"C++ Standard Library Quick Reference" is out!

I'd love to write a book about C++ programming.  However, being in the solo-parenting business doesn't leave me much time to do that devotedly.  My son's clothes scream to get washed, our house needs some cleaning from time to time, someone (read 'daddy') has to do the dishes, and kids need playtime outside... so that's what I do... playing outside and being a would-be household man.

Fortunately, I've found an alternative to writing C++ books, namely reviewing them.  It takes less time, and pushes me to explore new C++ horizons.  It allows me to learn while doing something useful.  My 'reviewing career' (what's in a name ;-) started in 2013 when I reviewed Scott Meyers his 'Effective Modern C++' book.  For me, it was quite a tough read, but I enjoyed it and I was getting quite some satisfaction out of it.

About a year later, Rainer Grimm asked me if I wanted to review his 'C++, die Standardbibliothek: kurz & gut' in German.  I didn't hesitate a second.  Rainer has a rather different writing style then Scott (and he writes in German of course ;-), making this review again a challenging but enjoyable experience.

Earlier this year, Peter Van Weert and Marc Gregoire (the second one being a former fellow computer science student of mine) asked me if I was interested in reviewing their 'C++ Standard Library Quick Reference'.  Needless to say I was happy they asked.  About half a year later, the book is out!  It's cool to see how I also get my credits on page XVII :-)

I try to dedicate all my reviewing work to my now 6-year-old son Jenne, using small easter eggs in the books I review.  I always kindly ask the authors if they want to add my and my son's name in one of their code examples. Up until now, not a single author has refused that request.  It looks like this on page 71 of the book:

Pretty cool, huh!  Although Jenne starts to like programming with Scratch and LEGO WeDo 2.0, he currently doesn't know a clue about C++.  I hope some day, he will understand the message I sent him through these easter eggs.  It's a message of hope, dedication, perseverence and true love for the child whom I care about so much.