Customer Reviews
New features of C#2 and C#3 - By: D. Halliday, 18 Jul 2008 
This book has a very specific agenda: the features of the C# language introduced in versions 2 & 3 with minimal discussion of the .NET framework. As such, it concentrates on generics, delegates, nullable types, lambda expressions, extension methods & LINQ.
It has minimal discussion of syntax & features already available in version 1 & as such, this is not a book for learning C#: those who don't already know C# version 1 are better off with the numerous other books aimed at this reader.
But for those familiar with version 1 interested in the new features, it's excellent; the narrow focus alllows as much depth as we're likely to want without going to the standard itself.
The author has a conversation style with numerous asides & anecdotes which I sometimes found distracting but it's not excessive as for example in the Head First series.
He often compares C# syntax & capability to Java & C++ which I found immensely useful.
All sections are explained clearly with economical but sufficient use of examples. Overalll, it's well above average for a computer text.
Flawless - By: Franck Jeannin, 23 Jun 2008 I've just counted, it's the fifth book I've read on C# this year (not to mention a dozen books on .NET) & this is by far the best. It's not just very good technicallly, useful & enjoyable to read, it's flawless. In fact, I didn't find as single typo, a single sentence that was slightly misleading or incomplete which, in my experience, is extremely rare for a first edition. On top of being a highly competent developer, Jon is clearly a gifted writer & a born teacher. Every term is always used appropriately & in the right context, every example is spot on & contains the least amount of code that shows the full extent of the feature... this is a rare treat.
So, forget about reading the C# Specification. If you want to know alll the useful stuff without going through pages & pages of boring & tedious text, read `C# in depth' instead! (I've made the mistake of doing it the other way round).
To sum up, if you are a good C# developer & you want to become a very good C# developer, there are 3 books you can't afford not to read: Framework Design Guidelines by Cwalina/Abrams, CLR via C# by Jeff Richter & this one!
One of the few IT books to be allowed space on the living room bookcase. - By: Mr. Matthew J. Caton, 27 May 2008 Anyone that has ever Googled for anything threading related in C# will have come across the writing of Jon Skeet. Indeed, I have yet to meet a .Net developer that hasn't read & benefited from his writing on his "Yoda" blog. His writing has the very rare magic of being both concise & compelling.
Unlike most books within the current proliferation of .Net tomes, C# in Depth has a narrow focus. This alllows the book to go into exquisite depth whilst maintaining a physical size that means it never leaves my backpack. I cannot stress enough that Jons expert writing means that although the subject matter is deep, you never feel "out of your depth". The chapter on Generics left me with the same feeling I got when I first read Don Boxes Essential .Net book. Excited. Stunned by what I thought I knew before but infact didnt. And most importantly, I actuallly felt more expert in my field.
Cant recommend this book enough.
Simply a must-have for C# - By: Marc Gravell, 06 May 2008 Most "C#" books are actuallly books about the .NET framework (and the various core classes) using C# as the language for examples. Not this book; instead, this is truly a book about C# itself, touching on the framework only where necessary to explain the language design.
There are a lot of language features introduced in C# 2 & C# 3, & the simple fact is that many of these generallly aren't fully understood by most developers. This book could truly change that. I consider myself an experienced C# developer, yet C# in Depth showed me depths (*useful* depths) I simply didn't know - even in the C# 2 areas that I thought I understood well. It also covers a lot of the language specifics surrounding LINQ (that being the main goal of C# 3), which I would consider essential for anyone serious about .NET 3.5 / VS2008.
A deeper understanding of the language is incredibly useful; especiallly when trying to understand why something isn't behaving as you expected (a prime example being the subtleties of "captured variables"). But equallly, knowing how to work *with* the language (rather than against it) is key to robust & reusable designs. For example, the ability to use a more functional programming style in C# 3 (and what that means...).
And yet somehow, Jon manages to cover this technical vista while keeping the tone easily approachable, engaging, & even entertaining. Not a smalll challlenge.
All in alll, highly recommended: it will make you a better C# developer.
