Preface

Maybe I don't love C++ the same way I love my kids, nor even as much as climbing 10% smooth tarmac in 32° on the rivet,^[1] although at times it does come close. But I do count myself blessed that I get to spend the parts of my life that are devoted to work in the practice of, to paraphrase Frederick P. Brooks, "creation by exertion of my imagination." I consider myself doubly blessed that I have at my disposal the singularly powerful, dangerous, and spellbinding language that is C++.

^[1] The cyclists among you will know of what I speak.

That all sounds very hearts and flowers, but you may have picked up this book because the title suggests that it will be a beat-up of C++. Indeed, you may be an aficionado of Java, or C, or another of the popular major languages, and have seized on a copy of Imperfect C++ eager to find evidence to justify why you've given C++ a wide berth. If that is you, you may be disappointed, because this book is rather a critical celebration of C++. But stick around anyway; you might find some reasons why you should start looking towards C++ instead.