5 stars not enough...

I have thought that I had enough knowledge of C++, but after reading this book, I know I was wrong. Detailed discussion of constructor, data member, virtual table, multiple inheritance etc, there are a lot of mysterious details in C++ covered in this book. Yet this book is only 280 pages, which means there are very few redundant words seen in a lot of other tech books.

Recommend reading it with a compiler. I use Visual C to compile sample code and generate the asm file to see the real code compiler generates. It is rewarding.

Excellent

...truly excellent. If you are seeking to truly UNDERSTAND C++, not just increase your familiarity with the syntax, INSIDE THE C++ OBJECT MODEL is one of the first books I would recommend reading. Stan Lippman, besides being one of the most C++ - knowledgeable humans on the planet, is an excellent writer. His style is quick, to the point, and non-repetitive (to some, this might indicate a difficult read, of course). INSIDE examines the features and additions C++ brought to the world of C - from the inside - demonstrating the creation of objects, instantiation of templates, and more through comparisons with C-based code generated its vtables and internal structure - as a construct that actually exists in memory is simultaneously enlightening and delightful. Few 1500-page texts TEACH so much as this book does in 270-odd pages. One of the best.