free download from www.bruceeckel.com

[ most of VB and JavaScript is just a object oriented extension. For example VB doesn't support inheritance. So I think this IS the book to go for ]

While I cannot recommend a good book for learning C, I can tell you that there aren't any books that will teach you C AND graphics, because graphics and GUIs nowadays require a thorough knowledge of C beforehand, unfortunately. Game programming requires an even greater knowledge of C. However, an excellent book that covers both topics (but requires a rather advanced knowledge of C) is Andre LaMothe's Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus.

If you want to delve into graphics early, though, you should probably not look into using the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, where graphics can either be programmed using DirectX (hard for a beginner) or the Windows SDK (very hard for a beginner). If this is your intention, you should probably get a copy of DJGPP and use the Allegro graphics library - it at least has simple commands for graphics :)

Mike [mnansgar@hotmail.com]

Yes, I also use thinking in C++, its free and its good.

I would agree with the peepz before me. You should definitely start with a good book that teaches you the object oriented part of the language ( I would suggest Sams Teach Your Self C++ in 21 Days, it covers a lot of information and allows you to take as much time as needed on each subject, it also has a small Q & A at the end of each chapter to make sure you are taking in the information ) Once you master C++ which shouldn't take long considering you are familiar with C, you can move on to platform specific gui and graphics programming. You should start out with GUI designe and move on to basic system graphics, then you would be completely ready to take on something like directX or OpenGL ( OpenGL is the easier of the 2 in my opinion, while directX will perform a little better ). The best directx programming book <I> have read would have to be "Tricks of the Windows game Programming Gurus", it is a 2 volume set the first covering basic directx and 2d games, the 2cd covers 3d programming. I would also suggest you go to popular book sites and check their reviews, but above all you must have patience, you can't learn everything over night, so take your time and learn as much as you can it will pay off in the end!

A friend of mine is using the Deitel&Deitel book larkfellow mentioned to teach his C/++ class. From what I've read in it, it's pretty nicely done. Ugh.. gui programming... ick. OpenGL, yeah, start with that...

I would suggest getting Ivor Hortons: Beginning C++ (Wrox Press).
It explains alot of the C++ specification in great detail.

As for the GUI programming, GUI's vary alot between systems, thats why we
don't see so many books dealing with C++ and GUI programming. The one book I do recommend for starters is: Shildt's Windows 95 programming in C and C++ (Osborne press). It explains in detail, the makings of the a Window's program and the API, but doesn't go to far.