Top C++ books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite C++ books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of C++

Understanding the concepts of C++ starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Head First C

Head First C is a complete learning experience that will show you how to create programs in the C language. This book helps you learn the C language with a unique method that goes beyond syntax and how-to manuals and helps you understand how to be a great programmer.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

C++17 - The Complete Guide

This book presents all the new language and library features of C++17. It covers the motivation and context of each new feature with examples and background information. The focus is on how these features impact day-to-day programming, what it means to combine them, and how to benefit from this in practice.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The C++ Programming Language

C++ (or “C-plus-plus”) is a generic programming language for building software. It's an object-oriented language. In other words, it emphasizes using data fields with unique attributes (a.k.a. objects) rather than logic or functions.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++

An Introduction to Programming by the Inventor of C++ Preparation for Programming in the Real World The book assumes that you aim eventually to write non-trivial programs, whether for work in software development or in some other technical field. Focus on Fundamental Concepts and Techniques The book explains fundamental concepts and techniques in greater depth than traditional introductions. T…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

C++ Primer (5th Edition)

C++ Primer, Fifth Edition, introduces the C++ standard library from the outset, drawing on its common functions and facilities to help you write useful programs without first having to master every language detail. The book’s many examples have been revised to use the new language features and demonstrate how to make the best use of them. This book is a proven tutorial for those new to C++, an…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Effective Modern C++: 42 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of C++11 and C++14

Coming to grips with C++11 and C++14 is more than a matter of familiarizing yourself with the features they introduce (e.g., auto type declarations, move semantics, lambda expressions, and concurrency support). The challenge is learning to use those features effectively—so that your software is correct, efficient, maintainable, and portable. That’s where this practical book comes in. It descri…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional C++ Reading

These books are not required for you to learn C++, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

C++ Primer

C++ Primer provides an introduction to the International Standard on C++, covering both the language proper and the extensive library that is part of that standard.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Let Us C Solutions

Best way to learn any programming language is to create good programs in it. C is not an exception to this rule. Once you decide to write any program you would find that there are always at least two ways to write it. So you need to find out whether you have chosen the best way to implement your program, That’s where you would find this book useful. It contains solutions to all the exercises p…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

C++ Templates: The Complete Guide

C++ Templates: The Complete Guide provides software architects and engineers with a clear understanding of why, when, and how to use templates to build and maintain cleaner, faster, and smarter software more efficiently. C++ Templates begins with an insightful tutorial on basic concepts and language features.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

C++ Concurrency in Action

C++ Concurrency in Action is a reference and guide to the new C++ 11 Standard for experienced C++ programmers as well as those who have never written multithreaded code. This book will show you how to write robust multithreaded applications in C++ while avoiding many common pitfalls.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

C++ coding standards

The main point of a C++ coding standard is to provide a set of rules for using C++ for a particular purpose in a particular environment. It follows that there cannot be one coding standard for all uses and all users.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Specializations and Deeper C++ Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. C++ is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

GPU Zen 2: Advanced Rendering Techniques

Exploring recent developments in the rapidly evolving field of game real-time rendering, GPU Zen assembles a high-quality collection of cutting-edge contributions for programming the GPU.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Advanced Metaprogramming in Classic C++

Advanced Metaprogramming in Classic C++ aims to be both an introduction and a reference to C++ template metaprogramming (TMP); TMP is presented in the book as a set of techniques that will bring a new style in C++ and make code exceptionally clear and efficient.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

C# & C++: 5 Books in 1 - The #1 Coding Course from Beginner to Advanced (2024) (Computer Programming)

In C# & C++: 5 Books in 1 - 5 Books in 1 - The #1 Coding Course from Beginner to Advanced (2024), you won't just learn C# and C++; you'll master them. This comprehensive guide is tailored for both beginners and experienced programmers, offering a bootcamp-style approach that simplifies learning with practical examples, hands-on exercises, and real-world applications.
Whether you're just sta…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

Augment your C++ books

There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor. What used to be impossible to find is now just two clicks away! All mentors are vetted & hands-on!


Hey there! I'm Igor, a lead software engineer with over nine years of software development expertise (mostly Rust, C and C++) and four years specializing in blockchain and zero-knowledge proof (ZK) technologies. I hold a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and have dedicated my career to …

$110 / month

Only 2 Spot Left

After 19+ years in video games (Relic Entertainment, DeNA, Gasket Games), e-commerce, and fintech, I’ve noticed that software engineers don’t get enough mentorship and guidance. We often go it alone or have managers who are excellent at building software but struggle with leading people. Over time, I saw that mentoring …

$170 / month

Only 1 Spot Left

Hi mate! I'm Addy, I'm a software engineer @Booking.com and an interview engineer @Karat. I'm an ex software engineer @Amazon, @Microsoft, and @Wise. I have conducted over 2500 interviews for different companies on Karat, and I have been interviewed by over 500 companies in the last 10 years. I have …

$240 / month

Only 3 Spot Left

Welcome to my mentoring profile! With a strong background in Electrical and Computer Engineering, I bring extensive expertise in the fields of robotics and multimedia processing. I completed my Ph.D. at TU Munich, focusing on advancing the boundaries of these disciplines, and subsequently served as a postdoc and pioneer fellow …

$240 / month


💼 Davide is a Software Engineer @Microsoft and a top-tier mentor for anyone aspiring to break into the big tech industry, scale up their startups, acquire new technical skills, or wish to collaborate on innovative projects. With a rich background as both a Product Manager and Software Engineer, Davide brings …

$100 / month

Only 3 Spot Left

Veteran software engineering manager and hands-on tech lead with 15+ years of experience. I’ve played a critical role on key teams at Snap and YouTube/Google. I currently lead teams for Growth Notifications, Activity Center, Countdowns, Communities, and Profiles at Snap with ~40 engineers in my scope of influence with 20 …

$350 / month

Browse all C++ mentors

Still not convinced? Don't just take our word for it

We've already delivered 1-on-1 mentorship to thousands of students, professionals, managers and executives. Even better, they've left an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for our mentors.

Find a C++ mentor
  • "Naz is an amazing person and a wonderful mentor. She is supportive and knowledgeable with extensive practical experience. Having been a manager at Netflix, she also knows a ton about working with teams at scale. Highly recommended."

  • "Brandon has been supporting me with a software engineering job hunt and has provided amazing value with his industry knowledge, tips unique to my situation and support as I prepared for my interviews and applications."

  • "Sandrina helped me improve as an engineer. Looking back, I took a huge step, beyond my expectations."