[NTLUG:Discuss] C book recommendation?

[steve]

Eric Waguespack wrote:
> I would like to learn C... is this a good book to start with?
> 
> The C Programming Language: ANSI C Version, 2nd Edition
> by Kernighan, Brian W. / Ritchie, Dennis
> http://www.nerdbooks.com/item.php?id=0131103628

That is absolutely *THE* canonical book on C.  I'd
bet that 90% of C programmers in the world learned
using the white book with the big blue "C" on the
cover.  That is the book that popularised the whole
"Hello World" meme, most programming language books
are structured around the way that book teaches C.

Is it the best?  Well, that depends on your needs.

It assumes you already know how to program - if you
don't then you need something slower paced.  My son
learned from "The Absolute Beginners Guide to C" by
Greg Perry - which seemed to work for him.

The cool thing about "K&R" (the usual name for the
Kernighan & Ritchie book) is that those two guys
invented the language in the first place - so it's
"right by definition" (although numerous ANSI things
have gotten stuck in since).   Most C compilers will
actually have a commandline flag to put the compiler
into "K&R" mode where it explicitly implements what
that book says!  K&R is also the oldest and most-revised
C book - so there has been plenty of time to get out
the kinks!

So - yeah - if you can already program - get K&R,
if you can't, get something simpler *AND* get K&R.

(Then get out of C and into C++ as quickly as
you can!)

Good Luck!