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I would say that most of the programming books I have been reading lately are being dumbed down. In the past 1-3 years I have had a much harder time finding truly usefull programming books. Most of the quality tips/tricks/etc have come from journals, magazines, MSDN, this site and trial and error.
It seems that authors are targeting a much broader base of readers but are leaving out the advanced stuff.
On a positive note, however, the non-language/non-technology specific books are still pretty good. I have been reading numerous books lately on User experience, AI, Neural networks, inference, statistical modeling, etc. These books have almost all been well written and contain a depth of technicall information.
The trend I see is that the books targeted at pure education on specific topics (ie. AI, inference, statistics) seem to be staying the same or getting better. Probably because of the momemntul in colleges, etc. The books on specific languages/technologies are getting worse.
Just my 2 cents.
Matt Gullett
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What are the specific language books you've been reading lately? I find that for C++, the quality seems to still be good. Modern C++ Design, Accelerated C++, Exceptional C++ and Effective STL have all been worthwhile finds.
CodeGuy
The WTL newsgroup: over 1100 members! Be a part of it. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wtl
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Actually, being the new programmer I am, I found it hard to find quality programming manuals. VISUAL BASIC 6.0 STEP BY STEP happened to be a good, recent book I found for VB, but when it comes to C++... ouch is all I can say. It seems that a lot of authors/publishers (*cough* Teach Yourself Language X in N Number of Hours/Days *cough*) are just out there to make money. Seriously, has ANYONE ever been able to learn a language from TEACH YOURSELF books? I used "The Complete Idiot's Guide to C++" for.. well.. C++. It's not the best, but it was good enough for an idiot like me 
TheBadProgrammer
Everyone welcome the NewbiE!!!!
First Programmer: "How many bits are in a bite?"
Second Programmer: "You spelled bytes wrong."
First Programmer: *stares* "It's a joke, moron."
Second Programmer: "Joke...?"
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... books titled "Learn X in Y days?"
I once found two books in a bookstore, if I remember correctly, they are:
a) Learn VJ++ in 21 days.
b) Learn VJ++ in 24 hours.
I was thinking, a book that can teach you the same stuff in substantially less time must be better. But after I opened the cover, I found that the "24 hour" book is divided into 24 chapters each requires an hour to read. So to realize the goal set in the title, I have to read the book non-stop for 24 hours! 
Ironically, the "21 day" book has about the same number of pages per chapter and is divided into only 21 chapters, so it actaully requires less reading. 
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These "Learn X in Y days" types of books, IMHO, are very low grade "non-technical syrups" that are intended for those who are not interested in knowing the very basics of any given topic; they want to learn hacks rather than the skill to design/develop solutions. These books, again IMHO, tend to skip very minute but very important basis and then the end result is a group of techno-machos who "think" they have learned and they can.
Farhan Noor Qureshi
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I've read several of these; one or two were assigned textbooks (!)... As far as i can tell, the 21 days (or 24 hours, 2 weeks, etc.) idea doesn't get much further than the title (similar to how almost anything can get published with the title "* For Dummies" or "* For Complete Idiots"). The only one i actually felt was worthwhile after reading it was published several years ago, on the topic of constructing add-ons for Doom 
In the end, the title aims them squarely at people wishing to pick up a working knowlege of a topic as quickly as possible, and for that purpose they may suffice; however, few people would suggest using them as a reference. The first book on C++ i read was of this genre; however, once i decided (read: got hired) to pursue this in depth, i went and bought a reference dedicated to the subject (deitel and deitel).
farewell goodnight last one out turn out the lights Smashing Pumpkins, Tales of a Scorched Earth
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I don't see books for experts, or Skilled people, I am thinking in write some books, because today I only see books that learnt to start, but when I need to investigate, I found the following problem: I can find good books, Is like the editors don't want to edit Books for experts because the editor lose money...
Is for that that I belive that CodeProject and ![Green Alien | [Alien]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/alien.gif) is the Best...
;););)
Beta. Software undergoes beta testing shortly before it's released. Beta is Latin for "still doesn't work."
Carlos Antollini.
Sonork ID 100.10529 cantollini
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Okay:
But You sent me a link with 153 Books, only 24 Books are written in 2000 or 2001 the rest was writen in 93, 94, or 95.... But I don't Know if the books writen in 2000 are good, or not,
For example said me the name of a good book for RPC, COM, Threads, WINSOCK, etc.
I am looking books with name like:
COM for Experts, Programming Threads Application, Inside RPC, (I don't know if those books exists, But Please whera are that kind of books) In 94, 95 or 96 you could find books like those...
Please Today the Title of books are:
Learnt VC++ in 21 days>, .Net for dummies. etc.
I remmember a book written in 2000 that I tried to buy in Borders with a name something like this: VC++ for experts, when I saw the firts pages in the library the book talk me how can I use the classwizard, The Firts seven Chapters were for send to the trash can.... OH my god!!! (I'm sorry but I following thinking that the books are not the same that were)
Regards....
APATHY ERROR: Don't bother striking any key. Application has reported a "Not My Fault" in module KRNL.EXE in line 0200:103F
Carlos Antollini.
Sonork ID 100.10529 cantollini
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"In 94, 95 or 96 you could find books like those... "
And they are still the best around ... 
Good books are like good wine, the older the better
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It's a good point of view....
I want my old MS-DOS 6.22...
Regards
The programmer's national anthem is 'AAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHH!!'
Carlos Antollini.
Sonork ID 100.10529 cantollini
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That's not fully true, but in the essence you are right.
You have to search long and hard to come up with some good books.
Recently I have read
Designing OOP apps that work by Scott Ambler.
Despite the title (Which sounds like XX in YY day and that initialy pissed
me off), and sample apps in Java, it can really teach a seasoned OOP
developer still a lot.
Designing big apps, persistence layers etc.
In my opinion the best books recently published are all from
the pattern or XP community and deal with designing or process
issues.
Have you read "Pattern orieanted Software Architecures I and II)
They are just as good as the GOF book.
And then there are the other books and plenty of them.
With big screen shots of the old and the new IDE etc.
You really have to look into a book to know its value.
And thats why I still buy my books in the book store and
not via Amazon etc.
I am a signature virus!
Help me spread and copy me to your sig!
Ooops I am infected
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Martin Bohring wrote:
You really have to look into a book to know its value.
And thats why I still buy my books in the book store and
not via Amazon etc.
That is my Point, I was living in USA, But I am living In Argentina at this moment, and is very diffricult to find books, all the books ar for Idiots...
This Country doesn't have librarys like Borders it's I can't read the book at the libary, only I can Buy it, and GOOD LUCK.... If the book is not good, I must to eat it.... (You did try to eat a book?  ). The most Bad news is that the price of book is the double of the price in USA
At the source of every error which is blamed on the computer, you will find at least two human errors, including the error of blaming it on the computer.
Carlos Antollini.
Sonork ID 100.10529 cantollini
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There are too many books written by technology-parasites who are just selling stuff from the big companies
That is quite interesting, quite indeed (wot, wot.)
Do you (whoever wrote it) mean people who write a book on a technology/product that the company they work for sells? Going so far as to recommend and pump the product by only highligting its good points in the book?
Is that right? Should authors be independant to the company? How can we enforce that? Should you always discrimenate what book you buy based on that?
regards,
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa
"The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge
Martin Marvinski wrote:
Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea
Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
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"That is quite interesting, quite indeed (wot, wot.)
Do you (whoever wrote it) mean people who write a book on a technology/product that the company they work for sells? Going so far as to recommend and pump the product by only highligting its good points in the book?"
Confession: I wrote that reply. But that doesn't help, does it?
What I mean by "technology-parasites" is, they are just selling their books using the new technologies. They may not work for the companies that own these technologies, but typically they have half a dozen or so certificates from those companies. If there is another new technology tomorrow, they will quickly write new books and bashing the technology they were selling just yesterday.
I think the predicated death of some old technology is premature. Thank god Nish finally discovered COM (before it's too late ) .
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Anonymously wrote:
Thank god Nish finally discovered COM (before it's too late ) .
Hey! How did I get into the picture here?
Nish
Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain
www.busterboy.org
If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut
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Whether you want it or not, you are already a celebrity on this site. In the USA we can say any bad thing about a public figure without being punished, so it could be worse for you
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Colin Davies wrote:
Next are we going to see doctored Nude photos of Nish !
Yuk !
Well you see, we have a problem with that plan now Colin.
I always thought Nish was portley and friendly looking. Plenty of nude pics we can use for that. But now we know he looks like a terrorist it is far harder to find nude pics that we can staple his head onto.
Got any ideas how we are going to launch Bob's House of Porn without Nish as our centerfold?
regards,
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa
"The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge
Martin Marvinski wrote:
Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea
Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
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Colin Davies wrote:
Next are we going to see doctored Nude photos of Nish !
Next? Here's some of the newsgroups i found
alt.binaries.erotica.pictures.busterboy 
alt.fan.busterboy
alt.binaries.multimedia.busterboy
alt.fan-boy.busterboy 
James
PS.
Sonork ID: 100.11138 - Hasaki
"Not be to confused with 'The VD Project'. Which would be a very bad pr0n flick. " - Michael P Butler Jan. 18, 2002
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IMHO most IT books are outdated before they are even printed. They hit the shelves but you have already read up on the technology on a website (or read an article by Vindaloo Jones on CP explaining all you need.)
The authors should ditch the tomes and move to solely publishing on WDJ, MSDN etc. The articles can be much more focused, up to date and relevant to the latest trend.
If you want a reference, print a web page.
Anyone who disagrees can write a book on it and send me a copy for editing...
regards,
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa
"The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge
Martin Marvinski wrote:
Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea
Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
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Paul Watson wrote:
Anyone who disagrees can write a book on it and send me a copy for editing...
I would send you my preliminary copy of Paul Watson : The man, the myth and the legend. Except that there wasn't enough substance or interesting material for it. 
Hey Paul, you finished in London and back to SA yet?
Roger Allen
Sonork 100.10016
If I'm not breathing, I'm either dead or holding my breath.
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Roger Allen wrote:
would send you my preliminary copy of Paul Watson : The man, the myth and the legend. Except that there wasn't enough substance or interesting material for it
Oooooohhh that is just a low blow Roger. Dayum, I need a happy pill now. (put that in your book)
It should be "The geek, the mythtake and the lego'lamb"
Roger Allen wrote:
Hey Paul, you finished in London and back to SA yet?
Nope, going back this Friday/Saturday, definitley Sunday. (going to try and get on the plane early, hope they have free seats)
Want a drink this week? Anyone else interested?
regards,
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa
"The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge
Martin Marvinski wrote:
Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea
Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
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Paul Watson wrote:
Oooooohhh that is just a low blow Roger
I've always been a base (class) person.
Paul Watson wrote:
Want a drink this week? Anyone else interested?
I may be up for this (as long as non-alcoholic drinks are available). I just need to convice my girlfriend to come to London with me, I think. (There should be no problem doing that - she loves shopping in London). Would you beleive that all the other programmers in the office are out on a 4-day training course in London this week (with Hotel rooms), but not me?
Can I come in my Mickey Mouse top? (I am wearing it at the moment in the office - I may even wash it before the weekend)
Where would we meet/time etc?*
I get to London by arriving at London/Victoria station. So I could use the tube to get just about anywhere from there.
* Why does this feel like setting up a blind date? 
Roger Allen
Sonork 100.10016
If I'm not breathing, I'm either dead or holding my breath.
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