# data[].attributes.body
"In our experience, C has proven to be a pleasant, expressive, and versatile language for a wide variety of programs. It is easy to learn, and it wears well as one's experience with it grows." -XI (Preface to the First Edition)

# data[].attributes.body
I like how this quote briefly summarised why so many people appreciate C. The language is simply a joy to work with, hence why it is still being used to this day for many things.

# data[].attributes.body
I've been programming in C (among other programming languages) for over 30 years now and it still amazes me that whenever I have some question about how C will handle some construction this book invariably will provide an answer. The 2nd edition is a very worthy successor to the 1st and anyone who seriously programs in C should have this book on their shelf for reference. The book does have a bit of a tutorial to help those who already program in some other procedural language and to provide a vehicle for examples, but the book is definitely not a good choice for a true beginner or someone who needs a lot of hand holding to get through a programming exercise. I always like to contrast this book with the typical Java reference, which typically rivals War and Peace in size. In a little over 200 pages, K&R manage to exhaustively cover C and its most commonly used libraries. For those interested in writing a compiler, they also include the grammar. The book is truly a tour de force in how much the authors have managed to cram into so few pages. There is very little redundancy, which is why it is a frustrating book for first-timers. Over the years I've acquired a number of C references and none come remotely close to this one for staying power; my other C references in truth are collecting dust, whereas I'm on my second copy of this one having worn out the first.

As many of you know, C is the language created to develop Unix, which is why it retains its stature as a major programming language and why so much system software continues to be written in C or its derivative C++. If you are a professional, or at least reasonably good in some procedural programming language, with an interest in getting up to speed in C, this book is probably your best bet. It's no accident that C compiler writers talk about their compilers being "white book C" compliant (which is why the white cover has been retained). K&R has long been the semantic standard for C, so if you want to be an expert, you should have a copy of this book to be able to get your knowledge of C from the horse's mouth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Top positive review

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute classic, but still as relevant as ever

I should start by saying that I am not a novice developer. Nor free from the bias of academic training. I first got acquainted with the C programming language years ago before I started school. I found it to be too difficult for a complete beginner so I put it to the side and tried my hand at Java, Python, JavaScript and then PHP. While it has taken me many years to comfortably sit down to pick this book and comfortably work through the exercises I can say one thing: This is not a book for beginners in programming or computer science. Beginners in C? Sure, but most will absolutely need to have a solid grasp of computer programming and a little Computer Science theory before they can appreciate everything in the book.

Some users here have mentioned that the authors were absolute legends in the fields, but bad teachers. I respectfully disagree. While I don't think that their style of teaching is for everyone, I will say that it is by no means a reflection of them being bad teachers. I have not seen a single exercise that cannot be solved with the provided material in one way or another, the real challenge? More experienced developers will know that there are other functions or constructs that can better solve the exercise at hand without making it far as manual as they would normally be, yet the trick and learning experience is in doing each one of them with the provided material, and to drive the point even further come back right after you are done with the book to keep playing. It is the only real way to work with a language such as C.

Are you a total novice? Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but do save yourself the headache and start somewhere else, C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide by Greg Perry is an excellent choice, another great book is Head First C. Once you are done with them, then come back, purchase this absolute gem of a book, and get you more well acquainted with what might be the most important programming language in the entire world, shown to you by the creators themselves.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Top positive review 5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute classic, but still as relevant as ever I should start by saying that I am not a novice developer. Nor free from the bias of academic training. I first got acquainted with the C programming language years ago before I started school.

# data[].attributes.body
I like how the review is written by someone who understands C already, but wants a good reference. That goes to show how useful the book is, even after the reader learns and comprehends the language. I definitely agree that this book is a powerful manual for C, a manual that I will keep around for many years.

# data[].attributes.body
As is probably apparent throughout my thoughts on this book so far, I definitely recommend it for anyone with even a passing interest in programming. This glorious read is often described as "The Grandfather" of all programming books/manuals, so it has some worthwhile information stored in its 200+ pages.

# data[].attributes.body
Kernighan, Brian Wilson, and Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie. The C Programming Language. 2nd ed., e-book ed., Hoboken, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 1988. PDF.

https://www.amazon.com/Programming-Language-2nd-Brian-Kernighan/dp/0131103628

# data[].attributes.body
For the narrator of this book, I would say Keanu Reeves, based entirely off his role in The Matrix. By reading this book, my perception of programming has changed a lot, just like Neo's perception of the world in that popular film.