The C Programming Language
Kernighan and Ritchie (1988)

Book review by Ted Felix

When I first set out to learn C++ in September of 1991, I figured I had to master the language C++ was based upon, C. This is a great book that covers the C language quickly and completely. A perfect reference for advanced programmers (that operator precedence chart has saved me on many occassions). Probably not too good for beginners, but definitely perfect for those who know another language, and want to learn C quickly. I mastered the language in three months with this book.

Now that C has been "improved" by the C99 standard, this book is dated, but still is an excellent introduction to the language. To round out your understanding of C, a newer book is also required like Harbison and Steele's C: A Reference Manual (5th Edition) which I have not read, but probably should. Prinz and Prinz C Pocket Reference might be good too.

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