Another good read are The Annotated C++ Reference Manual[1] and The Design and Evolution of C++[1].
They help understand all design compromises that were done to keep compatibility with C, which is was part of what brought C++ into the mainstream, but also the main cause of many of its warts.
They help understand all design compromises that were done to keep compatibility with C, which is was part of what brought C++ into the mainstream, but also the main cause of many of its warts.
[1] http://www.amazon.com/The-Annotated-C-Reference-Manual/dp/02...
[2] http://www.amazon.com/The-Design-Evolution-Bjarne-Stroustrup...