Microsoft C# Programming for the Absolute Beginner

If you are new to programming with C# and are looking for a solid introduction, this is the book for you. Developed by computer science instructors, books in the for the absolute beginner series teach the principles of programming through simple game creation. You will acquire the skills that you need for more practical C# programming applications and will learn how these skills can be put to use in real world scenarios. Best of all, by the time you finish this book you will be able to apply the basic principles you've learned to the next programming language you tackle.

User review
The ABSOLUTE Best C# Beginner book!
If anyone has a problem with this ABSOLUTELY PERFECT C# Programming book it's because they never bothered to READ the cover! If you are a BEGINNING programmer and want to make GAMES, don't look any further. This is the book you've been looking for.

User review
Exactly what the title says!
For beginners who have not been exposed to any programming languages or their structures. He makes this subject very interesting by using games as examples. It is an easy read. I have been out of touch with programming for a long time and I needed a little basic introduction to get started into object oriented programming. It may be used as a stepping stone to understanding complicated subjects like threading, windows forms and event handling in other books.

User review
Great book for starting in C#
I previously had started with Beginning C# Game Programming by Ron Penton, which was a disaster since much of his code doesn't work with DirectX 9.0c. I picked up this book and started back over from scratch.

Harris does an excellent job of introducing a concept, explaining what it is and how to use it, then implementing it. Some of the code is a little dated and has to be altered to run in C# 2.0, but I was able to do it with only a little effort. Same with a few of the form components. Additionally, I contacted the author, and though he doesn't work in C# very often any more, he was able to point me in the right direction to get my questions answered.

By the end of the book, I had successfully built a few C# applications to use at work.

My only complaint with the book is that it just ends. There is no prologue at the end, just the end of the last chapter reviewing that material. It would have been nice for a summary and maybe some direction in where to go next.

User review
Perfect for newbies!
I hadn't done any programming since I took Fortran in college 20 years ago and before that, I had taught myself DOS when it first came out (okay, age giveaway!). I did teach myself the basics of HTML, but I had no idea of where to even start with the newest languages out there now. This book led me from total ignorance through the basics of C# in a fun way and now I'm ready to progress into more advanced coding. I'm just a hobbyist, so this book was a perfect place to start for me!

User review
The Best book for beginning C#
This book is exactly what it says, a book to teach C# to absolute beginners. I was just that. New to programming. I wanted to learn programming and after a reaserch on the internet I decided to start programming using C#. I bought myself a MS Visual C# step by step. Soon after a friend gave me C# Programming for the Absolute Beginner. I was amazed. The book is straight to the point, and everything you learn is supported by examples. So if you didn't get the idea by reading you figure it out by doing it. Great book! Great job Andy!!! Write one for c# 3.0 too!