C++ Programming book for Idiot/Newbie

[MooseTits]

Can anyone recommend a good C++ Programming book for someone new to programming. I've had my hands on a few but still find it difficult to learn about how classes and pointers, ... work.

[temporalillusion]

http://safari.oreilly.com/

For $9.95 a month get a 5 slot bookshelf and access to the entire library of O'Reilly books.

As to a specific book I don't have any suggestions, most should be good at the basics.

[ze-ta]

I've used this site as a refresher for c++... but it also seems to be a good start for beginners to programming in general:
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/language/tutorial/introduction.html

The only issue some people seem to have is setting up a complier, since the above site lacks detailed info on that.

I don't have any suggestions for a book either... most of the novice texts I've read from high school to undergrad are more or less the same.

[supernerd]

Do you know C? or did you want to just jump straight into C++? Yes, I do realize that C and C++ are completely different (procedural vs object oriented), but personally think its easier to deal with C first before going C++.

Whenever someone asks whats a good book to start learning C programming, I point them to "The C Programming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie, also known as the "K&R". Once done that, to transition from C to C++, I recommend "C++ The Core Language" published by O'Reilly.

These two books are extremely well-written, clear, to-the-point, short, and inexpensive. These are great books to get you familiar with the language constructs used in 99% (I made up that number) of the code you will write and encounter.

As for "setting up a compiler" I dont see what the issue is. There's lots out free commercial compilers out there... MS, Borland,GNU (gcc), maybe even Intel (I know its free on linux, dunno about windows)

[Evil Baby]

The best books I find for programming are Borlands Learn ____ in 21 days. I bought the java equivelent of that book and the first 12 days was the 1st semester of University for me, almost down to a tee. The next 10 days(there is some extra stuff) was the second semester. Same with learn C in 21 days and learn C++ in 21 days. If you're in Toronto I believe the library carries these books, if not, I think they are 69.95 + tax at chapters. You can probably find them cheaper at amazon.ca or something like that.

[siriuskao]

I used C++ Primer Plus about 4 years ago. It's pretty good. Don't forget to check your local library (public or university), they most likely carry tons of C++ books. AFAIK C++ is a standard therefore old books found in the library should help.