C#/.Net 4.0 Book Recommendation for "not so noob"

Question

User1064071399 posted

Bit of background:  I'm using C# on a daily basis and have been doing so for the past year, and for a year or so a few years back.

In between been busy with PHP and some Java (VB/VB.Net prior to it all).

So my C# / .Net aren't *that* bad, but have to admit it got some holes in it. (especially the framework)

Will be taking some leave of absense and figured I'll use the bored hours "studying" a bit, using some good books (yeah, dead tree ones).

I was wondering if some of you can give me first-hand reviews of the new books on c#/.net 4.0?

There's several on amazon, but you know how it goes...all depend on the author and all that.

Answer 1

User-1910946339 posted

I love books, I buy too many.  For me the best book, the one that I refer to several times a day, is C# in a Nutshell by Albahari & Albahari.  I discovered the free Linqpad program and decided that I wanted to reward the authors of this great piece of freeware so I bought the C#3.0 version of the book.  I quickly discovered that it is the right amount beyond beginner with the right amount of detail for me.  When the 4.0 version was announced, I pre-ordered it.  Now I have the 3.0 at home and the 4.0 at work and I get great use from both books.

Physically, they are a small form factor but they cover a lot of territory.  I refer to the linq and collections chapters a lot and always find the example code useful.  I can't say as much about the  reflection, stream IO or networking chapters because I haven't needed them as much, but when I have needed some help they always come to the rescue.

Basically, I can't recommend the O'Reilly 'C# in a Nutshell' books highly enough but I understand that this is a matter of personal taste.

Answer 2

User-691245060 posted

I would request you to browse some threads from here....

Book Reviews - Asp.Net forum

Personally, I like....

C# 4.0 - Complete Reference - Herbert Schildt

Microsoft Visual C# 2010 - Step by step - John Sharp

C# 4.0 UnLeashed - Bart De Smet

Answer 3

User1064071399 posted

I would request you to browse some threads from here....

Book Reviews - Asp.Net forum

Thanks for that.  Somehow I missed that section.

Got myself C# 4.0 in a nutshell and Effective C# 4.0 in mean time (e-books).  Will review some more before investing in a paperback.

Answer 4

User-821857111 posted

I got hold of a copy of CLR via C# 3rd Edition, which I intend to review soon. If you understand the fundamentals behind C#, it is absolutely essential reading in my opinion. It tells you how your C# works at the level fo the CLR, and offers terrific opinion and expert advice on using the right contructs etc to take best advantage of the CLR. And it covers .NET 4.0.

Other than that, it would be useful to know where you think your gaps are. Design patterns? OOP? The BCL?

yeah, dead tree ones

They will never be replaced. I just can't sit there waiting for a device to power up, when flicking to the point in a book where an old business card pokes out is so easy.

Answer 5

User-219472588 posted

I am 100% agree with Mike. CLR via C# is the best book to understand the internals of .NET framework.

One more book I would like to recommend is Pro C# 2010 and the .NET 4 Platform, Fifth Edition.

http://www.amazon.com/Pro-2010-NET-Platform-Fifth/dp/1430225491/ref=pd_sim_b_5