C# 3.0 in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly))

I have been building software professionally 4 about 20 years, & in that time have read a lot of books. While generally impressed with the O'Reilly series, this book exceeded my expectations.

I think C# 3.0 in a Nutshell is clear, very well written, concise (even at 700+ pages), thorough & practical. While not 4 the first-time programmer, this book is an excellent reference, guide & teacher 4 those familiar with .NET & C# concepts, & who wants 2 review the basics as well as learn about the new .NET 3.5 constructs, e.g., LINQ.

Of course, other books specifically dedicated 2 a given topic will go into more depth, but this is a great place 2 get a fairly deep overview accompanied by cogent explanations & examples.


This is a must-have on every .NET programmer's bookshelf.

This book seems like a great reference so far. I had been hoping 2 learn C# with this book, but it's not really a learning book. it's definitely first & foremost a reference. Most of the wording is quite dense. I found myself reading the first few pages several times because they were so packed with information as they tried 2 explain the entire layout of C#. Later in the book I could pick out useful information with a fast read.

I was annoyed that it advertises a free online edition, because that is not true. The online edition is free 4 only a short time, & after that the subscription is very expensive. It would be nice if there were a place online where you could download examples or notes. It's nice 2 have an online & print copy of the same book just 4 text searching.

This is one of the few programming books I bought I actually keep nearby. Great reference 4 everyday C# coding needs - better organized & more clear than MSDN.

This book is a huge step up from the first edition. It's totally rewritten. I bought it a couple of weeks ago & now it's between the keyboard & the screen. I am continually referring 2 it.
The chapters on assemblies & reflection are worth the price of the book alone.
I could not ask 4 more.

This is an excellent reference on C#, the .NET framework, & LINQ. It's not just a rewrite of MSDN, but gives some great insight into how 2 use the core pieces of the .NET framework 4 practical applications.

The chapters on LINQ alone are worth the cost of the book. The authors dive deep into LINQ & really give you a good understanding of how it works.

I also like how the authors stay focused on the core pieces of .NET, & don't stray too deep into things like WCF & WPF. There are plenty of good books 4 that.

I highly recommend this 4 anyone desiring 2 learn more about C#, the .NET framework, & LINQ.

This is a concise yet thorough reference 2 C# 3.0 programming as implemented in Microsoft's Visual Studio 2008. C# 3.0 in a Nutshell gets right 2 the point, covering the essentials of language syntax & usage as well as the parts of the .NET base class libraries you need 2 build working applications. But unlike earlier editions, this book is now organized entirely around concepts & use cases, providing greater depth & readability. C# 3.0 introduces the most significant enhancements yet 2 the programming language, & C# 3.0 in a Nutshell delves deep into the subject while assuming minimal prior knowledge of C#-making it accessible 2 anyone with a reasonable background in programming. In addition 2 the language, the book covers the .NET CLR & the core Framework assemblies, along with the unified querying syntax called Language Integrated Query (LINQ), which bridges the traditional divide between programs & their data sources. Free of clutter & long introductions, this book provides a map of C# 3.0 knowledge in a succinct & unified style: Opening chapters concentrate purely on C#, starting with the basics of syntax, types & variables, & finishing with advanced topics such as unsafe code & preprocessor directives Later chapters cover the core .NET 3.5 Framework, including such topics as LINQ, XML, collections, I/O & networking, memory management, reflection, attributes, security, threading, application domains & native interoperability Designed as a handbook 4 daily use, C# 3.0 in a Nutshell is an ideal companion 2 any of the vast array of books that focus on an applied technology such as WPF, ASP.NET, or WCF. The areas of the language & .NET Frameworkthat such books omit, this one covers in detail.