Original Post
So for my birthday my dad got me a gift certificate for Amazon, which is cool because the semesters almost over and I was planning on getting some books to study over the break. Right now the only programming books I have are the ones I was required to buy for school.
Anyway, I was looking through Amazon and have a few ideas but thought I''d ask you guys about them or if you have other suggestions, sorry to anyone who gets sick of these threads 
.
I think I''m definately getting "The C++ Programming Language (Special 3rd Edition)" by Bjarne Stroustrup because I could use a good C++ reference and it''s rates pretty high both here and on Amazon.
I would also like to learn some graphics programming, so I was thinking about "Beginning OpenGL Game Programming" by Dave Astle, Kevin Hawkins, but how does it compare to OpenGL Game Programming w/CD" by Dave Astle, Kevin Hawkins, Andre LaMothe? I read that the smaller one took out all the input and sound and stuff, but other than that is there any reason I would want the second one? Also, how does it compare to "OpenGL Programming Guide: The Official Guide to Learning OpenGL, Version 1.4, Fourth Edition"?
For programming in Windows, "Programming Windows, Fifth Edition" by Charles Petzold is rated pretty high, but is kinda old (1998), would it be worth buying a book this old? Are there newer books that are just as good?
Are there certain subjects that I need a book on? Meaning you can''t really learn just from tutorials and references on the web? I''ve also been thinking about books on SQL, PHP, MFC, or something different alltogether.
So do you guys have any comments on the books listed above? What books do you guys have that you''ve found really helpfull or really enjoyed (doesn''t have to be any of the subjects mentioned)? I''ll probably head over to Barnes and Noble to look through some of the books and see what they''re like, but part of the problem is I don''t really even know what I want to learn about.
__________________________________________
Live like you''re from the future.
.
I think I''m definately getting "The C++ Programming Language (Special 3rd Edition)" by Bjarne Stroustrup because I could use a good C++ reference and it''s rates pretty high both here and on Amazon.
I would also like to learn some graphics programming, so I was thinking about "Beginning OpenGL Game Programming" by Dave Astle, Kevin Hawkins, but how does it compare to OpenGL Game Programming w/CD" by Dave Astle, Kevin Hawkins, Andre LaMothe? I read that the smaller one took out all the input and sound and stuff, but other than that is there any reason I would want the second one? Also, how does it compare to "OpenGL Programming Guide: The Official Guide to Learning OpenGL, Version 1.4, Fourth Edition"?
For programming in Windows, "Programming Windows, Fifth Edition" by Charles Petzold is rated pretty high, but is kinda old (1998), would it be worth buying a book this old? Are there newer books that are just as good?
Are there certain subjects that I need a book on? Meaning you can''t really learn just from tutorials and references on the web? I''ve also been thinking about books on SQL, PHP, MFC, or something different alltogether.
So do you guys have any comments on the books listed above? What books do you guys have that you''ve found really helpfull or really enjoyed (doesn''t have to be any of the subjects mentioned)? I''ll probably head over to Barnes and Noble to look through some of the books and see what they''re like, but part of the problem is I don''t really even know what I want to learn about.
__________________________________________
Live like you''re from the future.
