Unlike most textbooks on C++ this one does not move quickly into the concepts associated with object-oriented programming. Instead Nell (University of Texas) and Weems (University of Massachusetts) spend more than half the book guiding the student through computer science concepts common to almost all languages. The first chapter covers basic concepts like the definitions of computer programs, algorithms, and software maintenance as well problem solving techniques. Subsequent chapters in the beginning of the book mostly cover the basic topics mentioned above. Among them the student will find: data types such as arrays, the various numeric types, functions and scoping, user-defined data types, and strings; flow control structures such as conditionals, logical operators, recursion, and loops. All of these topics are, of course, introduced in the context of the C++ language with abundant example code. The other chapters concern C++ specific topics such as object-orientation, classes and abstraction, allocating and deallocating memory, inheritance and polymorphism, templates, the STL (standard template library), operator overloading, exceptions, and C++ syntax and semantics. There are many appendices that cover some of the book's topics in greater detail as well. One very useful aspect of this text is that almost all the chapters contain both a software maintenance and a problem solving case study. Another aid to the student is that there are special sections scattered throughout and identified by a special border. These are on theory, background, software engineering, style, and famous pioneers of computer science. There are also exercises and programming problems at the end of each chapter. Finally those students who have a valid CodeLab code from their instructor may use that software to practice. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)